Fabrizio Bianchi Chardonnay

Fabrizio Bianchi Chardonnay I.G.T. Toscana

Fabrizio Bianchi Chardonnay

I.G.T. Toscana

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

In 2010 a cold winter, with temperatures hovering around freezing point, gave way to a cool, rainy spring that slightly delayed the onset of budding. The heat that arrived in July, however, considerably sped up the growth cycle. The groundwater reserves had accumulated over winter and spring, and received fresh input from frequent summer rains, so they enabled the vines to withstand the heat during the first half of July, thus avoiding heat stress and promoting excellent-quality fruit. August and the first half of September were hot, but with temperatures that were below average. The second half of September and the first part of October brought splendid days and stable conditions. The beautiful sunny days in the final days of September and early October, with their high temperatures, particularly in the middle of the day, contributed to making this a high-quality harvest.

Fabrizio Bianchi Chardonnay