Nestled in the beautiful Tuscan Hills north of Siena is the small, quaint town of Vagliagli, home to the Dievole estate which sits mere minutes from the center of town.
Dievole: the root of the word has its origins in the phrase Dio vuole, or “God Willing”. Dievole traces its lineage to the year 1090. In fact, local historical documents show that on May 10th, 1090 the name Dievole was first recorded by a notary named Bellundo who arranged the sale of the estate for the sum of two capons, three loaves of bread and six silver denari.
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| ~ Sleepy Vagliagli ~ |
Today, Dievole has been undergoing a gradual renewal since the 2012 vintage that is aimed at increasing the estate’s quality while enhancing the identity of the territory.
Currently the estate comprises 80 hectares of vineyards, of which 55 are in production. They are situated at an average altitude of 350 meters above sea level and divided into 16 plots – all connected to each other. Each plot has a specific profile mirroring the soil, the exposure and the microclimate. Another 25 hectares will be going into production over the next few years, reaching a total of 80 hectares.
Today, we’re looking at the newest release from Dievole that embraces this new found renewal, label and all. The 2013 Dievole Chianti Classico is, I believe, exactly what it was intended to be. In the glass, the classic color of the wine is evident. It’s a deep ruby with violet reflections but even a slight brick to orange hue to the rim.
On the nose, the wine speaks of the territory. Cypress needles fill the glass with dusty white road stones, crushed berry and fennel notes. It brings me back to my time in Vagliagli. On the palate, the wine is fresh and lively, with a restrained core of cherry fruit supported by ample acidity, soft tannins and secondary nuances of chestnut, fennel and powdery minerals. It’s pure and delicious.
We enjoyed this wine and it represents a marked difference from the quality I formally associated with this estate. It paired perfectly with rustic bronze extruded Fusilli alla Bolognese. 88 points, and a solid value around $15. Disclosure: This wine was an importer provided sample. Find this wine.
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| ~ The new beginning at Dievole is here. This lovely classico sports the newly designed label ~ |
Salute!
We spent 5 days at the estate during our first visit to Tuscany in 2005. I really enjoyed their wines of the early 2000's but found they had dropped off in recent vintages. Nice to see a resurgence from them. And by the way, it's a first class estate while spending some time touring Chianti. Dievole has a special place in my heart and I look forward to trying the 2013.
Bob – interesting to hear your take. Sadly, given my experience with the wines from here in the past, I drove right by the estate the last time I was in Tuscany. Next time, I'll pop in. How beautiful is that area? Really centrally located yet somehow totally off the beaten path.