- Carbonaione is a great Chianti at a modest price
- This great vintage is at the beginning of its optimal drinking window
Carbonaione is made from very old Sangiovese vines and aged for almost one and a half years in French oak. 2010 is wonderful to drink now. Juicy Sangiovese fruit is underpinned by earthy tones and is given an energetic tension by perfectly dosed acidity and fine tannins;
The Carbonaione masters one of the great challenges of Chianti. Traditional production at high fermentation temperatures produces grippy tannins that disrupt the harmony of the palate. Traditionally, this is countered with long ageing in large old oak barrels. For a long time, one hopes and waits for the tannins to integrate better with further bottle ageing. Eventually, however, the fruit recedes and a disturbing acidity appears. The innovations led to riper grapes but at the same time also very concentrated, dark wines with strong tannins that lack freshness. Podere Poggio Scalette achieves balanced wines with supple tannins through very gentle vinification with less extraction. The fruit is not overripe, but fresh and juicy.
Podere Poggio Scalette is an organic winery near Greve in Chianti with 15 hectares of vineyards, founded in 1991 by oenologist Vittorio Fiore and his wife Adriana. Vittorio Fiore is a sought-after oenologist who advises or even manages the winemaking at several well-known wineries. With the estate's very old vines, he proves that you don't need a blend with international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to produce smooth, stylish Sangiovese wines. His son Jurij has worked in Burgundy and pursues similar goals;
The winery is located near Greve in Chianti Classico on terraced hills with calcareous Galestro soils. However, the top wine Il Carbonaione is marketed as IGT Alte Valle della Greve. It would be easy to sell this wine at a significantly higher price.
