Castello Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2016

Producer Information

Fonterutoli is located 5 km south of Castellina in Chianti (Siena), on the hills facing the Val d’Elsa, in the heart of the Chianti Classico. Owned by the Mazzei family since 1435, it still retains its original form, that of a tranquil country village: a cluster of houses, the church of San Miniato and the villa, built at the end of the 1500s where the medieval castle once stood. Today, the estate comprises 117 hectares of vineyard, largely planted with Sangiovese with some Merlot, Colorino, Malvasia Nera and Cabernet Sauvignon vines also planted. The cellar at Fonterutoli, designed by architect, Agnesi Mazzei, is one of the most impressive in the region, and has a minimal impact on the environment.

Vineyards

Vineyards location: 5 different vineyard sites, altitude: 220 – 550 m. (722 – 1,804 ft) a.s.l.
Soil: Very rich in texture, mainly Limestone
Vineyards age: 12 – 30 years
Training system: Spur cordon-training and Guyot
Nr. of vines per hectare: 4.500 – 7.500 plants

Winemaking

Harvest: Hand picked from September 23rd
Fermentation temperature: 26 – 28° C °C
Period of maceration: 16 – 18 giorni days
Ageing: 12 months in french oak barrels (225 and 500 lt / 40% new)
Bottling: January 2018

Vintage Information

Mild and rainy winter with temperatures above the seasonal average. Spring and early summer rainy as well. At the end of June the rain stopped and the temperatures rose.

Summer was characterised by warm but generally not hot days, with changes in the temperatures during the day. At the end of August and especially from the middle of September to the first week of October, greater changes in the temperatures between day and night have been observed, alongside with a long-term stability, thus creating the ideal conditions for ripening of the bunches with the accumulation of aromatics and polyphenols.

Upon the harvest, the grapes were globally healthy and the refinement in the cellars proved the high quality of the grapes picked up.

Beginning of the harvest: 10 September
End of the harvest: 11 October
Rainfall (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 484.4 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 4,240.2°C
Evaluation: Outstanding

Tasting Note

A deep ruby/garnet colour. Vivid nose of dark berries, fresh spices with hints of tobacco and . A rounded structure with ripe tannins, refreshing mouthfeel and long, perfumed finish with a touch of spice.

 

Food Pairing

Serve with cold cuts, hearty pasta dishes and pepperoni pizza! This is the ideal BBQ pour!

Serving Suggestion

Ageing potential 15 years

Press

“Lots of tangy and pretty fruit with aromas and flavors of orange peel, lemons and cherries. Medium to full body and a vivid finish. Drink now. ” 92 points, James Suckling (October 2017)

Chianti Classico DOCG
90% Sangiovese
10% Malvasia Nera, Colorino and Merlot

Natural Cork
13.34%
5.9 g/l
Yes
Yes

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