The history of the Badia (Abbey) in Coltibuono is very ancient: it was built around the church of San Lorenzo in Coltibuono, in the second half of the eleventh century, taking the name of Badia a Cultusboni, from the Latin cultus (agriculture) and bonus (good), which told how those lands had a particular vocation for agriculture. In fact, the work of the Vallombrosan monks, the Badia inhabitants, was focused on the revival of agriculture, based mainly on the oil and wine production, the same conduct long before them by the Etruscans and the Romans until 300 BC.. Moreover, the monks dedicated themselves to enriching the woodland around the vineyards, creating, as we know, a microclimate particularly favourable to wine production.
It was from this illustrious past that the Giuntini/Stucchi-Prinetti family departed when, in 1846, the founder Michele Giuntini bought the Romanesque structure and the surrounding land. Since then there have been six generations of this family who have, each with its own characteristics, helped to grow and prosper this winery name. In Badia a Coltibuono were produced wines but were not sold, until the beginning of the ’50s when Piero Stucchi Prinetti began bottling and marketing the best Chianti Classico vintages. Piero can rightly be credited with the development of the Badia in Coltibuono brand, thanks to the tireless work of communication and spread of Chianti Classico wine, carried out today by his sons Roberto Emanuela and Paolo.
The current winery produces wine according to a strict organic disciplinary certified in 2000, both for work in the vineyard and for those in the cellar, and characterized by grassing of inter-row, organic fertilization, enrichment of biodiversity in the vineyard and spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts in the cellar. One of the fruits of all these attentions is the Chianti Classico Riserva, composed mainly of Sangiovese (85-90%) with a balance (10-15%) of Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo and Colorino, from plants of 40 years of age dwelling in the vineyards Poggino, Vignone, Montebello and Argenina, in the area of Monti in Chianti, in the macro area of Gaiole, about 20 kilometers north-east of Siena. The soils, composed of calcareous clay of medium texture, with an exposure between the south-east and south-west, rise at an altitude ranging from 270 to 370, and are planted with a density of 5500/6000 vines per hectare. After the manual harvest with a first selection in plant, the grapes are pressed gently and then ferment and macerate for at least 3 weeks, with constant fulling. Two years of aging in French and Austrian oak barrels, about six months in bottle, and the wine is ready for marketing.
The 2010 vintage shows a pretty pale ruby color, with a hint of orange on the nail, and an olfactory range that opens on notes of durone, crème de cassis, pot pourri and vinyl, followed by pomegranate, blood orange, rosehip and undergrowth, with slightly woody and graphite concluding echoes. The taste still retains an excellent freshness, more balsamic than citric, combined with a discreet softness and elegant and silky tannins; all accompanied by the return of red fruit and spices that accompany the sip until a good length finish.
Rating: 90/100
Want to find out what I can do for you? Click here!
