High-altitude Gran Selezione
Winery Castello di Fonterutoli | Winery location Chianti Classico, Toscana | Grape varieties 100% Sangiovese: 3 clones + 3 estate massal selections | Alcohol 13,50% |
Total acidity 6,30% | Vineyards location Radda in Chianti, "La Badiola": 570 m (1,870 ft) a.s.l.; S/E, S/W exp. | Soil Mainly "Galestro" (Limestone) and "Arenaria" (Sandstone), with miscellaneous texture | Vineyards age 19 years |
Training system Spur-cordon training | Nr. of vines for hectare 6,660 | Harvest Hand picked October the 13th | Vinification In stainless steel trunk-conic vats |
Fermentation temperature 26 - 28°C | Period of maceration 17 days | Ageing 16 months in french oak barrels (500 lt, 30% new) | Finissage 5 months in concrete tanks |
Bottling December 2023 | Available on the market July 2024 | Production 10,100 bottles | Formats 750 ml - 1,5 lt - 3 lt |
First vintage 2017 | Ageing potential Over 20 years | Key descriptors Great elegance and freshness, wild berries and red fruits notes | Food pairing Pot roats, game, mushrooms and seasoned cheese |
James Suckling 95 Pts | Vinous 96 Pts | Wine Advocate 95+ Pts | Sarah Heller MW 95 Pts |
The year 2021 was distinguished by a cold winter with little precipitation. An (initially) cool spring with adequate rainfall was followed by a long, hot summer but with good diurnal temperature variations that allowed excellent completion of the grape ripening process.
Worthy of note, an initial delayed development of the vines that resolved itself as the season progressed.
The harvest was extremely rewarding, in terms of performance and excellent quality and health of the grapes going to cellar; these grapes will yield rich, well-structured wines thanks to their thick, but well-balanced, fresh skins.
There was a slight decrease in quantity, due to the insufficient rain during the winter which hindered budding in the early-maturing areas.
Beginning of the harvest: September 9th, 2021
End of the harvest: October 13th, 2021
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 503,1 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 4.511,3 °C
Evaluation: Very good
Winery Castello di Fonterutoli | Winery location Chianti Classico, Toscana | Grape varieties 100% Sangiovese: 3 clones + 3 estate massal selections | Alcohol 13,00% |
Total acidity 6,30% | Vineyards location Radda in Chianti, "La Badiola": 570 m (1,870 ft) a.s.l.; S/E, S/W exp. | Soil Mainly "Galestro" (Limestone) and "Arenaria" (Sandstone), with miscellaneous texture | Vineyards age 19 years |
Training system Spur-cordon training | Nr. of vines for hectare 6,660 | Harvest Hand picked October the 6th | Vinification In stainless steel trunk-conic vats |
Fermentation temperature 26 - 28°C | Period of maceration 17 days | Ageing 16 months in french oak barrels (500 lt, 30% new) | Finissage 5 months in concrete tanks |
Bottling December 2022 | Available on the market July 2023 | Production 6,200 bottles | Formats 750 ml - 1,5 lt - 3 lt |
First vintage 2017 | Ageing potential Over 20 years | Key descriptors Great elegance and freshness, wild berries and red fruits notes | Food pairing Pot roats, game, mushrooms and seasoned cheese |
Gardini Notes 98+ Pts | James Suckling 93 Pts |
The winter of 2020 was cold with moderate rainfall. After a cool spring with adequate, well-spaced showers, the wide diurnal temperature range over the long hot summer was sufficient to ensure a smooth and problem-free ripening of the grapes. The process was also helped by rains in June and September which reduced water stress, and by an absence of pests or disease.
A season characterised by average temperatures and well-spaced rainfall gave rise to a highly satisfying harvest of top-quality grapes. With their thick skins and well-ripened phenols, these grapes will produce wines which combine fullness and structure with balance and freshness.
The one less positive note was a lower yield due to a few cold nights in early April which affected bud burst in areas where this took place early.
