Province of Siena
Established: 1994
Owner: Marco Ricasoli-Firidolfi
Winemakers: Marco Ricasoli-Firidolfi & Attilio Pagli
Production: 80,000 bottles
Hectares under vine: 18
Viticulture: Certified Organic
Marco is part of the Ricasoli family that wrote the story of Chianti Classico, creating the formula for the wine we know today at the site of what is now his San Marcellino vineyard. The soil here is incredibly rocky, forcing the roots deep and resulting in naturally low yields. Marco farms organically and has built his own large cisterns to gather rainwater, along with using biofuel for machinery.
Chianti Classico is made with 5% each of Canaiolo and Colorino, aged in tonneaux and barriques for twelve months. The fruity aroma is classic Sangiovese with notes of cherry and wild berry, the palate harmonious, well-structured and lightly tannic. The single vineyard San Marcellino, made with a little of the very rare Pugnitello, is complex with wild berry fruit, spice and mineral notes supported by excellent structure and balance. Geremia is a blend of Merlot (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon with intense dark berry and plum fruit, the palate rich and velvety with liquorice and vanilla.
Grapes for the Vin Santo (Malvasia with a little Canaiolo Nero) are dried, using a unique custom netting system, for about three months. Fermented and aged in small barrels of mixed woods (oak, mulberry and cherry) for six years, this is concentrated with fig, molasses, toffee and dried flowers, the richness balanced by a freshness unexpected for the style.
