Casaloste Don Vincenzo Toscana Rosso IGT

Don Vincenzo Toscano Rosso IGT from Fattoria Casaloste

Connoisseurs and lovers of Fattoria Casaloste already know that for several years there have been two Gran Selezione wines. On the one hand the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione "Casaloste" and on the other hand the Gran Selezione with the sounding name Don Vincenzo. But that is up to the vintage 2015 with which Giovanni d'Orsi, owner of Fattoria Casaloste, has decided to classify Don Vincenzo as an IGT. However, nothing has changed in terms of content and method of production: 100 percent Sangiovese grapes from a special vineyard facing west. The grapes are handpicked and vinified in steel tanks. The fermentation process takes place in French oak barrels and lasts from 18 to 24 months. At the end the wine is left to rest and mature in the bottle for another more year. The caracter of the wine reflects the great personality of Don Vincenzo: it is named after the father of Giovanni d'Orsi. And as an IGT the Don Vincenzo remains great with its taste: low acidity, perfectly balanced, velvety tannins and long, long, long finish... Everything as it should be.

Fattoria Casaloste: organic wines of the highest quality

In addition to Don Vincenzo - which is available as a Gran Selezione up to the vinatge 2015 and as an IGT fom then on - there is a second Gran Selezione from Casaloste: Chianti Classico Gran Selezione "Casaloste", which is also produced from 100 percent Sangiovese grapes, but from different vineyards. The Chianti Classico accounts for the biggest part of their wine production. The 90 percent Sangiovese share is rounded off with ten percent Merlot. The Chianti Classico Riserva from Casaloste has an even higher share of Sangiovese: 95 percent Sangiovese and five percent Merlot - sometimes still mixed with other varieties. Exactly the other way round - i.e. inverse - is the mixing ratio of Inversus Toscana IGT. Thus the name and the very special taste experience: 90 percent Merlot and ten percent Sangiovese are used for this wine. But all these wines have one thing in common: they all have been certified organic  since 1994! Because Casaloste was the first winery in Panzano to be officially certified organic by the ICEA (Istituto per la Certificazione Etica ed Ambientale)! And Emilia and Giovanni are especially proud of that!

The uncrowned queen of Casaloste: her Majesty the Sangiovese

The Casaloste winery owns a total of 19 hectares of land. The vines grow and thrive on an area of ten and a half hectares. Compared to many other wineries in and around Panzano in Chianti, at Casaloste the vines are situated at slightly lower locations. The uncrowned queen - the autochthonous grape variety Sangiovese - is undoubtedly the centre of attention at Casaloste with a share of around 85 percent. In addition, Merlot, Ancelotta and Canaiolo still account for a small proportion of the vineyards. Casaloste bottles in total around 60,000 bottles of wine per year, which is however quite impressive. This is because Casaloste wines are repeatedly awarded the best ratings in the international wine press and receive excellent reviews from numerous experts from all over the world. And how could it be otherwise?! In addition numerous olive trees grow here on an area of about two hectares, and a wonderful olive oil is pressed from their fruits. And of course this Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva is 100 percent organic as well.