About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Ripe al Convento comes from a small Sangiovese vineyard on the highest hills of Tenuta CastelGiocondo. The site lies at 450 m above sea level, faces south and receives the warm afternoon sun as well as cooling Mediterranean winds. Its soils are described as schistose and galestro-rich, with marl also forming part of the vineyard setting.
Grapes
Sangiovese.
Vinification
The 2020 grapes were picked by hand after careful selection in the vineyard. They were checked again at the winery and sorted manually, grape by grape. Fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Frequent pumping over, especially early in fermentation, promoted the extraction of colour and structure.
Ageing
Ageing in wood brought stability and increased the wine’s aromatic and structural complexity. Further bottle refinement followed, with the Riserva released in the sixth year after harvest.
Tasting profile
The 2020 is clear, brilliant ruby red with garnet reflections at the rim. Its complex, intense bouquet combines red and black fruits—currants, blueberries, Morello cherries and cherries preserved in alcohol—with floral notes. Tobacco and leather emerge with air, accompanied by white pepper and nutmeg. Ripe, compact tannins feel velvety and silky and are closely integrated into the structure, balancing the wine’s acidity and alcohol. The finish is exceptionally long.
Vintage notes
The 2020 growing season followed the replenishment of water reserves in late 2019. Winter rainfall was relatively limited, but the stored water helped the vines through the higher temperatures from June to August. Budbreak occurred in the final days of March, while flowering began in the second half of May under warm, dry and gently windy conditions. Dry weather during harvest produced healthy, structured grapes at full ripeness, with ideal sugar and phenolic levels.
Label / history
The vineyard occupies high ground on an estate where wine was already being made in the nineteenth century.
