Castellare di Castellina - I Sodi di San Niccolo - Toscana IGT 2018
It’s a story of great wines written by Paolo Panerai: journalist, editor and wine enthusiast who, since the end of the ’70s until today, has created the Domini Castellare di Castellina group which today accounts for four prestigious wineries, including the first and historic Castellare di Castellina, managed since 1979 in Chianti and Rocca di Frassinello, a joint-venture with Château Lafite Rothschild. Four wineries overseen by one of the most important oenologists in Italy, Alessandro Cellai, a proud pupil of Giacomo Tachis, the greatest Italian winemaker.
A winning combination that has given birth to a wide range of award-winning wines. Castellare’s flagship wine I Sodi di S. Niccolò was the first Italian wine to be included in the 1988 Top 100 by Wine Spectator with the 1985 vintage; same recognition in 1989 with the 1986 vintage. Furthermore, it has conquered, twice, first with the 2013 vintage and then with the 2016, the title of first Italian wine, adding the scores of the Italian and foreign critics.
Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di S. Niccolò, is one of the few Italian Supertuscans made exclusively with native vines: 85% Sangioveto and 15% Malvasia Nera. The name derives from the word used by Tuscan peasants to describe those lands that must be worked by hand, being too hard (Sodi) or too steep to allow the use of oxen. San Niccolò, on the other hand, is the name of the 14th century church that rises on the property of Castellare around which some of the most suitable vineyards are located. On the label, the iconic bird, always present on the red wines of Castellare, is a symbol of the daily commitment to sustainable viticulture that the winery has been carrying out for over 40 years.
Born from the union of four estates, Castellare di Castellina covers a total of 80 hectares. The vineyards occupy 33 hectares on the hillsides of a natural southeast-facing amphitheater, at an average height of 370 meters above sea level.
Weather conditions
The 2018 season began with an early bud break due to higher than average temperatures in March and April, followed by a fairly rainy May. In general, the spring in Chianti Classico was characterized by temperatures 3-4 ° lower than the average for the period, while the summer was quite normal. A wonderful September, with a succession of sunny days and a significant temperature range between day and night, then allowed us to reach a perfect phenolic and aromatic ripening of the grapes.
Tasting notes
“I Sodi di S. Niccolò 2018 is characterized by a great olfactory intensity and a dense and elegant texture of sweet tannins, supported by the acidity of Sangioveto, even more marked in this fresh year which made the sip particularly pleasant and crunchy, with a long and persistent finish. Ready immediately and, at the same time, suitable for a very long aging”.
Alessandro Cellai, Winemaker