Antinori Chianti Classico Peppoli 2019 (750ml)

 

Rated 92 Points by James Suckling

 

A medium-bodied Chianti Classico with cherry, redcurrant and some sliced orange.  It’s linear and bright.  Hints of earth and dried tea leaf.  Drink now.

 

Antinori Chianti Classico Peppoli 2019

 

The Pèppoli vineyards produce a Chianti Classico that is a blend made from Sangiovese grapes and complementary varieties; Peppoli is recognized and appreciated for the full expression of its fruit.  A wine that represents the Chianti Classico territory and its historic grape variety with typical floral and fruity aromas.

 

Pèppoli was first produced in 1985 and since 2013 part of the harvest undergoes vinification at the Antinori nel Chianti Classico cellars.

 

Winemaker Notes

 

Pèppoli 2019 is ruby red in color.  On the nose, Pèppoli offers sweet notes of red fruit; cherries, sour cherries and lychees accompanied by floral scents of rose petals and spicy hints of sandalwood, rosemary and lavender.  Its palate is soft with smooth, sweet tannins together with well-balanced freshness that make it easy to drink, lively and savory.

 

Vinification

 

Each grape variety was harvested separately, destemmed, gently crushed and transferred into stainless steel tanks.  Alcoholic fermentation took place at a controlled temperature between 26 and 28 °C (80 – 82 °F) to enhance aromatic compounds and preserve the fruity and floral notes of each grape variety.  Maceration was performed with mechanical methods to best extract soft, supple tannins over a period of 10 days for Sangiovese and for a maximum of two weeks for the complementary varieties.  Once malolactic fermentation was completed, by the end of the winter season, the wine was blended and transferred into barrels.  Pèppoli aged in large Slavonian oak barrels and a small percentage was aged in stainless steel vats.  The wine was bottled in January 2021.

 

Climate

 

The 2019 growing season followed normal weather patterns with winter months that were cold and dry.  The beginning of spring was cool and rainy, especially during April and May.  June brought hot temperatures but wasn’t interrupted by heat spikes; the amount of rainfall was slightly higher than average allowing the vines and clusters to develop and prosper.  Ideal climatic conditions from the end of August to the beginning of October allowed the grapes for Pèppoli to achieve peak ripeness.  Harvesting began on September 13th and was completed the first week of October.

 

 

Tenuta Pèppoli

 

Expression of the fruit fragrance of the Chianti Classico area

 

The Pèppoli estate is located 5 kilometers north east of the Tenuta Tignanello estate with a total area of 100 hectares (247 acres) of which 50 hectares (123 acres) are planted with vineyards and is home to Peppoli Chianti Classico DOCG.

 

The Peppoli estate has a long standing tradition for producing Peppoli Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Peppoli Red Wine Vinegar made by transforming Peppoli wine into vinegar using traditional methods.

 

The History

 

In 1379, when the Guelphs were defeated by the Ghibellines, the nearby monastery of Badia a Passignano was partially destroyed and later abandoned.  Its extensive properties, including Tenuta Pèppoli, were divided among Florentine noble families.  The first owners were the Gondi family and then the Cerchi family who built a small elegant chapel dedicated to their ancestor Saint Umiliana in the sixteenth century.  The chapel has been recently restored to its original splendor.  Marchesi Antinori has owned the estate since 1985, the year of their 600th anniversary of the family’s winemaking business.  The Vallombrosian monks have cared for the vineyards since the Middle Ages.

 

Vineyards and Olive Groves

 

Despite the vineyards unusual eastern/northeastern exposure, the microclimate is ideal.  The small surrounding valley keeps the area warm and protected and its gravelly soils are rich in minerals that give the Sangiovese grape a lively fruity character.  Pèppoli’s vineyards are planted primarily to Sangiovese with a small percentage of complementary varieties such as Merlot, Syrah and Malvasia.  There are 27 hectares (67 acres) of olive groves with 5,500 olive trees some of which are centuries old.  Frantoio, Leccino and Moraiolo varieties are grown for the production of Pèppoli’s Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

 

The Cellar

 

Since 2013, vinification of Pèppoli’s grapes takes place in the cellars at Antinori nel Chianti Classico.  Aging occurs in traditional large barrels of Slavonian oak and a small portion of production in stainless steel vats.

 

An Expression of the Fruit

 

Pèppoli is a wine to be enjoyed and appreciated as a perfect expression of the Chianti Classico territory, its history and its traditional grape varieties through its characteristic floral and fruity aromas.

 

Antinori

 

A story passed down through 26 generations

 

The Antinori family has been committed to the art of winemaking for over six centuries since 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori became a member, of the “Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri”, the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild.  All throughout its history, twenty-six generations long, the Antinori family has managed the business directly making innovative and sometimes bold decisions while upholding the utmost respect for traditions and the environment.

 

Today, Albiera Antinori is the president of Marchesi Antinori with the continuous close support of her two sisters, Allegra and Alessia, all actively involved in first person in the business.  Their father, Marchese Piero Antinori, is the current Honorary President of the company.  Tradition, passion, and intuition are the three driving forces that led Marchesi Antinori to establish itself as one of the most important winemakers of elite Italian wine.

 

Ancient Family Roots

 

Each vintage, each plot of land, each new idea to be advanced is a new beginning, a new pursuit for achieving higher quality standards.  As Marchese Piero loves to say: “Ancient family roots play an important part in our philosophy but they have never hindered our innovative spirit.” 

 

The family’s historical heritage lies in their estates in Tuscany and Umbria, however over the years they have invested in many other areas, both in Italy and abroad, well known for producing high quality wine, opening up new opportunities to appreciate and develop unique new terroirs with great winemaking potential.  Marchesi Antinori’s passion for viticulture is expressed through perseverance: their continuous pursuit for quality improvement, even in the smallest details.  Research and development is an ongoing process both in the vineyards and in the cellars: selecting new clones of local and international varieties: experimenting with new techniques in the vineyards and vineyard altitudes, new approaches to fermentation and temperature control, experimenting with both traditional and innovative winemaking philosophies, using new types of oak for barrels, barrel size and age, and varying length of aging in the bottle before commercial release   “We have demonstrated, over the years, that in Tuscany and in Umbria there was the possibility of producing excellent wines, widely recognized at an international level, which showed both elegance and finesse while maintaining their original character.  Our library contains many volumes, but for us it is not rich enough.  We have a mission that has not yet been entirely carried out, something that drives us to express the vast potential of our vineyards and to reconcile new discoveries yet to be disclosed with the patrimony of Tuscan style.  A patrimony which includes tradition, culture, agriculture, art, and literature all of which represents the identity of the Marchesi Antinori company.  One of our main strengths is the fact that we are Tuscan or, if you prefer, our fundamentally Tuscan character”, says Piero Antinori.