About this wine
Grapes
Sangiovese Grosso is the dominant grape in the blend, complemented by Bordeaux varieties, including Merlot.
Vinification
One portion of the grapes undergoes traditional red-wine fermentation with ten days of maceration at a controlled temperature. Frequent pumping over contributes softness and fragrance. A smaller portion is left to overripen on the vines, then added to fermenters containing wine whose fermentation is nearly complete. This addition restarts fermentation, which then proceeds very slowly and steadily.
Tasting profile
Rich and powerful, with the depth and strength of Sangiovese Grosso alongside softer, creamy notes from the Bordeaux varieties. The wine is fragrant, structured and highly complex.
Label / history
The name refers to a massive rock on the Melini estate. The Melini wine house was founded in 1705 in Pontassieve, outside Florence. Its wines were sold only in Italy until the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1865, Alfredo Laborel Melini devised a woven straw bottle covering that allowed the wines to be transported safely abroad. In 1877, the Florence Chamber of Commerce awarded Melini a diploma and gold medal for developing and strengthening international markets for Tuscan wines. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Melini acquired around 200 hectares of vineyards in the Chianti Classico area and built a new winery in Gaggiano di Poggibonsi. Melini is part of GRUPPO ITALIANO VINI.
