In the mid-1970s, while the debate around whether or not international vines could be legitimately grown in central Tuscany was raging, Fabrizio Bianchi decided to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in the Il Mulino vineyard. The first harvest was produced in 1982, resulting in a wine that serves as a unique expression of the local area. Its name is inspired by the famous saying “Nemo propheta in patria” – no man is a prophet in his own land – a fitting description of the winery’s cutting-edge and pioneering spirit in those days.
Designation
I.G.T. Toscana
First year of production
1982
Grape varieties
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Training system
Spurred cordon
Vinification
In temperature-controlled truncated conical steel vats with emptying system (Délestage) and pumping over for about 20/22 days.
Ageing
Two years of bottle aging
92 pt
Vinous
92 pt
Wine Spectator
92 pt
James Suckling
92 pt
Falstaff
Climate trend
2018 started with early budding due to above average temperatures in March and April, followed by a fairly rainy May. From June 10th onwards, temperatures started rising again and we had a good summer at Castello di Monsanto with little rain in the month of August.
Veraison began in late July and continued quite slowly in the month of August. Summer temperatures were within the norm. In September, particularly, we had a succession of sunny days with considerable day-night temperature variation, allowing the grapes in our area to achieve the expected level of phenolic and aromatic ripeness. The red grape harvest began in mid-September and finished in mid-October. All the wines from the 2018 vintage are showing a great fruitiness and a remarkably well-integrated acidity with an important tannin structure.