Intro: Fattoria Lornano

~ Bienvenuto a Fattoria Lornano ~

I’m always looking for new estates and marvel at how so many seem to come from long established regions.  Yet it doesn’t take much to change the landscape.  An expiring fruit contract or vineyard lease can quickly allow vineyards to change hands.  You never know what changes will put a winery on the map. Today’s subject boasts a similar analogy.

With 49 hectares of vines, Fattoria Lornano is a tiny estate located west of Castellina in Chianti.   Owned by the Pozzoli family since 1904,  a pair of relatively recent events has put this Monteriggioni property on the path toward renaissance.

Beginning in 201o, the family began replanting their vineyards.  Shortly thereafter, a new underground aging cellar and warehouse were completed. The guiding hand intertwined with all of it?  Franco Bernabei.

~ The manicured gardens on the estate have an almost aristocratic feel to them ~

Today, 80% of the vineyards are planted with 15 different clones of Sangiovese so the family can fully express the character of the grape. Located on the border of Monteriggioni and Castellina, the vineyards lie about 300 meters above sea level.

Core to the family’s philosophy is natural, sustainable agriculture.  Lornano promotes equilibrium between their vineyards and the surrounding environment.  Because of this commitment, their wines are free of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and contain only naturally occurring sulfates.

~ Sunset over Lornano’s vineyards near Monteriggioni ~

The 2015 vintage, the maturation of the vineyards and the involvement of Franco Bernabei provided Lornano with the perfect confluence to craft one of their best wines to date.

The 2015 Fattoria Lornano Chianti Classico is an opaque purple color.  Aromas of blue flowers, crushed berries, sweet tobacco and warm clay are complex and attractive.  On the palate, the wine is racy and sophisticated.  Medium bodied flavors of ripe wild cherry, dried herbs, licorice and cured olive are delicious and persistent.  Develops an interesting meaty/animal note on the finish.  A nice value for about $15.  92 points.  Find this wine.

~ A compelling effort in an outstanding vintage, the 2015 is worth stocking up on ~

E vero!