Beginning of the harvest: September 7th
End of the harvest: October 7th
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 468 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3608 °C
Evaluation: Very good
Winery Castello di Fonterutoli |
Winery location Chianti Classico, Toscana |
Grape varieties 100% Sangiovese: 3 clones + 3 estate massal selections |
Alcohol 13.50% |
Total acidity 5.80% |
Vineyards location Radda in Chianti, "La Badiola": 570 m (1,870 ft) a.s.l.; S/E, S/W exp. |
Soil Mainly "Galestro" (Limestone) and "Arenaria" (Sandstone), with miscellaneous texture |
Vineyards age 18 years |
Training system Spur cordon-training |
Nr. of vines per hectar 6.600 plants |
Harvest Hand picked October the 15th |
Vinification In stainless steel trunk-conic vats |
Fermentation temperature 26 - 28°C |
Period of maceration 17 days |
Ageing 16 months in french oak barrels (500 lt, 30% new) |
Finissage 5 months in concrete tanks |
Bottling December 2021 |
Available on the market July 2022 |
Production 7.500 bottles |
Formats 750 ml - 1,5 lt - 3 lt |
First vintage 2017 |
Ageing potential Over 20 years |
Key description Great elegance and freshness, wild berries and red fruit notes |
Food pairing Pot roasts, game, mushrooms and seasoned cheese |
Gardini Notes 98+ Pts |
I Migliori 100 vini e Vignaioli d'Italia 97 Pts |
Doctor Wine 96 Pts |
Winescritic.com 95 Pts |
James Suckling 93 Pts |
Decanter 91 Pts |
Decanter World Wine Awards 93 Pts |
Vinous 90 Pts |
Vini Buoni d'Italia 4 Stars |
The 2019 harvest recalled the great vintages of the 1980s. This was a 'classic' year, with nature and nurture coming together to create something truly exceptional. Winter temperatures were below average and rainfall was low, with unusually warm weather at the end of February. However, stormy squalls through spring and late into summer replenished the water table and made up for the lack of winter rainfall. They also slowed down plant development in the early stages.
The summer was consistently hot, but without extreme temperatures or excessive rainfall. September continued fine, with a significant range in diurnal temperatures.
No pathogens compromised the excellent health of the grapes. Bud fruitfulness was within the norm and the good condition of the foliage showed just how well balanced the plants were in this extremely fine year.
By harvest time the grapes were perfect, thanks to the prevailing climatic conditions and the leaf removal which was carried out in early September. Both these factors contributed to optimal ripening of all grapes across our various production zones.
Beginning of the harvest: September 4th
End of the harvest: October 17th
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 590 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3580 °C
Evaluation: Outstanding
Winery Castello di Fonterutoli |
Winery location Chianti Classico, Toscana |
Grape varieties 100% Sangiovese: 3 clones + 3 estate massal selections |
Alcohol 14.58% |
Total acidity 5.77% |
Vineyards location Radda in Chianti, "La Badiola": 570 m (1,870 ft) a.s.l.; S/E, S/W exp. |
Soil Mainly "Galestro" (Limestone) and "Arenaria" (Sandstone), with miscellaneous texture |
Vineyards age 17 years |
Training system Spur cordon-training |
Nr. of vines per hectar 6.600 plants |
Harvest Hand picked October the 5th |
Vinification In stainless steel trunk-conic vats |
Fermentation temperature 26 - 28°C |
Period of maceration 17 days |
Ageing 16 months in french oak barrels (500 lt, 30% new) |
Finissage 5 months in concrete tanks |
Bottling January 2021 |
Available on the market July 2021 |
Production 6.200 bottles |
Formats 750 ml - 1,5 lt - 3 lt |
First vintage 2017 |
Ageing potential Over 20 years |
Key description Great elegance and freshness, wild berries and red fruit notes |
Food pairing Pot roasts, game, mushrooms and seasoned cheese |
Gardini Notes 99 Pts |
Winescritic.com 97 Pts |
Doctor Wine 96 Pts |
Wine Advocate 94 Pts |
Livets Goda 94 Pts |
James Suckling 94 Pts |
Decanter World Wine Awards 93 Pts |
Wein.plus 93 Pts |
Vinous 92 Pts |
Decanter 91 Pts |
Vini Buoni d'Italia 4 Stars |
AIS Vitae 3.5 Vines |
The 2018 vintage was characterised by a dynamic winter, with northern currents in December and February and a mild climate in January, with abundant rainfall, both of snow and rain, which offset the serious water deficit of the previous years. Spring brought about temperatures above the seasonal average together with abundant rainfall. The budding was early but showed no problems.
