Casaloste Don Vincenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Casaloste Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Don Vincenzo DOCG

A great name for a great wine

The name of the second Gran Selezione from the Casaloste family has a great legacy: it is named after the late father of Giovanni d’Orsi, Don Vincenzo. Gran Selezione Don Vincenzo was previously known as Chianti Classico Riserva and has been in Casaloste’s assortment since 2009 - longer than the second Gran Selezione. But in contrast to the Gran Selezione Casaloste, the grapes for Don Vincenzo come from a single vineyard which is facing west. The grapes, hand-picked with great care, are first vinified in stainless steel tanks and then undergo malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels over a period of 18 to 24 months. When bottled the wine is allowed to rest and mature for another 12 months. The result of this three-year process is a wine that can live as long as its name. And that is because it has a great personality as well - made from 100 per cent Sangiovese, low acidity, well balanced, velvety tannins and a long, long, long finish… All this makes Don Vincenzo a perfect representative of the power of Sangiovese and the elegance of Chianti Classico.

Fattoria Casaloste: the first organic vineyard in Panzano

Emilia and Giovanni come actually from Naples. And when they were visiting a friend in Chianti Classico, the agronomist-oenologist and his wife spontaneously fell in love with the small Casaloste winery not far away from Panzano in Chianti. So they decided to buy the vineyard, renovate it and start making wine. One thing was clear to the d’Orsis from the very beginning: the vineyard had to be managed according to organic principles. In 1994, Casaloste was the first organic winery in Panzano to be officially certified by the ICEA (Istituto per la Certificazione Etica ed Ambientale). Therefore no chemical sprays are used, the energy is generated by solar panels and many other measures focus entirely on sustainable and biological cultivation of the land. Apropos organic: their own Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva is also 100 per cent organic. A holiday in one of the two small apartments available at Casaloste also promises 100 per cent relaxation on a 100 per cent organic basis.

From Panzano in Chianti to the Greve valley

The Casaloste winery covers a total area of 19 hectares, two hectares of which are planted with olive trees and ten and a half hectares along the road from Panzano to Greve in Chianti are planted with vines  This results in approximately 60,000 bottles of wine which are produced here every year.Unlike many other wineries in Panzano, the vines of Casaloste grow at lower altitude. Thus the wines develop very independent personalities. The autochthonous grape variety Sangiovese, which with its share of 85 per cent plays the absolute leading role at Casaloste, certainly makes a significant contribution to that. In addition, there is a little Merlot in the vineyards and only small amounts of Ancelotta and Canaiolo.

Fattoria Casaloste: „La piccola fattoria dei grandi vini“

The products of the vineyards of Caslaloste, which are very carefuly cultivated and harvested, does not need to hide from an international comparison.The small winery actually creates great wines, which are constantly given excellent ratings by the international wine press and numerous experts. The lion’s share of the range is of course the Chianti Classico. The 90 per cent Sangiovese in Chianti Classico is rounded off with 10 per cent Merlot. The Riserva of Casaloste contains an even higher proportion of Sangiovese: it is made from 95 per cent Sangiovese and five per cent Merlot mixed with other varieties. "Solo Sangiovese" is the motto of the two Gran Selezione wines. First there is the "Don Vincenzo" - and then since 2011 there is the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione "Casaloste", which is produced from grapes from different vineyards. Another special wine is the Inversus Toscana IGT. With this wine, the blend ratio of the grapes is inverse to that of Chianti Classico: 90 per cent Merlot and 10 per cent Sangiovese are used for it and ensure a very special experience.