About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The fruit comes from the “Il Colombaione” vineyard in the municipality of Montalcino, at an altitude of 350 metres. Its soils are rich in limestone and clay.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested in the second half of October. Traditional vinification includes 20 days of maceration, followed by a long, slow fermentation at 28 °C.
Ageing
The wine matures for four years in vats of different sizes and then rests in bottle for a further six months.
Label / history
The Melini wine house was founded in 1705 in Pontassieve, on the outskirts of Florence. Its wines were sold exclusively on the domestic market until the mid-19th century. In 1865, Alfredo Laborel Melini devised a woven straw bottle covering that allowed the wines to be transported safely abroad. The Florence Chamber of Commerce awarded Melini a diploma and gold medal in 1877 for developing and strengthening overseas markets for Tuscan wines.
In the early 20th century, Melini acquired approximately 200 hectares of vineyards in the Chianti Classico area and built a new winery in Gaggiano di Poggibonsi. The house is now part of Gruppo Italiano Vini (“Italian Wine Group”).