From 10 June on, temperatures started to rise again and, in the Chianti Classico area, the summer was good with uniform rainfall. July and August were as usual, while September was marked by a series of sunny days with a large temperature range between day and night, which allowed the grapes to reach the correct phenolic and aromatic ripeness. In short, this harvest was very satisfying harvest from a quantitative and, especially, a qualitative point of view.
Beginning of the harvest: September 12th
End of the harvest: October 8th
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 491 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3666 °C
Evaluation: Very good
Winery Castello di Fonterutoli |
Winery location Chianti Classico, Toscana |
Grape varieties 100% Sangiovese: 3 clones + 3 estate massal selections |
Alcohol 13.57% |
Total acidity 6.40% |
Vineyards location Radda in Chianti, "La Badiola": 570 m (1,870 ft) a.s.l.; S/E, S/W exp. |
Soil Mainly "Galestro" (Limestone) and "Arenaria" (Sandstone), with miscellaneous texture |
Vineyards age 16 years |
Training system Spur cordon-training |
Nr. of vines per hectar 6.600 plants |
Harvest Hand picked October the 3rd |
Vinification In stainless steel trunk-conic vats |
Fermentation temperature 26 - 28°C |
Period of maceration 17 days |
Ageing 16 months in french oak barrels (500 lt, 30% new) |
Finissage 5 months in concrete tanks |
Bottling January 2020 |
Available on the market July 2020 |
Production 3.000 bottles |
Formats 750 ml - 1,5 lt - 3 lt |
First vintage 2017 |
Ageing potential Over 20 years |
Key description Great elegance and freshness, wild berries and red fruit notes |
Food pairing Pot roasts, game, mushrooms and seasoned cheese |
Decanter World Wine Awards 97 Pts |
James Suckling 96 Pts |
Wine Advocate 94 Pts |
Wine Spectator 93 Pts |
I Vini di Veronelli 93 Pts |
Doctor Wine 93 Pts |
Falstaff 92 Pts |
Vinous 92 Pts |
Decanter 91 Pts |
Wine Enthusiast 91 Pts |
Vini Buoni d'Italia 4 Stars |
Ferment 90 Pts |
The 2017 harvest was unparalleled thanks to climatic events which followed one another in an unusual and extraordinary way.
After a frost on 20 April, in spring and summer there was little rainfall and summer temperatures reached high peaks, thus leading to water stress, with a reduced swelling of the grapes and a clear drop in the weight of the bunches in general.
The harvest began well in advance on the earliest vines. As regards Sangiovese, we courageously decided to wait for the September rains, when about 130 mm rain fell in 20 days together with a considerable lowering of the temperature (with minimum values dropping to 5 ° C), which gave a twist to the remaining grapes on the grapevines.
Therefore, the grapes had a heterogeneous quality, with peaks of excellence, a global level well beyond the expectations. 2017 is one of the classic vintages where the achievement of important results requires much experience and a careful management of each vineyard through the adoption of a customised approach to each parcel.
Beginning of the harvest: 21 August
End of the harvest: 28 September
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 257,6 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 3638,45 °C
Evaluation: Good
Made in Italy | Allergens: contains sulphites
3 Cru
3 Municipalities
3 Gran Selezione
Historically, Castello di Fonterutoli's vineyards, have always lain within the territory of three adjoining Chianti Classico Municipalities: Casyellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga and Radda in Chianti
Badiòla
Radda in Chianti
Aspect: Southest - Southwest
Altitude: 570 m a.s.l.
Soil: mainly a mix of Galestro (a friable marl-like soil) and Sandstone
Microclimate: on a high hillside site deep inside the Chianti Classico zone, this site beenfits from cool currents even in the height of summer, wich mean daily temperatures the lowest of any of the estate's vineyards. Budding and ripening are therefore generally delayed, with the harvest usually taking place around mid-October