Fèlsina Berardenga, Vin Santo
Vintage: 2017
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | FE111H17 | 6 x 37.5 | Natural Cork | Contact Us |
Producer
Fèlsina, in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, epitomises the bold, powerful style of southern Chianti, making wines stylistically more akin to Montalcino than those of fellow Chianti producers, Fontodi or Isole e Olena.
Giuseppe Mazzocolin ran the 470-hectare estate from the end of the 1970s until 2011. He is now less involved in the day-to-day management, while consultant oenologist Franco Bernabei heads up the winemaking team. Fèlsina’s reputation is defined by its exemplary vineyards and quality-focused winemaking, resulting in wines that are “incredibly distinctive archetypes of Castelnuovo Berardenga” (Antonio Galloni, vinous.com)
The barrel-fermented Chardonnay ‘I Sistri’ is made from 60% free-run juice and combines a ripe, buttery nose with a touch of tropical fruit on the palate, while maintaining a fresh finish. The Fèlsina Chianti Classico is fresh and vibrant with remarkable elegance. The Chianti Classico Riserva has an impressive structure. It is fleshy and powerful with bright acidity, evident but supple tannins and a lovely minerality that carries through to a long finish. ‘Rancia’ comprises a six-hectare Sangiovese vineyard planted on sandstone, chalk and galestro soils. The resulting wine is aged for 12– 18 months in oak, creating a concentrated yet elegant expression with black and red berry fruit and a fine character.
The ‘Fontalloro’ is made solely from Sangiovese from three vineyards, two of which sit just outside the Classico border. It has a powerful structure and an excellent concentration of tannins. The Gran Selezione ‘Colonia’ is made from a Sangiovese vineyard that was replanted in 1993 after many years of hard work on this difficult but rewarding site. Aged for 30 months in French oak 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.
Vineyards
The grapes come from two vineyards, Valli and Il Poggiolo, in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, on the southern border of the Chianti Classico denomination, southeast of Siena. The vines are Guyot trained, with many over 35 years old. Soils are calcareous in the Chianti Classico area, and loamy and sandy on the borders of the Crete Senesi. Vines are planted at a density of 5,400 per hectare.
Vintage
The 2017 vintage started with a cold winter, followed by a mild spring, with temperatures exceeding 20°C in March, triggering early budbreak. A late frost in April damaged some shoots and reduced yields. Summer was hot, with record temperatures in late July, but the vines showed minimal damage. By mid-August, temperatures returned to normal, and late-summer rainfall refreshed the vineyards. Harvest was brought forward by around 15 days, and ideal weather in September allowed for careful two-pass hand-harvesting. Although yields were down approximately 20%, the fruit was of exceptional quality.
Vinification
After rigorous selection, the clusters were naturally dried on mats until December or January. The dried grapes were then pressed, and the must transferred to 100-litre oak casks, where it aged with the ‘mother’ for seven years in the vinsantaia. The ‘mother’ - a residue from previous vintages - follows the ancient Vin Santo di Fèlsina tradition, passing from cask to cask. Finally, the wine spent a minimum of six months in bottle, producing a Vin Santo of exceptional depth and character.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
Golden yellow in colour with copper highlights, the wine shows aromas of peach and apricot, complemented by pineapple and other tropical fruit notes. The complex palate is well weighted, with supple fruit and toasty nuances from well-integrated oak. Lively acidity is balanced by the sweetness of the dried grapes, while baked apricot and candied pineapple carry through to a long, lingering finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
14.5%
Acidity
6.93 g/l
Residual Sugar
198 g/l
pH
3.5
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fèlsina Berardenga | `I Sistri` Chardonnay | FE101 | W | Factsheet | |
| `Rancia` Chianti Classico Riserva | FE104 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `Fontalloro` | FE105 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | FE117 | OO | Factsheet |