Castell’In Villa Chianti Classico Riserva 2006

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

“One of the most historic estates in Chianti Classico… One of the most age worthy wines in Italy” Antonio Galloni

“Castell’in Villa is now one of the most admired names of the region, having steadfastly remained true to the Sangiovese character of Chianti Classico” Walter Speller

Italian politics and Chianti’s wine classifications have a lot in common. Always changing and poorly understood!

Walter Speller has attempted to classify the wineries of the region. As he indicated he’s followed the Saint-Emillion model of having the top wines denominated Class ‘A’ and the next level Class ‘B’. Only 3 wineries are in Class ‘A’: Isole & Olena for Cepparello, Montevertine for Le Pergole Torte, and Castell’in Villa for the Pricipessa’s Chianti Classico, Riserva Chianti Classico, and Poggio delle Rose Riserva Chianti Classico.

Class ‘B’ includes another 24 wineries, with 50 wines rated. Walter’s classification and exploration of the challenges of the fragmented classification of Chianti & Chianti Classico is well worth a read.

About Castell’In Villa

Castell’in Villa is how many of us imagine an archetypal Chianti Classico estate. The owner of the medieval tower, huddle of outbuildings housing an agriturismo and restaurant and its 48 hectares (120 acres) of vines is known throughout Tuscany as La Principessa (she is Princess Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa).

Greek-born, and still a frequent flyer between Rome and Athens, she was introduced to wine via first growths served by her uncle in Paris. She arrived at the estate outside Castelnuovo Berardenga with her ‘dreamer’ diplomat husband in the late sixties. It was meant to be a holiday home but she found herself sucked in to wine production. Her first vintage was 1972 but the turning point came five years later when she met the iconic Tuscan oenologist Giacomo Tachis, the Antinoris’ eminence grise, whom she adopted as a successor to her late father. Her husband died in 1985, which was not part of the plan. But she sought solace in the vineyards and cellar. The wines never looked back and Castell’in Villa is now one of the most admired names of the region, having steadfastly remained true to the Sangiovese character of Chianti Classico.

The Video below is just a little taster of the scenery & the wonderful restaurant of Castell’In Villa

In the Vineyard

The main objective at Castell’in Villa is to produce high quality wines from low yielding vineyards.

The Vineyards are spread over eight different sites, in which the diversity of the Tuscan countryside is reflected both in soil types and microclimate.

In the Winery

Winemaking takes place in a modern cellar equipped with stainless steel tanks and oak barrels through which the wines will pass in their various stages of development. Attention to detail and respect for the natural evolution of the wine ensures that each vintage will reflect the individual character of Castell’in Villa.

I love that La Principessa holds back her wines. The Riserva released around 7 years after harvest.

The Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico is composed of 100% Sangiovese grapes. It is a complex and serious blend of our different vineyards. The wine is aged in traditional Chianti Classico casks for about 12 months.

The Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico Riserva is made of Sangiovese grapes entirely from our best vineyards. The wine is blended and aged in oaks for 2-3 years. The wine ages very well and good vintages should be at their peak at an age of 6-15 years.

The Santacroce is Castell’in Villa’s flagship wine made from 50% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and 50% Sangiovese grapes. The wine is then stored for 18 months in barriques, traditional Bordeaux oak barrels of 225 litres capacity. The Santacroce is an example of what is called a Super-Tuscan wine. It is the result of the mix of the best methods and ingredients in local wine making and the creativity of the wine maker. Since the wine making method does not comply with the local rules for the D.O.C.G., the wine is only allowed to be classified as IGT Toscana.

The Possio dell Rose Chianti Classico Riserva is made purely from a selection of our own Sangiovese cuttings, which have then been planted in this particular vineyard, which gives its name to the wine. It has been vinified according to the high standards and special methods used here at Castell’in Villa and then stored in new French oak barriques for more than 18 months.

The wine is a combination of ripe fruit and tannin. Even in its youth it has a complex intensity combined with the host of soft tannins.

Where in the World is Castell’In Villa?

Castell’In Villa is in the Chianti Classico DOCG, sub-region of Tuscany. Castelnuovo Berargdenga. Chianti is a sub-region of Tuscany. Other sub-regions include Montalcino and Montepuliciano. Like Montalcino, Chianti covers a large area and is relatively poorly defined in comparison to the likes of Barolo.

As is often the case with Italian wines there is confusion created by an ever changing general classification system. In this case we have wines two basic designation. The first, the Chianti Classico DOCG for which you see a black rooster on the label or neck tie which come from a defined area between Florence and Sienna. The Second Chianti DOCG or greater Chianti region that surrounds the Chianti Classico DOCG which in turn is broken up into seven sub-regions as seen in the second map below.