Castellare Chianti Classico 2019 Arquilla

Castellare di Castellina, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, covers a total of 80 hectares – including 20 occupied by olive groves. The vineyards occupy 33 hectares on the hillsides of a natural south-east facing amphitheatre, at an average height of 370 meters above sea level. The vines are aged between 7 and over 45 years, and yields per hectare are kept very low to obtain the maximum quality. Excellent exposure to the sun, good water drainage and a mixed soil containing limestone marl, galestro and little clay produce well-structured, intense wines, both red and white, suitable for long ageing in the bottle. A census of vines undertaken in 1979, together with the findings of the experimental vineyard and micro-vinifications that were carried out and compared, made it possible to re-graft both the Sangioveto and the Malvasia Nera varieties with the best scientifically-produced clones. These were the work of two assistants of Professor Scienza for whom Castellare had established two PhD research scholarships. Through this work, and with Professor Peynaud’s encouragement in developing Sangioveto, the Castellare vines now have the best clones for that particular terroir, since Sangiovese is the most sensitive of all vines not only to climate and terrain, but to all the elements contained in the concept of a terroir. No synthetic chemicals are used in the Castellare vineyards, out of respect for nature and to enable the production of organic wines. This philosophy is reflected by the labels, which every year carry a drawing of a different bird found to be increasingly rare due to the indiscriminate use of poisons and herbicides in vineyards. – Winery Note