Fabrizio Bianchi Sangioveto Grosso I.G.T. Toscana
Our Sangioveto Grosso is made from another of the winery’s Crus, the “Scanni” vineyard. This wine is the embodiment of the revolutionary nature that has always been synonymous with the history of Castello di Monsanto. The vineyard was planted exclusively with Sangiovese vines in 1968 and produced its first harvest in 1974, in an exception to the Chianti Classico denomination rules that stated that no vineyards could be planted with a different ampelography to the historic system devised in 1800. The wine’s dissenting spirit has always been emphasized by the decision to use Burgundy bottles. An IGT wine, it is mellow and silky in its younger years but has a powerful capacity to stand up to aging.
Designation
I.G.T. Toscana Rosso
First year of production
1974
Grape varieties
100% Sangiovese
Training system
Guyot
Vinification
In truncated conical steel vats at controlled temperature with emptying system (Délestage) and pumping over for about 20 days
Maturazione o invecchiamento
In 500 litre French oak casks, some new and some second passage, for 18/20 months
Ageing
Two years of bottle aging
Climate trend
A rainy and mild winter came before a spring which started 10 days earlier than usual, with temperatures above the seasonal average in April. Between the end of May and the beginning of June, abundant rains guaranteed optimal water supply to the vines with vegetative growth earlier than average. Constant summer heat, with some days in August above 35° C, helped the perfect ripening of the grapes and a few days of light rain at the end of August sustained the ongoing early development of the vines’ phenological phases. Groundwater reserves and optimal temperature range were essential. As a consequence, 2011’s harvest began 10 days in advance and was carried out from the beginning of September until early October. Grapes were in perfect condition.
