Made from Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes harvested in October and left to dry until early February, Castello di Monsanto’s Vinsanto is produced according to strict traditions. The must is stored for a decade in small casks, which are exposed to the elements in the Vinsantaia throughout summer and winter. No technological analysis is performed – all that’s required is infinite passion for a great Chianti tradition. This sweet wine is not just for desserts, its acidic structure gives an outstanding elegance and persistence, enabling it to stand up to unusual food pairings.
Designation
Vinsanto
First year of production
1970
Grape varieties
50% Trebbiano and 50% Malvasia
Training system
Guyot
Vinification
Withered grapes on racks
Maturazione o invecchiamento
12 years in 50 and 100 litre casks made from chestnut, oak, and cherry wood.
Ageing
One year of bottle aging
Climate trend
Most Tuscan growers regard 1985 as one of the vintages of the Century. The winter was unusually cold – everyone remembers the freeze that year, which decimated the olive trees - and the spring was also rainy with below-average temperatures. However, the initiation of the vegetation cycle was generally routine and flowering and fruit set were good. At the end of July, weather conditions changed unexpectedly. A long, hot summer followed by nice weather that persisted throughout the period of the harvest assured a vintage of grapes that were healthy and endowed with extremely high levels of sugar.