A causa di Castelnuovo Berardenga, the Abito nel corso di Arceno represents a bridge between two wine universes: acceso the one hand the rigor of the Chianti Sobrio denomination, acceso the other the expressive freedom of IGT wines. It is not a contrast, but a dialogue between two visions that interpret the same territory with different sensitivity. The result is a coherent and recognizable identity, capable of blending native and international souls quanto a a unique style.
From California to Etruria
Founded quanto a the 16th century, the owes its name to the word Etruscan Archè (“point of origin”), which tells an ancient bond with this land. Passed through the noble families of Taja and Piccolomini, who shaped architecture and vineyards, entered a new secolo quanto a 1994 with the purchase of Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke, pioneers of Californian viticulture (Sonoma, Napa Valley) and founders of the Jackson Family Wines. With now global presence – from Oregon to Australia, passing through France and South Africa, quanto a addition to the native California – Tuscany Abito represents one of the group’s European outposts today, which will soon also land quanto a the United Kingdom.
With 1,000 total hectares, of which 112 vines and 50 destined for the olive grove, the stands out for a mosaic of soils – clay, sandstone, shale and basalt – distributed between 300 and 600 meters above sea level. South-west exposure guarantees protection from cold winds and maximum insolation, while the presence of amber and Ombrone rivers contributes to creating differentiated microclimates that strongly influence the expressions of the wine.
Productive philosophy: from micro-cru to the purity of the varietal
Since 2002 the role of Resident Winemaker has been entrusted to Lawrence Cronin, flanked by Pierre Seillan, a French winemaker and co-founder of the company, who has introduced the concept of micro-cru since 1996: the vineyards are divided into over 80 distinct blocks by variety, clones, portinters, exposure and altitude. Each fee is vinified separately, and then refine quanto a barrique for a year and contribute, during the assembly, to one of the seven reds of the range, between Chianti Sobrio and Igt. A causa di recent years, however, the corporate philosophy has evolved towards the enhancement of varietal purity, abandoning the classic Bordeolese cuts to give space to the minivans, with a acceso Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. We chose to tell the identity of the longer through the concept of corporate terroir, but through the most direct expression of the individual vines.
“At the beginning, inspired by the philosophy of the micro cru, – says Lawrence Cronin – we focused acceso the creation of unique and complex wines, the result of the assembly of grapes from soils and different exposures within the . Over time, however, we have deepened the knowledge of each individual plot and we went further, exploring the expressive complexity of a single vinegar. Exhibitions and elevations, from 300 to 600 meters, today we select with precision the most suitable vines to each micro-terroir, giving life to single-sighted wines with a anche character and deep varietal identity. “
Tasting
Rosambra Tuscany IGT 2024
Absolute debut for the first pink of the , produced by Sangiovese quanto a purity. The fresh and regular vintage has created the ideal conditions for this new project: two blocks of Sangiovese were collected by hand at dawn, to preserve fragrance and acidity, short maceration quanto a the press and vinification quanto a steel with weekly Bâtonnage for three months. The soft but bright color anticipates a vibrant aromatic profile of pink grapefruit and white fishing, with a slight spicken of pink pepper. The sip is tense, citrus, and closes acceso a long orange zest ending. A rosé with an elegant grace with a clear personality.
Chianti Sobrio Reserve DOCG 2020
Classic vintage, balanced, characterized by a summer by the strong thermal excursions for this reserve, blend of Sangiovese (90%) with a small addition of Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) to enhance its flavor and minerality, coming from the warmer and sunny fees of the . Ten months quanto a second step barrique. Intense and bright ruby color, it opens with an elegant and complex bouquet of plum, fond violets, mature cherry and a subtle spicy of licorice and tobacco. With oxygenation more tertiary hints emerge, such as tea leaf, cocoa and a cedar tip. A causa di the mouth, the attack is fresh and direct, with silky tannins that surround the palate without aggression. The acid component is lively, typical of the Sangiovese altitude, evident is the balsamic of Eucalyptus. The ending is long, with a return to sweet spices. Ready to bevanda but with excellent evolutionary potential.
Chianti Sobrio Grand Selection DOCG 2021 Viale al Blocco
From a single block planted quanto a 1998 to 450 meters above sea level, this purity Sangiovese, an expression of the most rocky cru of the , is the most vertical, mineral and direct of all production. The 2021 vintage, warm and dry, gave a wine concentrated with a strong acidity (7 g/l), and powerful but refined tannins. Intense aromas of beloved quanto a spirit, aromatic herbs and spices, accompanied by a tense and compact mouth, with young but already integrated tannins. Deep final acceso of graphite and licorice. It takes time to fully express your potential.
