Le Fonti Panzano Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG

Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG from Fattoria Le Fonti Panzano

Ruby red in glass, perfectly matured

The Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG from Le Fonti is always one of the award-winning red wines from the Chianti Classico. Not least because the Riserva captivates with elegance and refinement. The main component of this wine is of course Sangiovese grapes - which, like all grapes on Le Fonti, are harvested by hand. Depending on the vintage, the Sangiovese is rounded off with a touch of Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon. Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in stainless steel tanks. In order to support the structure of the wine and to ensure "a long life", it matures for almost two years in French oak barrels - in barriques and tonneaux. The assemblage takes place before the move into the barrel, like a quite early "wedding".  The Riserva needs afterwards another six to nine months to mature in the bottle before it reaches the market. In the glass Le Fonti's Riserva presents itself in a bright ruby red and in the nose with a lot of fruit - dark berries and plums are typical. The first sip: elegant acidity, fine tannins, wonderfully integrated into the overall fruit aromas. The question is: are there enough bottles in the cellar? The Riserva is also available in the Magnum (1.5 litres) and the Double Magnum (3 litres) versions in a wooden box.

Between Florence and Siena: top red wines from Tuscany

Vicky Schmitt-Vitali is the friendly owner of the winery Fattoria Le Fonti in Panzano in Chianti. The Chianti Classico wine region, in which the winery is located, is the oldest appellation in Italy - right between Florence and Siena. Vicky and her husband Guido took over the organic vineyards from their father Konrad a few years ago. The Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties planted here produce a Chianti Classico, a Chianti Classico Riserva, a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, the Fontissimo - a super tuscan, a light house wine La Lepre and a fresh Rosato. The assortment also includes an outstanding extra virgin olive oil from the estate's own olive trees. Organic farming, traditional processing combined with modern know-how - all these factors make Vicky and Guido so successful. 

Fattoria Le Fonti: the winery in the middle of Panzano in Chianti

Slightly below the village church of Panzano in Chianti, in the middle of the historic centre, lies the road to the Fattoria Le Fonti winery. Vines and olive trees grow on an area of 15 hectares. The sites are located in the so-called Alta Valle della Greve, in the Greve valley, which lies on the rear side of the Conca d'Oro, the golden valley. This part of Panzano has a slightly cooler microclimate, which is advantageous for the grapes especially in the hot summer months. Because too much heat can be detrimental to the quality of the grapes and thus of the wine - a slower ripening of the grapes ensures that the fruitiness is preserved and the alcohol value of the red wines remains within a tolerable range. By the way: all existing vines on Le Fonti were replanted by Vicky's father Konrad starting in 1994 when he bought the vineyard.

Discover vineyards and wine cellars with Vicky Schmitt-Vitali

A holiday in Tuscany without wine tasting would be like pasta without parmesan - simply unthinkable! The numerous signs in and around Panzano invite holidaymakers to visit Fattoria Le Fonti. Because a tour through the vineyards and the wine cellars with Vicky Schmitt-Vitali is certainly a holiday experience that you won't forget soon. The passionate winemaker explains the particularities of the vineyards of Le Fonti, explains the different grape varieties that grow here and, of course, invites visitors for a wine tasting. And this is indeed an unforgettable experience for taste and palate!