Our Chardonnay is the brainchild of Fabrizio Bianchi, who – in the mid-1970s – decided to plant these vines on the winery’s land outside of the Chianti Classico denomination. Inspired by the great white wines of Burgundy, it was initially fermented entirely in wooden tanks, but since 2000 the volume of oak-fermented grapes has been steadily decreasing – with 70% of the grapes now fermented in stainless steel tanks. There is a large stock of our Chardonnay in our cellar, illustrating this wine’s ability to stand up to the passage of time
Designation
I.G.T. Toscana Bianco
First year of production
1990
Grape varieties
100% Chardonnay
Training system
Guyot and spurred cordon
Vinification
Two thirds of the grapes are vinified in steel vats at controlled temperature, the remaining part in French oak "tonneaux" where it remains on the lees for about 6/7 months
Ageing
One year of bottle aging
Climate trend
2017 was one of the driest years of the last decades. The first months of the year were variable with some rainfall only at the end of February and March. Some late frosts occurred after that, but from May onwards there was little rainfall and temperatures were always above the seasonal average. There were often high heat spikes in July and August. Only during the first days in September did some rainfall occur, not a lot, but sufficient to stop the heat that had been straining the vines for a long time and to successfully finish the grape ripening process. In order to confront these unusual weather conditions, it was essential to focus on vineyard management and experience in the winemaking process in order to obtain healthy grapes. Despite the significant decrease in production, the 2017 wines are pleasantly surprising in terms of quality. The colour gives a wonderful impression because in general it conveys a very interesting, lively and deep intensity. The aromas are also enjoyable, they are intense, varied with important fruity notes. Tannins are generally mature and smooth in the mouth but with great acidity and minerality which distinguish the Sangiovese grown on Galestro soil. Overall, despite the warm harvest, all the 2017 wines produced at Castello di Monsanto have the potential to improve with age.
