Castello di Monsanto, Chianti Classico DOCG 2023, Tuscany, Italy

Who - Fabrizio & Laura Bianchi, Castello di Monsanto
Where - Barberino Val d'Elsa, Chianti Classico, Toscana, Italy
What - Red Wine - Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino
When - 2023
How - Organic, fermentation in steel, matured in french oak casks for 15 months, minimum of 3 months bottle fining, Vegan

Aldo Bianchi, Fabrizio's father, bought Castello di Monsanto in 1961. He fell in love with the place but while it may have started as a passion project, Aldo put huge effort into renovating the vineyards, the castle where the wines are made and matured, and other buildings on the estate, always with the aim of working in harmony with the surrounding nature: the estate is surrounded by a green belt of forest.

Monsanto lies in the western side of the Chianti Classico region, in the sub-zone of San Donato in Poggio. The views from here are extraordinary and it is a combination of the altitude which means cooler weather and winds from the Tyrhennian sea which reduce humidity, and the soils, which are in part galestro / schistous and moisture retaining, and looser, tuff soils with better drainage, which give the wines their balance of power and elegance. 

This is a Chianti Classico that really delivers on its promise, a gastronomic wine perfect for drinking with classic Tuscan dishes.