For Borgo Scopeto’s Chianti Classico, Sangiovese has been used from the castle’s vineyards in Vagliagli and Castelnuovo Berardenga, which are quite high in the area (360-450 m.a.s.l.). Most parcels are dominated by a calcareous and sandy subsoil, which explains the wine’s delicate tones, in nice harmony with an otherwise meaty and spicy style. After approx. ten days of alcoholic fermentation followed by a classic malolactic fermentation, the wine is matured in min. 24 months, of which 12 months in oak barrels of 30 hl. from Slavonia and the rest on steel tanks. Subsequently, the wine is aged for a further 3 months in the bottle before shipping.
Chianti Classico Riserva is very intense in color and bold on the glass. The aroma is very delicate at first, but develops quickly with oxygenation in the glass and takes on more complex tones of cherries, plums and blackcurrants as well as exciting nuances of mocha, bitter chocolate, licorice, nutmeg and vanilla. The taste is very full and spicy with a velvety character which wraps the tannin incredibly well. It ends with great harmony and elegance, and reveals great storage potential. It will go well with meat dishes such as duck, lamb, veal and game, as well as with milder cheeses.
The wine is not a modern invention in Tuscany. Although the Romans preferred Italian wines from the south, the Etruscans (700 BC – 450 BC) had a lively wine production and wine trade in the area. However, it was the monasteries that reintroduced viticulture in the wooded hills of Tuscany in the Middle Ages. Wine was part of daily life in Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca and Arezzo. With the spread of the Renaissance – with Florence as the center – wines from the area gained rapid recognition. Red wines, but also sweet Vin Santo, were known everywhere. The poet Fulvio Testi wrote in the 16th century: ‘Chianti from Etruscan kisses you, bites you and makes you cry sweet tears’.
The Chianti district saw a much-needed tightening of legislation when, in 1984, it achieved Italy’s highest DOCG classification. It has clearly contributed to giving the area a quality boost and a well-deserved renaissance. At the same time, they have opened up to a limited use of other grape varieties in the wines. Chianti wines have never been better than today!
The manufacturer
The property near Castelnuovo Berardenga few km. from Siena was founded in the year 1000 and was then part of the agricultural holdings of the bishop of Siena. The beautiful tower on the property was built in the 13th century and was part of a larger defensive structure. At the beginning of the 14th century, the church gifted the property to one of the most important families of Siena, the Sozzini, who kept it for more than 5 centuries.
Starting with the year 1998, responsibility for the property has been taken over by one of the most recognized Brunello producers in the area – Caparzo. The property consists of 493 ha. situated at an altitude of 350-400 m.a.s.l., but only 37 ha. is planted with vines on the most suitable plots with limestone, sandstone and marl soil. 30 ha. is planted with Sangiovese, 3 ha. is planted with Cabernet and Syrah and 4 ha. with Chardonnay.
