Intense bright ruby red, cherry nose with floral nuances. Well-balanced, soft but tasty, with good structure. Pleasant acidity, clean and persistent aftertaste. \n \n Producer Information \n Badia a Coltibuono is a wine estate located in the Chianti Classico zone. It is known for its Sangiovese-based red wines, as well as its highly acclaimed Vin Santo del Chianti Classico wines. The original abbey was founded in 1051 by an offshoot of the Benedictine order, who quickly began planting the first vineyards in what is now Chianti Classico. Over the centuries, the abbey extended its reach to own several thousand hectares of land, and developed a considerable wine production. However in 1810, under Napoleonic rule, the monks were forced to leave and the abbey estates were secularized and sold off by lottery. In 1846 the estate was purchased by the Florentine banker Guido Giuntini, and today, the estate is owned and managed by his direct descendants, the Stucchi Prinetti family. Badia a Coltibuono makes a range of wines under the Chianti Classico and Toscana IGT classifications. Along with the standard Chianti Classico, there is a Riserva and the Cultus Boni cuvée. All three wines are predominantly Sangiovese with some of the traditional grape varieties Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo and Colorino, and all three are barrel-aged in a combination of French and Austrian oak. The Vin Santo of the wine portfolio is produced from air-dried Malvasia and Trebbiano and aged in barrel for six years. Badia a Coltibuono's Occhio di Pernice wine is made from carefully selected Sangiovese grapes and aged for eight years in oak. The Toscana IGT Montebello was launched with the 2011 vintage. It showcases the region's historical heirloom grape varieties, many of which are now very rare. As well as the four varieties used in the Chianti Classico wines, Montebello includes Mammolo, Pugnitello, Sanforte, Malvasia Nera and Foglia Tonda. The Badia a Coltibuono estate covers 74 hectares (183 acres) of organically farmed vineyards. Wildlife is encouraged in the estate woodlands surrounding the vines – even including wild boar and deer which might threaten the vines.
