Fèlsina Berardenga, `Rancia` Chianti Classico Riserva 2018
PL Award 1: SILVER - IWC 2016
Country: Italy Region: Tuscany Vintage: 2012
Varietal: Sangiovese and blends Category: Red Wine Color: Red
Producer: Fèlsina Berardenga
"This 470 hectare estate is located northeast of Siena, in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga on the southern border of the Chianti Classico production area. Fèlsina epitomises the powerful style of southern Chianti, where the wines are stylistically more akin to those from Montalcino than their fellow Chianti from Fontodi or Isole e Olena.
Giuseppe Mazzocolin ran the estate from the end of the 1970s until 2011. He is now less involved in the day to day management, but consultant oenologist Franco Bernabei is still very much at the helm of the winemaking team.
The Fèlsina Chianti Classico is fresh and vibrant with remarkable elegance. Their barrel-fermented Chardonnay 'I Sistri' is made from 60% free-run must and combines a ripe, buttery nose with a touch of tropical fruit on the palate, while maintaining a fresh finish. 'Vigneto Rancia' is a six hectare Sangiovese vineyard on sandstone, chalk and galestro soils. The wine is aged for 12-18 months in oak and is concentrated yet elegant with dark, red and blackberry fruit and a fine character. The 'Fontalloro' is made solely from Sangiovese grapes grown on three vineyards, two of which sit just outside the Classico border. It is typically characterised by a powerful structure and great concentration of tannins.
The 2009 Gran Selezione Colonia is made from Sangiovese grapes grown on a vineyard that was finally planted in 1993, after many years of extremely hard work on this difficult but rewarding site. Aged for 30 months in French oak for and only produced in very small quantities it displays a unique complexity and intensity which justifies its position at the apex of premium Chianti Classico wines."
Product Features: Sustainable;Vegan;Vegetarian
Winemaker: Franco Bernabei
Vineyards:
The Rancia vineyard lies entirely within the Chianti Classico zone, in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, north east of Siena. It sits at 400 metres above sea level, facing south. The vines were planted between 1958-1982, with newer plantings using genetic material from the old Rancia vineyard. Vines are trained according to a simple Guyot system, with an average yield of 40-45 hectolitres per hectare. Soils are quartzitic blue-grey sandstone, with layers of sand and calcareous albarese mixed with alluvial pebbles. In the higher areas, the soil is a limestone marl galestro mix.
Vinification:
After de-stemming and crushing, fermentation took place at 28-30°C, with automatic daily punching down of the cap, followed by 12-15 days maceration. Towards the end of fermentation, the wine was racked into small and medium oak barrels in March-April where it remained for 12-18 months. It aged for a further 6-10 months in bottle before release.
Tasting Notes:
Deep ruby red in colour with a spicy nose with floral and wild berry notes. Great elegance and finesse on the palate with a fine mineral note. It is opulent with ripe berry characters and a long, spicy finish.
Food Suggestion: Great with rich tomato pasta dishes, spicy Italian sausages or simply a hard cheese such as Pecorino.
Closure: Natural Cork ABV:14.5% Classification: DOCG Acidity [g/l]: 5.6