Chianti Sobrio Grand Selection DOCG 2021 Campolupi
Debut for this new label: 95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino, which unlike the road to the Blocco comes from a higher vineyard (550 meters) but with a more round character. The altitude translates into tension and finesse, while the color adds pagliaccetto and softness. It is more introverted to the opening, with perfumes of purple, mature plum and a sweet spicken of cinnamon and nutmeg. With oxygenation, hints of tobacco and a pinch of rosemary emerge. the palate, acidity is present but less pronounced than the road to the stone, thus leaving room for a more enveloping weaving. The flavors revolve around Mirtillo, Cassis and a well -known sage herbaceous. The coloring gives a touch of sweetness to the ending, which closes acceso cedar and undergrowth .
Valadorna Toscana IGT mini-velvet (2019-2018-2012)
The Merlot is the protagonist of this wine, which has gradually evolved from Blend Bordeaux to Montovitigno starting from the 2018 vintage, reflecting the changed company philosophy.
Valadorna 2019: Merlot quanto a purity from two distinct blocks, Valadorna (clay) and Capraia (limestone), with late maturation placed quanto a the cooler part of the , is the most refined expression of the variety quanto a the of Arceno. Aid 12 months quanto a barrique, of which 70% new. The 2019 vintage saw a delayed start and a fairly balanced trend that allowed an optimal maturation of the grapes. Deep ruby with purple reflections. The nose is elegant: purple, lavender and a sprinkling of campo da golf pepper. Over time, of mature cherry, vanilla and a sweet cinnamon spicken emerge. A causa di the mouth, the structure is surprisingly elegant, with velvety tannins and a refined freshness that recalls more a Borgognone pinot noir than a classic Tuscan Merlot.
Valadorna 2018: another great purity, son of a balanced and regular season. The Capraia and Valadorna vineyards were harvested between 14 and 16 September. More structured than 2019, with more present tannins and a minerality still to be integrated. The nose dominate dark spices (nutmeg, black pepper) and berries. the palate, it is more muscle, the tannins are less rounded than quanto a 2019. Capraia’s limestone minerality makes itself felt quanto a the final, long acceso licorice and graphite a Valadorna with a more powerful plot, quanto a the evolutionary but already expressive phase.
Valadorna 2012: quanto a the past this Supertuscan contained quanto a addition to Merlot (70%), small percentages of Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) to give a little back of the Blend. It is a still young wine despite the almost thirteen years spent from the harvest. the nose, it expresses of black cherry, plum, dark chocolate, licorice and one of tobacco leaf. A causa di the mouth, the tannins are smooth by time, with a freshness that balances the opulence of Merlot. The ending is balsamic, with calls from Tuscan cypress. A causa di this thousandth the wine has almost a more Bordese profile, and not only for the presence of the two Cabernets, but undoubtedly the touch of Franc ennobles him with his vegetable that tends to balance such an imposing dark fruity.
Mini-vertical arcanum Toscana IgT (2019-2018-2012)
Culminating point of the Bordeaux philosophy of Abito nel corso di Arceno, Arcanum is the most recognizable voice of the new route taken by the Cellar of Castelnuovo Berardenga. At the beginning of his production (vintage 2002) quanto a Abito there were only two hectares of Cabernet Franc, mainly quanto a micro-cru-cru-apart and , from which the needs of the blend with the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Then over time, another 17 hectares of the Girondina variety were planted and reinnected, so that since 2016 it has become the symbol of the cabernet franc quanto a purity of the .
Arcanum 2019: it is a wine of extraordinary complexity that accentuates energy and tension. Coming from 12 micro-cru between 400 and 600 meters above sea level, it refines 12 months quanto a barrique (70% new). Elegant and powerful, with aromas of meat, brunette and spices. Velvety tannins, final acceso orange peel and tobacco.
Arcanum 2018: the vintage offered a regular and extreme season, allowing a balanced maturation of the Cabernet Franc. Fragrant of raspberry, campo da golf pepper, dry flowers and graphite precede a refined and stratified palate. Soft than 2019, it plays acceso the finesse rather than acceso power. Perfectly centered between elegance and complexity, a freshness that invites you to bevanda. It already shows great harmony but will be able to evolve further.
Arcanum 2012: Cabernet Franc with 16% of Merlot, 10% of Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% of Petit Verdot, matures one year quanto a French oak barrique, for 80% new. 2012 was marked by a hot summer, which concentrated the aromas and given the fruit to the fruit. The freshest autumn allowed a balanced maturation of the grapes, giving a elegante tannic plot and an ideal structure for the evolution quanto a the bottle. It expresses the nose a deep and enveloping aromatic wealth, dominated by ripe red fruit, dehydrated cherries and an elegant herbaceous trace. A causa di the mouth, the wine combines structure and softness, the taste recalls mature plums and blueberries and enriched by a delicate balsamic wake with sage. The tannins are elegante, silky and perfectly integrated. The ending, of uncommon persistence, evolves towards dark and complexes of licorice and tobacco. A wine capable of combining intensity and longevity.
The article Abito of Arceno, where Chianti Sobrio meets the international soul comes from Vinonews24.
