Il Poggio Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. Gran Selezione
It was Il Poggio vineyard, way back in 1962, that heralded the start of Castello di Monsanto’s journey in wine production, with the first harvest overseen by founder Fabrizio Bianchi. Still to this day, the company’s most iconic bottle, Il Poggio, is the first Chianti Classico to feature the name of the specific vineyard from which it comes. White grapes were removed from the recipe in 1968. Il Poggio is the source – thanks to massal selection – of all the Sangiovese, Colorino and Canaiolo vines in the winery’s other vineyards. Over 100,00 bottles have been produced and all of them spend time aging in the castle’s historic cellar, showcasing the wine’s stunning capacity for aging.
Designation
Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. Riserva
First year of production
1962
Grape varieties
90% Sangiovese; 10% Canaiolo and Colorino
Training system
Guyot and spurred cordon
Vinification
In temperature-controlled truncated conical steel vats with emptying system (Délestage) and pumping over for about 20/22 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
In 2010 a cold winter, with temperatures hovering around freezing point, gave way to a cool, rainy spring that slightly delayed the onset of budding. The heat that arrived in July, however, considerably sped up the growth cycle. The groundwater reserves had accumulated over winter and spring, and received fresh input from frequent summer rains, so they enabled the vines to withstand the heat during the first half of July, thus avoiding heat stress and promoting excellent-quality fruit. August and the first half of September were hot, but with temperatures that were below average. The second half of September and the first part of October brought splendid days and stable conditions. The beautiful sunny days in the final days of September and early October, with their high temperatures, particularly in the middle of the day, contributed to making this a high-quality harvest.
