Le Fonti Panzano Merlot IGT

Merlot Toscana IGT from Le Fonti Panzano

A Supertuscan still in its infancy

For the first time in 2015, a super tuscan made from 100 per cent Merlot grapes was pressed in Le Fonti. Or as Vicky Schmitt-Vitali, owner of Le Fonti, affectionately calls it: her "baby super tuscan". But the youngest of Le Fonti’s wine creations does not need to be small. Because in terms of taste, this Merlot is a very relaxed match for its "big brothers" from other famous wine-growing regions of the world. With its fresh and fruity note, the dark berry aroma of cherries and blackberries, its freshness in the finish and the good acidity, the Merlot of Le Fonti is the ideal companion to all Italian pasta dishes. Le Fonti Merlot also goes well with meat dishes such as roasts or saltimbocca. Typical for a Merlot, the wine nestles softly and pleasantly on the palate and perfectly reflects the terroir without containing a single Sangiovese grape. This harmonious drop is the result of a carefully composed process: after the harvest - which of course takes place manually - the grapes are fermented and malolactically fermented in a stainless steel tank. For further maturation, the wine is placed in French oak barrels with a capacity of 500 to 700 litres. The wine remains here for another 12 months before being bottled.

Fattoria Le Fonti: organic and sustainable viticulture for wines with format

All the wines produced at Fattoria Le Fonti come from organic farming. More than two decades ago, the winegrowers joined forces to form the ‘Unione di Viticoltori di Panzano’. With the aim of converting the cultivation of all vineyards to one that is biologically sustainable. This is how the area around Panzano in Chianti has in recent years even been named the "organic district of Italy" by the international wine press. The vineyards of Le Fonti are mainly planted with Sangiovese, the autochthonous leading variety of Chianti Classico. But also the two international grape varieties Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon can be found in the vineyards of Le Fonti. Not to forget the 1,500 olive trees. The sites of Le Fonti can be found at the back of the Conca d’Oro, the Golden Valley, in the "Alta Valle della Greve", the valley of the Greve. The advantage of these locations is that the climate here is lightly cooler than in the shell-shaped valley itself, which allows the grapes to ripen more gently in the hot summers.

Red, pink, green: the colours of the Fattoria Le Fonti range

Vicky and Guido Schmitt-Vitali, the two owners of Fattoria Le Fonti, have dedicated themselves to viticulture and the production of olive oil in the middle of the medieval town of Panzano in Chianti. The basis of the Le Fonti range is - how could it be otherwise - a typical Chianti Classico that is very easy to drink. In addition, there is a Chianti Classico Riserva and, since the 2013 vintage, a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. In addition, Le Fonti scores with the internationally awarded super tuscan "Fontissimo", with a fruity fresh Rosato and with the palatable house wine "La Lepre". The latest "baby" in the range is the 100% Merlot. And where 1,500 olive trees grow, of course an olive oil must not be missing - fruity-fresh, a real pleasure.

A winery for connoisseurs in the middle of Chianti Classico

Halfway between Florence and Siena, in the heart of Chianti Classico, lies the small village of Panzano in Chianti. In the middle of the village, just below the village church, there is the road to the Fattoria Le Fonti. At an altitude of about 450 metres above sea level, the winery covers a total area of 15 hectares - 8.5 hectares of vines and the rest is planted with olive trees. Approximately 40,000 bottles of wine are bottled annually at Fattoria Le Fonti. What at first glance appears to be a large number turns out to be a comparatively small quantity on closer inspection. Compared to many other wineries, Le Fonti has remained a relatively small family vineyard. In 1994, Vicky’s father Konrad bought the estate. Only a few years ago, Vicky and her husband Guido took over Le Fonti as a kind of plonge in the wine career - because they hadn’t had much to do with winegrowing until then. With a lot of love and lifeblood they threw themselves into the project "Le Fonti". And their commitment has paid off: Fattoria Le Fonti has become a top destination for wine connoisseurs. The wines have been awarded numerous international prizes and are in great demand around the globe. During a tour through cellar and vineyard Vicky reveals some winegrower secrets and of course at the end a tasting of the noble wines is not to be missed. An absolute must if you are in Panzano!