Chianti DOCG Fiasco 2024

This Chianti comes from Renzo Masi, a family house established for three generations in Rufina, a small town in the Sieve valley, east of Florence. The grapes come from the Rufina area, one of the most renowned sectors of the Chianti zone, where the vineyards are terraced on hills surrounded by forests. This cooler, higher terrain than the rest of central Tuscany gives fragrant, lively Sangiovese. The wine is presented in the traditional straw-covered fiasco, the historic emblem of Chianti.

The wine combines grapes from the family vineyards with grapes bought from growers in the Rufina area, with whom the house has long-term partnerships, advising them on how to tend their vines. The grapes, harvested ripe, are vinified as a red in the traditional way. The blend, overwhelmingly Sangiovese with a touch of Colorino, is designed to be enjoyed young, while able to keep for a few years.

This wine reveals notes of cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry, plum, violet, rose, dried herbs and pepper. The very aromatic nose combines red fruit and flowers in a clean, indulgent style. The palate is supple and balanced, medium-bodied, with a silky texture, melted tannins and fresh acidity that calls for Tuscan cooking.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!