Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The Sangiovese vineyards lie 280–480 m above sea level. Their soils vary widely in composition, but all contain gravel, which gives the vine roots good natural drainage.
Vinification
Grapes were harvested from 9 to 25 September 2022. Fermentation took place at 24–27 °C, followed by 14–16 days of maceration in stainless-steel tanks, to extract as much tannin and aromatic character as possible.
Ageing
The wine aged for 18 months in barrels of first and second use, which helps it develop good balance and pleasant notes of spice.
Tasting profile
Elegant, with the traditional character of a Riserva Chianti Classico. The aroma is rich and complex, combining wild berries with refined notes of leather and tobacco. The tannins are soft and velvety and gently coat the palate.
Vintage notes
The 2022 growing season began with a mild, rainy winter and average spring temperatures. From the first half of May, temperatures were above average and there was no rainfall, and these conditions continued through the summer. Water reserves built up in the first half of the year, together with welcome rainfall in August, allowed the grapes to develop well and produced a high-quality harvest.
Label / history
The Ricasoli family has owned Castello di Brolio since 1141 and is described in the text as one of the four oldest family businesses in the world and Italy's oldest company. From the end of the 1600s the family made its first export shipments to Amsterdam and England. Since the early 1900s Brolio wines have been exported around the world, from China to Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Costa Rica.
Baron Bettino Ricasoli (1809–1880), known as the Iron Baron, spent more than 30 years researching and experimenting to produce high-quality Chianti that could compete internationally with the great wines of France, drawing on the potential of the Brolio terroir and combining technology, applied science and winemaking principles. In 1867 a Ricasoli wine won its first Gold Medal at the International Exhibition in Paris. He also supported the development of the region's roads and railways.
His great-grandson Francesco has managed the company since 1993. The estate owns 240 ha of vineyards and 26 ha of olive groves in the Chianti area.
