Capezzana, Vin Santo di Carmignano

Capezzana, in the Carmignano zone to the west of Florence, is owned and run by the Contini Bonacossi family who are the latest in a long line of owners. The history of the estate has been found to stretch back to 804 AD. This is evidenced by contracts to rent vines and olive groves at Capezzana, signed in this period, which exist in the archives in Florence.

Today, the responsibility for ensuring the continuation of such longevity lies with the fourth generation of the Contini Bonacossi family. Beatrice Contini Bonacossi looks after all marketing and communication aspects, while her sister Benedetta is in charge of winemaking. Franco Bernabei is their consultant winemaker, under whose guidance the Capezzana wines have achieved additional focus and personality.

The estate comprises 80 hectares of vineyard and 30,000 olive trees, all of which are farmed organically. The wines were certified organic from the 2015 vintage. Capezzana’s reds display supple and silky tannins combined with luminous fruit. The ‘Barco Reale’ is rounded and ripe with a great balance between fruit and structure. The ‘Villa di Capezzana’ Carmignano is made with 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for an average of 12 months in French oak. The resulting wine is beautifully intense and elegant.

The ’Ugo Contini Bonacossi’ pays homage to the family’s late patriarch who was a great advocate and ambassador of the Carmignano denomination. The wine is 100% Sangiovese, sourced from the Viticciana vineyard Ugo himself selected. In 1979, Ugo and Vittorio Contini Bonacossi decided to produce a Bordeaux blend in Carmignano. ‘Ghiaie della Furba’ is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot grapes, planted on gravelly soils (Ghiaie) near the Furba stream after which the wine is named. The Trebbiano shows aromas of yellow flowers, almonds and vanilla from oak ageing. Intense and harmonic on the palate, it has a refreshing acidity and a persistent finish.