About this wine
Profile
Literally holy wine, the Vin Santo is a sweet wine deeply rooted in Tuscan tradition. The first references date back to the Renaissance, which is also when the Avignonesi family first came on the scene. To this date our Vin Santo and Occhio di Pernice are produced with the madre (yeast) that has been passed on for generations and provides that ethereal taste. This sweet wine is the result of an exceptionally long ageing process during which over half of this precious liquid evaporates.
Grapes
Trebbiano, Malvasia
Alcohol
12.5%
Production
375 ml: 2,140 bottles 100 ml: 140 bottles 2011 awards 95 pts Decanter 94 pts Wine Spectator
Tasting notes
This Vin Santo is characterised by intense aromas of caramel and walnut husk, softened by hints of honeydew honey, nutmeg and pennyroyal. The aftertaste recalls memories of candied orange and butter biscuits. On the palate this sweet wine reveals infinite taste sensations, a symphony of notes of dried figs, almonds and orange jam. A perfect balance between sweetness and acidity leads to a long and sensual finish. 2011 2010 2005
Vintage technical details
2011
VIN SANTO DI MONTEPULCIANO D.O.C. 2011 Literally holy wine, the Vin Santo is a sweet wine deeply rooted in Tuscan tradition. The first references date back to the Renaissance, which is also when the Avignonesi family first came on the scene. To this date our Vin Santo and Occhio di Pernice are produced with the madre (yeast) that has been passed on for generations and provides that ethereal taste. This sweet wine is the result of an exceptionally long ageing process during which over half of this precious liquid evaporates. TASTING NOTES This Vin Santo is characterised by intense aromas of caramel and walnut husk, softened by hints of honeydew honey, nutmeg and pennyroyal. The aftertaste recalls memories of candied orange and butter biscuits. On the palate this sweet wine reveals infinite taste sensations, a symphony of notes of dried figs, almonds and orange jam. A perfect balance between sweetness and acidity leads to a long and sensual finish. ..................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................... FROM VINEYARD TO VINIFICATION SOIL TYPE Soil from the Pleistocene (3 million - 120,000 years ago), rich in clay and limestone. VINEYARD SPECIFICS The vines are cordon-trained at an altitude of 300 metres a.s.l. / 984 feet a.s.l. and grow at a density of 5,051 plants / hectare (2,020 plants / acre). HARVEST The grapes were harvested by hand in the first half of September, in small crates covered with vine leaves, and immediately laid out on bamboo mats in the appassitoio (drying room), where they remained to dry for several months. VINIFICATION The grapes are softly pressed and the must is transferred in “caratelli” (50-60 liter oak casks) for a slow, natural fermentation with the aid of an indigenous yeast known as “madre”. AGEING More than 10 years in “caratelli” ..................................................................................................................................................... AWARDS 2011: 92 ptS James Suckling GRAPES Trebbiano, Malvasia ALCOHOL 12,5% PRODUCTION 2.140 bottles 375 ml 140 bottles 100 ml
2010
VIN SANTO DI MONTEPULCIANO D.O.C. 2010 VINEYARD GRAPES Trebbiano, Malvasia SOIL TYPE Soil from the Pleistocene (3 million - 120,000 years ago), rich in clay and limestone. VINEYARD SPECIFICS The vines are cordon-trained at an altitude of 300 metres a.s.l. / 984 feet a.s.l. and grow at a density of 5,051 plants / hectare (2,020 plants / acre). .............................................................................................................................................. VINIFICATION HARVEST The grapes were harvested by hand in the first half of September, in small crates covered with vine leaves, and immediately laid out on bamboo mats in the appassitoio (drying room), where they remained to dry for several months. VINIFICATION The grapes are softly pressed and the must is transferred in “caratelli” (50-60 liter oak casks) for a slow, natural fermentation with the aid of an indigenous yeast known as “madre”. AGEING More than 10 years in “caratelli” ALCOHOL AND TOTAL PRODUCTION 12.5% - 375 ml bottles: 2,050; 100 ml bottles: 2,600 Literally holy wine, the Vin Santo is a sweet wine deeply rooted in Tuscan tradition. The first references date back to the Renaissance, which is also when the Avignonesi family first came on the scene. To this date our Vin Santo and Occhio di Pernice are produced with the madre (yeast) that has been passed on for generations and provides that ethereal taste. This sweet wine is the result of an exceptionally long ageing process during which over half of this precious liquid evaporates. It has been calculated that with the same amount of grapes used to produce one of our 375 ml bottle you can produce twenty-four 750 ml bottles of wine. TASTING NOTES This Vin Santo is characterised by intense aromas of caramel and walnut husk, softened by hints of honeydew honey, nutmeg and pennyroyal. The aftertaste recalls memories of candied orange and butter biscuits. On the palate this sweet wine reveals infinite taste sensations, a symphony of notes of dried figs, almonds and orange jam. A perfect balance between sweetness and acidity leads to a long and sensual finish. ..............................................................................................................................................
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VINIFICATION HARVEST The grapes have been hand-picked from the best vineyard parcels and placed in small, vine leaf-coated bins. VINIFICATION The grapes are laid out for a few months on straw mats in the “appassitoio” (drying room). They are then softly pressed and the must is transferred in “caratelli” (50-liter oak casks) for a slow, natural fermentation with the aid of an indigenous yeast known as “madre”. AGEING 10 years in “caratelli”. ALCOHOL AND TOTAL PRODUCTION 12.5% - 375 ml bottles: 2,333; 100 ml bottles: 1,800; 750 ml bottles: 60. AWARDS 2002: 97 pts Wine Advocate | 95 pts Wine Spectator | 4 Stars Vini Buoni d’Italia 95 pts Wine Enthusiast 2001: 97 pts Wine Advocate | 96 pts Veronelli | 95 pts Wine Spectator 92 pts Vinous 2000: 97 pts Wine Advocate | 94 pts Wine Spectator | 3 Stars Veronelli VINEYARD GRAPES Malvasia and Trebbiano. SOIL TYPE The soil is a sedimentation from the Pleistocene (3 million - 120,000 years ago) with sandy clay and moderate amounts of lime. VINEYARD SPECIFICS The plants are 10 years old. The vines are cordon-trained at an altitude of 300 metres a.s.l. / 984 feet a.s.l. and grow at a density of 5,051 plants / hectare (2,020 plants / acre). Literally holy wine, the Vin Santo is a sweet wine deeply rooted in Tuscan tradition. The first references date back to the Renaissance, which is also when the Avignonesi family first came on the scene. To this date our Vin Santo and Occhio di Pernice are produced with the madre (yeast) that has been passed on for generations and provides that ethereal taste. This sweet wine is the result of an exceptionally long ageing process during which over half of this precious liquid evaporates. It has been calculated that with the same amount of grapes used to produce one of our 375 ml bottle you can produce twenty-four 750 ml bottles of wine. VIN SANTO DI MONTEPULCIANO D.O.C. 2005 WWW.AVIGNONESI.IT TASTING NOTES This Vin Santo is characterised by intense aromas of caramel and walnut husk, softened by hints of honeydew honey, nutmeg and pennyroyal. The aftertaste recalls memories of candied orange and butter biscuits. On the palate this sweet wine reveals infinite taste sensations, a symphony of notes of dried figs, almonds, orange jam and rosemary. A perfect balance between sweetness and acidity leads to a long and sensual finish.