Il Poggio Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. Gran Selezione
It was Il Poggio vineyard, way back in 1962, that heralded the start of Castello di Monsanto’s journey in wine production, with the first harvest overseen by founder Fabrizio Bianchi. Still to this day, the company’s most iconic bottle, Il Poggio, is the first Chianti Classico to feature the name of the specific vineyard from which it comes. White grapes were removed from the recipe in 1968. Il Poggio is the source – thanks to massal selection – of all the Sangiovese, Colorino and Canaiolo vines in the winery’s other vineyards. Over 100,00 bottles have been produced and all of them spend time aging in the castle’s historic cellar, showcasing the wine’s stunning capacity for aging.
Designation
Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. Riserva
First year of production
1962
Grape varieties
90% Sangiovese; 10% Canaiolo and Colorino
Training system
Guyot and spurred cordon
Vinification
In temperature-controlled truncated conical steel vats with emptying system (Délestage) and pumping over for about 20/22 days
Maturazione o invecchiamento
In 500 litre French oak casks, some new and some second passage, for 18/20 months
Ageing
Two years of bottle aging
Climate trend
A rainy and mild winter came before a spring which started 10 days earlier than usual, with temperatures above the seasonal average in April. Between the end of May and the beginning of June, abundant rains guaranteed optimal water supply to the vines with vegetative growth earlier than average. Constant summer heat, with some days in August above 35° C, helped the perfect ripening of the grapes and a few days of light rain at the end of August sustained the ongoing early development of the vines’ phenological phases. Groundwater reserves and optimal temperature range were essential. As a consequence, 2011’s harvest began 10 days in advance and was carried out from the beginning of September until early October. Grapes were in perfect condition.
