Felsina - Fontalloro 2011

This is a very dense dark and big wine from Tuscany. Ruby red color with rich and intense tones. Beautiful aroma of herbs accentuated with generous notes of tobacco and wet earth (dry earth, as well), black currant and licorice. The palate reveals medium-smooth tannins and a rich structure and weight with an elegant finish.

Requires food!! (lamb or game)

Fontalloro is the most representative expression of Fèlsina’s Sangiovese.
Fontalloro grapes come from vineyards straddling the border between Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi denomination. The vineyards lying within the Chianti Classico appellation are in the highest area of Fèlsina while those in the Chianti Colli Senesi are lower down (407-330 meters above sea level). With a southwestern exposure, the grapes are influenced by diverse soil compositions: on the Chianti Classico side the soil is stony and calcareous; on the Crete Senesi side the soil is sandy, loamy and silty with pebbles and marine sediments. The first vintage was in 1983. The wine is an IGT as the grapes comes from two different appelations.

After the quality-selected clusters are de-stemmed and pressed, the must is fermented and macerated in stainless steel for 16-20 days at 28°C and 30°C, with programmed punchdowns and daily pumpovers. In March-April, the new wine goes into new and into first used French oak barrels; after 18-22 months of maturation, the final blend is assembled, bottled, and ages in glass a minimum of 8-12 months.

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