2019 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione "Coltassala", Tuscany, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

The Coltassala vineyard shares its location and name with a villa. The first Super-Tuscans were created in the 1970s by Chianti Classico producers who rejected government mandates that determined which grapes were required to go into their wine, especially with grapes like Trebbiano and Malvasia. The Super-Tuscans were also treated differently from Chianti, aged in small French barriques rather than large Slavonian oak casks. Because the Super-Tuscans did not follow the DOC regulations, the Super-Tuscans were entitled only to the lowest official designation of the time—Vino da tavola. It wasn’t until 1994 that government recognized the high quality of Super-Tuscans and gave the wine it’s own category—IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica). Volpaia first released Coltassala in 1980 as a Super-Tuscan. The Chianti Classico appellation followed suit, closing the quality gap between Chianti Classico and SuperTuscans. Now Coltassala is a Chianti Classico Riserva Cru even though it’s the same SuperTuscan wine of 1980. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Mammolo aged for 24 months in new French oak, and a minimum 6 month in the bottle.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Volpaia dates back to 1172. In 1250, Volpaia was a founding member of the Lega del Chianti (Chianti League). The Florentine Republic formed the Lega by dividing its communities into three districts — Castellina, Radda, Gaiole — and allotting each a certain amount of territory. Volpaia was included in the League’s Terziere di Radda. The territories were front-line garrison towns for Florence in the Florentine-Sienese wars, and the emblem for the Chianti League was the “Gallo Nero,” or “Black Rooster” — the current trademark for Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico.

One of the highest-elevation winery in the Chianti area, Castello di Volpaia owns 46 hectares (114 acres) of vineyards, which are situated at 450 to 600 meters (1,300 to 2,130 feet) on the southern hillsides leading up to the village.

Volpaia is committed to organic farming practices in all of its estate vineyards and complies with all of the organic viticulture legislation in the production of its wines (European Community Legislation, rg CE 834/2007 Organic Agricolture; EU Certification 203/3012 for Organic Wine; Controller Q Certificazioni srl).