Ricasoli Colledilà Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany

Colledilà stands out for its complex structure and great, modern elegance. A pure Sangiovese that manages to reveal all the magnificent qualities of this grape that are further exalted by the small dimensions of the vineyard whose name it bears. The soil is a calcareous clay, rocky, rich in calcium carbonate and poor in organic matter. Colledilà vineyard is on a geological formation called Monte Morello, also known as Alberese. Seven hectares in size, it is located at 390 meters above sea level and has a southeastern exposure. The grapes are handpicked and then selected: only perfect clusters become Colledilà.

Tasting Notes

Ruby red color. Very complex nose of ripe red fruit, iris, violet and balsamic hints. The palate is succulent, juicy; the well-balanced acidity with soft tannins give this wine freshness and length.

Vintage Notes

This was an atypical year, perhaps unlike any ever registered. Winter was fairly mild and warm. The frost that arrived on 18/20 April, the drought, the extreme heat that lasted for more than two months, all scorched the earth and the grapevines. For this reason, the leaf removal typically carried out before grape harvest was avoided; instead, the grapevines were left “untidy”, only slightly trimmed, to protect the fruit from the rays of the sun. At the end of August and the first ten days of September, rains came and the temperatures dropped drastically, all the way to the seasonal average.

Winemaking Notes

Harvesting and selection of the best grapes in the vineyard by hand. Transport to the winery in 200-kg bins. The grapes are destemmed and transferred by gravity into 100-hl stainless steel open tanks and then inoculated with selected yeasts. Fermentation temperature 24-27°C with daily punching. Duration of fermentation and maceration on the skins about 14-16 days.

Technical Info

100% Sangiovese

Colledilà stands out for its complex structure and great, modern elegance. A pure Sangiovese that manages to reveal all the magnificent qualities of this grape that are further exalted by the small dimensions of the vineyard whose name it bears. The soil is a calcareous clay, rocky, rich in calcium carbonate and poor in organic matter. Colledilà vineyard is on a geological formation called Monte Morello, also known as Alberese. Seven hectares in size, it is located at 390 meters above sea level and has a southeastern exposure. The grapes are handpicked and then selected: only perfect clusters become Colledilà.

Tasting Notes

A beautiful nose that shows dark plums, vanilla, tar, tobacco and spices. Full-bodied and very powerful with punchy tannins, but some real integration to the agile fruit and acidity. The complexity and depth at the end is breathtaking.

Vintage Notes

The autumn and winter were very mild this year, with below-freezing temperatures only in part of January. It was rainy, about 440 mm. In the spring, temperatures were average, with the end of May and early June hot but humid. This diminished the fruit set causing a thinning effect in the clusters that was good for the Sangiovese. Two hailstorms at the end of May also led to loss of flowers, thus reducing per-plant growth. Summer was hot and dry. End-July and Mid-August rains gave some relief to the plants, helping them during the period of veraison. Harvest began in early September, with temperatures mid-to-high for that period of the year during the day and a drop of as much as 10-15°Cat nights, favoring the accumulation of phenolic compounds.

Winemaking Notes

Harvesting and selection of the best grapes in the vineyard by hand. Transport to the winery in 200-kg bins. The grapes are destemmed and transferred by gravity into 100-hl stainless steel open tanks and then inoculated with selected yeasts. Fermentation temperature 24-27°C with daily punching. Duration of fermentation and maceration on the skins about 14-16 days.

Technical Info

100% Sangiovese

Colledilà is a single vineyard wine which is aptly named for "the vineyard just on the other side of that hill", for if you stand outside on the terraces behind the Ricasoli castle you will see this very hill.

Tasting Notes

Delicate in ruby red color with a complex nose and an elegantly subtle yet persistent finish this balanced wine expresses all the characteristics of Sangiovese. It is full with aromas of violet and iris coupled with ripe red fruits followed by hints of pepper and a whisper of white chocolate which give way to a full, velvety mouthfeel with soft tannins.

Vintage Notes

The growing season of 2014/2015 was quite regular without extreme events. Winter was mild with temperatures falling to freezing only at the end of December and for parts January and February. Although a little cold at the beginning, Spring also showed average temperatures followed by a warm May and June which favored a perfect flowering and veraison. Rainfall was not excessive at only about 6 inches. Summer began earlier, with high temperatures by the end of June recorded at peaks between 93°F and 95°F. July was also particularly warm with peaks at around 104°F. Rainfall was scarce at approximately 4 inches, but ample water supplies during the Winter and Spring months prevented drought stress. September and October showed perfect weather conditions with significant day-to-night temperature ranges favoring the accumulation of color and polyphenols in the grapes.

Winemaking Notes

Thermo-regulated (75.2°F-80°F) stainless still fermentation and maceration for 16-18 days during which a soft pressure is carried out daily. Aging takes place in French barriques and 40% new tonneaux for 21 months.