Our tasting impressions
The combination of great winemaking talent and an outstanding vintage give us a humble Chianti elevated to a stature not otherwise imaginable. The choice is yours: drink this delicious wine with carefree abandon; or savor it and contemplate its unexpected complexity. Such is the way of Innocenti - a wine of remarkable value and great pleasure that can charm and satisfy the most discerning palates.
About this wine
Chianti dei Colli Senesi is one of the 7 sub-regions of Chianti. The name is a derivative of Siena, the biggest city in its region. It is a very large sub-region, overlapping Montalcino, Montepulciano and San Gimignano. Whereas a Rosso from one of those appellations might be from declassified grapes from prime vineyards, Chianti Colli Senesi are generally next best sites.
Innocenti's Colli Senesi is crafted from mostly Sangiovese blended with Canaiolo Toscano. The age of the vines 8-23 years planted in medium clay soil in Montepulciano. Fermentation and maceration is on the skins for about 10-12 days. Aging is 1 year in barrel before bottling with a wide-grain filter and additional rest in the cellar prior to release.
About the grape blend
Sangiovese is the most planted grape in Italy and is the dominant grape throughout the central part of the country. There are many variants and even different names like Prugnolo Gentile, Brunello, Sangioveto and Morellino.
The grapes are dark and thick skinned, slow-ripening, acidic and tannic. Like Pinot Noir, Sangiovese is heavily influenced by its terroir and similarly can be quite transparent in its differences from place to place.
Traditionally, Sangiovese-based wines (except in Montalcino) have other grapes mixed in, but in recent history there have been many successful wines produced from 100% Sangiovese. So, today, they are quite common.
Canaiolo is a traditional blending grape with Sangiovese. It adds softness and elegance as well as herbal flavors.
About the vintage
2019 is a vintage that defies all the odds. With so much extreme weather and with high heat being the prevailing norm, how to explain this truly classical vintage? There were so many well-balanced wines produced. Winemakers who did not succeed in 2019 should retire or sell. The vintage provided a brilliant showcase for the charm and beauty Sangiovese can provide. The growing season was ideal - adequate rainfall in the spring, moderate summer temperatures and appropriate fall day/night temperature fluctuations. In short, the vines and the grapes got everything they wanted...when they wanted it.
Vittorio Innocenti, a former philosophy teacher, started producing wine from his family's vineyards with the 1978 vintage from his 13th century cellar in Montefollonico. There are 32 hectares of vines in Montepulciano and Montefollonico but only 12 are planted with vineyards of up to 80 years old. The vista views from the back patio are incredible.
Today, Vittorio's son Tommaso and his partner Vincenza (aka Nancy) handle most of the work. But Vittorio is the keeper of the intellectual capital for all seven wines - in particular both versions of Vin Santo. In total, they produce about 35,000 bottles annually.
The Innocentis are a gracious, wonderful family. The Guru has known them longer than any other wine producer. He admires their intense commitment to producing the highest quality wines - taking as much pride in their most modest offering as they do in their top bottling.
VDLT is the only North American source for these extraordinary wines that are released much later than most top estates in the appellation. The Vino Nobile, Riserva and Acerone are capable of long and magnificent aging. In the photo to the right, we enjoyed a 1985, 1988 and 1993 at a recent lunch. Their freshness and vibrancy belied their ages.
