Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The vines are 20 to 50 years old and farmed organically on the gently sloping, sunny hills of the Tuscan coast. The alluvial soils are rich in gravel, sand and silt, and together with the warm local microclimate they suit grapes that give wines of excellent structure and complexity.
Grapes
A classic Tuscan blend based on Sangiovese (around 80%), completed by Merlot. Depending on the vintage, a small proportion of other varieties may be added.
Vinification
The grapes are picked by hand into small crates and sorted twice: first in the vineyard, then on a vibrating sorting table at the winery. Only the best, healthiest berries go into traditional vinification. Fermentation starts spontaneously, without additives. Maceration lasts 18 to 24 days, depending on the variety and its ripeness.
Ageing
The wine spends 8–10 months in 300- and 500-litre medium-toasted French oak barrels, then matures for some further time in a concrete tank. It is gently filtered before bottling and rests a further six months in the winery's cellars before release.
Tasting profile
Elegant and full of character; rich and complex, with strong ageing potential and an impressive ability to develop over time.
Label / history
Belcore is the second wine of the Giusti & Zanza winery. It was first released in 1998. The name comes from Sergeant Belcore, a character in Donizetti's comic opera L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love).
