The Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, a blend of white Malvasia and Sangiovese grapes, won me over with its just-right sweetness and hint of nuttiness.
Journeying from Florence to Castello Banfi, we paused at Castello Monterinaldi, a charming hilltop enclave in Chianti. The winemaker and proprietor, Daniele Ciampi, took us on an extensive tour of the cellars, then led us through a comprehensive tasting. Highlights were the 2011 Chianti Classico, which had aromas of red cherries, a medium body and beautiful balance. The Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, a blend of white Malvasia and Sangiovese grapes, won me over with its just-right sweetness and hint of nuttiness. Monterinaldi offers a full range of programs for visitors, including a tour and tasting with lunch; a “Winemaker-for-a-Day” experience, during which guests create their own custom blends; an intensive cooking class; and a hiking tour of the estate followed by lunch. I highly recommend a visit.
Radda in Chianti. Tel. (39) 0577-733-533.
As well as a full cooking class at Castello Banfi, which included wine pairings with the dishes we prepared, we took an informative tour of the large winemaking facility, a five-minute drive from the castle. Here, we saw the impressive barrels that are used to age the prized Brunellos, the best-known wines of the region. Afterward, we visited the Enoteca/Wine Bar at the castello, where you can put together your own custom tasting. (The wine shop is comparable to the best I’ve seen in Napa). I took great pleasure in sampling the Poggio all’Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, a wine with a deep ruby hue, a nose of black and red cherries with a whiff of raspberry, and a deep, flavorful palate of dark red fruit. I also reveled in the Super Tuscan blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the ExcelsuS, which is intensely red with an alluring aroma of ripe plums and a taste of mixed red fruits. It is a complex and balanced wine. The surprise was the Florus Late Harvest Moscadello di Montalcino, with a color of honeyed gold, a nose close to tropical fruit and a satisfying sweetness with a long finish.
Our wine experience at Castiglion del Bosco began with a short and pleasant drive through vineyards to the hilltop winemaking facility. From this vantage point, we had unobstructed views of the Tuscan hills in the lovely Val d’Orcia region. We first visited the impressive circular underground wine library. Then, in a room with windows overlooking the vines, we sampled several bottlings. Although Rosso di Montalcino is not considered as fine a product as a Brunello di Montalcino, I found the Rosso from Castiglion del Bosco most appealing. It was fruity, well-balanced and had a lively palate of dark red fruit enlivened by high berry notes. However, I particularly enjoyed the Campo del Drago Brunello di Montalcino, a superb wine crafted from the grapes of a single vineyard. Deep, intense, full-bodied and beautifully balanced, this wine was one of the best I tasted on the entire trip.
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