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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
Half of the grapes for Belcanto Chianti Classico come from our vineyards at Nittardi, located 450 meters above sea level, while the other half come from our vineyard in San Quirico, located south of Castellina at 270 meters. While at Nittardi we only have Sangiovese grapes, the San Quirico vineyard, planted in 1968, has Sangiovese and small amounts of seven other local grape varieties, including Canaiolo, Colorino and Malvasia Nera. Both vineyards enjoy a soil mix of limestone and clay with a rich skeleton of schist, which engenders the wine with a pleasant minerality. On the label of Belcanto, Michelangelo is portayed in a mosaic of Galestro stones, typical of the soil of our terroir.
Wine Information
The winery
The boutique winery Nittardi lies between Castellina and Panzano in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. Nittardi was rst mentioned as „Nectar Dei“ in 1183. In the 16th century, the winery belonged to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who produced his own wine here. He is known to have sent some of his wine to the Pope in Rome as a „genuine gift“.
The vineyard
All grapes come from our own vineyards in the municipality of Castellina in Chianti. Half of the grapes for Belcanto come from our vineyards at Nittardi, located 450 meters above sea level, while the other half come from our vineyard close to Villa Rosa, located south of Castellina at 270 meters. The Villa Rosa vineyard, planted in 1968, has Sangiovese and small amounts of seven other local grape varieties, including Canaiolo, Colorino, Malvasia Nera, Ciliegiolo, Mammolo, Foglia Tonda and Pugnitello. Both vineyards enjoy a soil mix of limestone and clay with a rich skeleton of schist, which engenders the wine with a pleasant minerality.
The name and the label
In the world of music, Belcanto represents the harmony displayed by a complete work. Belcanto also echoes the harmony displayed by a complete work. Belcanto also echoes the adage of the great wine critic Luigi Veronelli: „Wine is the earth‘s hymn to the heavens.“ In every way, Belcanto is the tting name for Nittardi‘s newest composition. The label refers to the history and terroir of the wine: eight pebbles in the colors of the gray galestro soil and the typically red color tone of Chianti Classico – like the eight notes of the scale and the eight grape varietals of Belcanto. And looking out from this mosaic of eight pebbles, the face of the historic owner of Nittardi: the Italian master painter and archetypical „Renaissance Man“, Michelangelo Buonarroti.
The vintage
2015 is an outstanding vintage that we will bring us much joy for a long time to come. After a real winter that brought snow in most parts of Tuscany and a mild spring arrived suddenly at the end of May and was one of the hottest we can remember. Thanks to a general dry season we were able to harvest perfectly ripe and healthy grapes rst in the Villa Rosa vineyard and a week later – in the middle of September – at Nittardi.
Profile
Elegant ruby-red color, juicy cherry, raspberry and spicy aromas with hints of Mediterranean herbs and oral notes on the nose. Medium bodied with grippy tannins on the palate and a fresh and velvet nish. Excellently suited to Tuscan appetizers and charcuterie as well as to all variations of pasta. Best served at approx. 16° C (61° F).
Awards & accolades
Gambero Rosso 2018 - 3 glasses
James Suckling - 92 P
Vuosikerta 2015
BAROLO 2015
2015 vintage climate trend: 2015 began with a winter characterized by abundant snowfalls which allowed an excellent water supply to the land.
This factor combined with a spring with mild temperatures since the month of February allowed for an anticipation of the vegetative cycle which was then maintained in the continuation of the vintage.
The season continued with a succession of rainfall between the end of May and the first ten days of June. From June to July the rains were absent and temperatures stabilized at above average maximum values but without water stress. The climatic conditions recorded at the beginning of summer laid the foundations for an advance in the ripening of the grapes of about ten days compared to the previous year but in line with a vintage that we can define as ‘normal’.
Wines Barolo 2015 vintage: Nebbiolo ripened perfectly, albeit slightly earlier than the average of recent years, with an excellent accumulation of polyphenols. The sugar content stands at average potential values of around 14 – 14.5% vol while the acidity is ideal for Nebbiolo (6.5 g / l).
The Barolo wines of the 2015 vintage are important, elegant and long-lived, there are all the prerequisites for a great vintage, to be remembered, like few others in history. Fully among the best vintages of Barolo.
BARBARESCO 2015
A cold and snowy winter welcomed a warm and dry spring. which allowed an even budding. Summer saw warm days with some rainfall followed by a very dry end of the season. The beginning of fall was dry and cool creating optimal conditions for the phenolic ripening for the Nebbiolo grapes. The warm and dry weather during harvest ensured the grapes were evenly ripe and perfectly healthy.
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2015
Climate trend: The winter was sparsely rainy and with low temperatures in January / February. Spring precipitation in the seasonal average allowed to create water reserves to overcome the hot months of July / August. The month of September was mild, with good temperature variations between day and night, favoring the perfect ripening of the grapes.
Brunello di Montalcino wines of the 2015 vintage: Deep wines endowed with great extract, lively and intense colors and vigorous tannins of good maturity. Important alcoholic components, in rare cases also in evidence. Crisp, intense and penetrating fruity aromas. An exceptional vintage of Brunello di Montalcino: great character and excellent evolutionary potential, deservedly among the best vintages of Brunello di Montalcino.
