Rocca Delle Macie Tenuta Sant' Alfonso Chianti Classico 2016 (750ml)

 

Rated 91 Points by Wine Spectator

 

“This red evokes smoke and tar flavors, along with blackberry, plum and iron notes.  Bright, dense and persistent on the lengthy finish.  Gains fruit and purity with air, so decant now or wait a few years.  Best from 2019 through 2029.”  December 15, 2017

 

Rocca Delle Macie Tenuta Sant' Alfonso

 

Chianti Classico 2016

 

Single Vineyard

 

This wine provides proof positive of how Sangiovese succeeds in expressing different aspects of its character depending on the soil in which it is cultivated, the different clones used and the type of vinification applied.

Chianti Classico Tenuta Sant’Alfonso is one of the winery’s most well-established wines and one of the two prestigious crus produced today with 100% Sangiovese grapes cultivated exclusively on the Sant’Alfonso estate.  Based on the studies and experiments conducted in the vineyard, it emerged that the most clay-rich and least gravelly soils of this estate, combined with the use of specific clones of Sangiovese, caused the grapes to develop and mature with a higher concentration of polyphenols and aromatic substances.

The result is this opulent, juicy Chianti Classico, which is awash with fruity overtones of amarena cherries and blackberries, as well as spicy notes of licorice and coffee.  It also boasts a well-balanced, pleasant structure on the palate.

 

Varietal:  100% Sangiovese

 

Wine Description

 

Color:  Intense ruby red.

 

Bouquet:  Intense and rich nose, with a pronounced sensation of ripe red fruit and spices.

 

Taste:  Warm, smooth and with a good structure.  Great smoothness with a good balance of tannins.

 

Winemaker’s Recommendations

 

Although not classed as a Riserva, with its immensely refined organoleptic qualities, generous body and extensive ageability, it has the characteristics to be a great companion of full flavored entrees such as roasts and game.  Stored properly it can age for 5/6 years.

 

Service:  18/20°C.

 

Alcohol:  14%

 

Production Technique

 

Chianti Classico Tenuta Sant’Alfonso is fermented using the most advanced techniques to preserve the grapes’ natural concentration, and is subsequently transferred to French oak barrels with a capacity of 35 hectoliters, where it ages for around one year.  Follows a period in the bottle before being released.

 

Tenuta Sant’Alfonso

 

Acquired in the same year as Le Macìe (1973), this estate is composed of 125 hectares (309 acres), of which 36.5 (90 acres) are given over to vineyards (mainly Sangiovese, Colorino, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) and 12.5 (31 acres) to olive groves.  In the plots on this estate, Sangiovese plays a leading role; indeed, the composition of the soil (richer in clay and with less gravel than others) together with the specific clones of Sangiovese used favor the optimum maturation of the bunches with a higher concentration of polyphenols and aromatic substances.  These grapes are used to produce one of the winery’s prestigious single vineyard wine, 100% Sangiovese:  Chianti Classico Tenuta Sant’Alfonso.

 

Total surface area:  310 acres (125 ha)

 

Vineyard surface area:  90.5 acres (36.5 ha)

 

Olive grove surface area:  31 acres (12.5 ha)

 

Grape Varieties Cultivated:  Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Colorino

 

Soil Type:  Miocene deposits with a clayeyloamy texture, slightly alkaline

 

Principal Exposure:  Southwest/Northeast

 

Rootstock:  779 P – 775 P – 1103 P

 

Training System:  Cordon de Royat and Guyot

 

Vine Spacing:  7.9 x 2.45 feet

 

Planting Density:  2249 vines per acre

 

Year of planting:  1998/2001 – 2002/2009 – 2011/2013

 

Average Altitude:  850 - 557 feet above sea level

 

 

Rocca delle Macie

 

Famiglia Zingarelli

 

Winegrowers in the Chianti Classico Area Since 1973

 

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973, when Italo Zingarelli – producer of Ettore Scola’s “We All Loved Each Other So Much”, and also of the wildly popular series of films featuring comedy duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (including “They Call Me Trinity” and “Trinity Is Still My Name”) – decided to realize his lifelong dream by acquiring the “Le Macìe” estate – extending across 93 hectares (230 acres) in all, of which only two were under vine – in order to create a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone.

 

Love and passion for the Tuscan land are handed on from Italo to his sons Sergio and Fabio and to his daughter Sandra.  In 1985, Sergio, Italo’s youngest son, became personally responsible for the worldwide distribution network and in 1989, with his wife Daniela at his side, was appointed Company President.

As part of Sergio’s long term business strategy and of his determination to achieve quality, he consolidates and develops, together with the collaboration of his sister Sandra, the paternal company which becomes popular worldwide, gaining many prizes and recognitions for his wines.

 

Rocca delle Macìe Today

 

Chianti Classico and Maremma, the two viticulture area of productions

 

The company estate now extends to more than 500 hectares (1250 acres) with, in total, more than 200 (500 acres) used as vineyards and 22 (54 acres) as olive groves, subdivided across the company’s six estates: Le Macìe, Sant’Alfonso, Fizzano e le Tavolelle in the Chianti Classico Area, in addition to the Campomaccione and Casa Maria estates in the Morellino di Scansano Area (Maremma).

 

 

Rated 91 Points by Wine Spectator

 

“This red evokes smoke and tar flavors, along with blackberry, plum and iron notes.  Bright, dense and persistent on the lengthy finish.  Gains fruit and purity with air, so decant now or wait a few years.  Best from 2019 through 2029.”  December 15, 2017