Castell'in Villa - Santacroce Toscana IGT 2016

Price: $89.99

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Producer	Castell'in Villa
Country	Italy
Region	Tuscany
Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Vintage	2016
Sku	12017652
Size	750ml

 

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99

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We just got a handful of cases of a terrific Super Tuscan from Castell'In Villa, a superb, traditional winery making some of the finest wines in the region. Yet they somehow remain under the radar for all except for a few smart Somms in top tier restaurants around the world and wine geeks like me! But that is a good thing, as it keeps the price down on these iconic wines. 
The winery is known for its traditional, classically styled 100% Sangiovese based Chianti Classico Riserva. The first one released was the absolutely epic 1971 vintage - a wine purported to still be going strong. In fact we have access to well stored library releases of their Chianti Classico Riserva all the way back to and including the 1971, see prices below if interested.
But today we are offering their one dalliance into Cabernet Sauvignon, grown in an ancient vineyard originally planted to Canaiolo and grafted over to Cabernet in 1983. It's from a single vineyard called Santa Croce, and  is a blend of 50/50 Cabernet and Sangiovese. It spent almost 8 years in cask, longer than usual but it was a time when proprietress Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa was ill and some of the wines were left undisturbed in the cool dark cellars. 
With the power and sheer quality of the 2016 vintage, the result is a stunning wine that belies its long time in cask. (it must have been monumental in its youth!) But time has been very kind to this wine, allowing it to mellow, add complexity and the tannins to resolve.  
The fruit is dark and very youthful considering its age, solid with deep layers of complex earth, plum, sour dark cherry, licorice, and velvety tannins, and the finish goes on and on leaving your palate in awe, yearning for another taste. The blend of Cabernet and Sangiovese make it a more powerful expression of the estate's terroir than the more elegant, traditional Chianti Classico Riserva, but this in no way is overbearing or over the top. Compact, intense, concentrated, deep and dark with its own sense of elegance and power, quite a feat!
 

The 2016 Santa Croce is the estate's blend of equal parts Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon that spent close to eight years in cask during a time when proprietor Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa was ill and some lots sat undisturbed in cellar for extended periods. Dark red fruit, rose petal, spice and menthol build in the glass. Most suprisingly, the 2016 is shockingly fresh for a wine of its age . This is a great, great wine. It's not Sangiovese, it's not Cabernet Sauvignon, it's not a blend. It’s simply Castell'in Villa at its most profound. (AG)