Merkki: Ruffino

Pakkaus : 0,75

Alkoholiprosentti : 13,5% vol.

The Santedame Chianti Classico is a wine with a firm character, but the true heart of its success is to be found in the fact that it's so incredibly smooth and pleasant to drink, even without much bottle age. Its taste is vibrant and characterised by a sweet fruity smoothness one rarely finds in a Sangiovese based wine.

VARIETAL
Sangiovese 80%, Merlot 10%,Colorino 5%, others (Canaiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon) 5%.

VINEYARDS
Place of Production: The Santedame Estate located near thevillage ofCastellina in Chianti, in the heart of the Chianti Classico area.
Hilly land with poor and not very profound soil, characterized by a mix of clay and sand, rich in skeleton (marl).

Microclimate: The very permeable soil, the windy position of the vineyards and the high day-night temperature swings, accentuated by the high altitude, form a microclimate which is very favourable for an optimal maturation process of the grapes and give richness and very elegant perfumes to the wine.

Altitude: From 350 to470 meters above sea level.
Exposition: In accordance with the climatic conditions, the best expositions to the south, south-west and south-east have been preferred.

Growing system: Cordon trained.
Vine density: 4500/5500 vines/hectare.
Age of vineyards: the most of the vineyards have been replanted in the 80’s and have a modern planting system.

VINIFICATION AND AGEING
Harvest: Only the best grapes, selected during harvest, are used for the production of the Chianti Classico "Santedame". In 2010 picking started in early September for the Merlot grapes and ended in mid October with the other two varietals.
Yield in grapes per hectare: 5 tons.

Fermentation: The alcohol fermentation, aided by racking and punching down, took place in thermo-controlled stainless-steel vats at an average temperature of26°C. for 10 days.
The post-fermentative maceration on the skins continued for another 15 days.

Ageing: After completing the malo-lactic fermentation one part of the wine was refined for about 8 months, first in oak barrels (of first, second and third passage), then in tanks and finally in the bottle.

Alcohol content: 13,5%

SENSORY PROPERTIES
Colour: Ruby red

Aroma: at the very beginning it is intense and complex. It is featured by the notes of violet typical of the Sangiovese grapes, then followed by refined flavours of ripe plums and red and black berry fruits. These notes fade into more evolved aromas that remind black pepper and tobacco.

Tasting Profile: at the palate Santedame shows a good structure, based on an optimal balance between hard and soft parts, that lead to a very typical elegance. The first sensations are of plums, blackberry and currant, supported by velvety tannins and intriguing balsamic notes. The pretty long persistence is characterized, coherently to what perceived at the nose, by intense notes of red berry fruits.

First Vintage: 1988