Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico DOCG
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The grapes for this wine are sourced from 3 different vineyards to bring more complexity and balance to the finished product.
- Planted in 2002, the Meleto Vineyard is located closest to the castle. Reaching an altitude of 370 meters, it is the hottest and most sheltered from the wind with the soil being mostly clay and rich in stone. The soils here consist of Alberese, Arenaria, clay, and Galestro.
- Planted in 2000, the Poggiarso Vineyard’s unique possitioning provides this site with extreme climatic conditions as do the slopes of the vineyard which reaches an altitude of 530 meters. The Sangiovese yields are low in this vineyard but produce high quality wines with noteworthy aromas thanks to the temperature changes between day and night, especially during the summer months. The soil is clay with large amounts of limestone and marl.
- Located in the valley below the medieval village of Vertine at an altitude of 420 meters, the Casi Vineyard is surrounded by wooded land, ensuring the temperate climate of this vineyard. Original plantings began in 1998, Sangiovese, cultivated using the traditional alberello vine training method, is the main variety planted here and finds the combined conditions of hot soil and cool climate, ideal. The soils here consist of clay, sandstone, and galestro.
Varietal Composition: 100% Sangiovese
Elaboration: Grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed and gently crushed before undergoing spontaneous alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 25/28°C for a period of 15 to 20 days. After racking, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in concrete tanks. The wine then ages for 15 months in 54 hl Slavonian oak barrels.
Tasting Notes: Deep ruby red. Marked notes of cherry, typical of the grape, with hints of floral and spice. Velvety, enveloping palate with rounded tannins. Good structure with an excellent balance and long full finish.
PRESS
2015 – 90 Vinous | 92 Wine Spectator
2016 – 92 Wine Spectator
2017 – 90 Wine Spectator | 91 James Suckling
2018 – 91 James Suckling | 92 Vinous
2020 – 90 Vinous
2021 – 93 Wine Spectator | 91 Vinous | 91 James Suckling | 90 Jeb Dunnuck
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Castello di Meleto produces wines exclusively from estate-owned grapes. 70% of the grapes are harvested by hand, a choice influenced by two factors: the slope of land that at points reaches extreme levels and the commitment to selecting only the best fruit. With vineyards extending over 160 hectares, only the best grapes are selected for the wines bearing the Castello di Meleto brand. The bunches destined for these flagship wines undergo a rigorous first and second selection: the first in the vineyard at the time of harvest and the second on the sorting table, where each bunch is manually checked by expert operators. Perfectly healthy grapes allow for reduced sulfur dioxide use and spontaneous fermentation, triggered by indigenous yeasts present on the grapes. This reflects Castello di Meleto’s commitment to respecting the work carried out in the vineyard and minimally intervening in the cellar.