New Release: 2015 Podere Poggio Scalette

~ Sangiovese vines on the Podere Poggio Scalette Estate ~

“Producing wine is a peasant art, made up of patience and foresight of imagining the vineyard before planting the young vines and preparing for them a welcoming place, one where they will feel at home and live for many years, accompanied by the love, the care, and the patience of a special person: the grower-producer.”   …. Vittorio Fiore

Podere Poggio Scalette became an autonomous wine-producing estate in 1991 when noted wine consultant Vittorio Fiore and his wife Adriana Assjè di Marcorà acquired several plots of land and a rural building on the hill of Ruffoli, in the commune of Greve.   The vineyards lie on terraced slopes, called “Il Carbonaione” by the local peasants and were among the first vineyards planted immediately after World War I.  Today, at over 80 years of age, they are producing incredible grapes with intensity and character.   The estate is run by Adriana and her son Jurij,  while Vittorio casts only a watchful eye for oversight.

~ Podere Poggio Scalette hails from Greve in Chianti where lots of typical treasures await ~

Today we’re focusing on the newest release from the winery.  The 2015 Poggio Scalette Chianti Classico is a stripped down version of the type.  Fermented and aged in lined cement vats, this neutral regimen of production results in a wine with fresh, vibrant characteristics.   The 2015 is floral and vibrant on the nose with delicate scents of rose petals, berries, Tuscan herb and soft spice notes.   On the palate, the wine primarily relies on spicy berry notes from fore to aft that are punctuated ever so slightly by warmed terracotta and cypress pine scents.  After spending 10 months aging in cement, the wine is bottled where it rests an additional 3 months prior to release.   87 points.  Good value around $16, especially in a vintage as fine as 2015.  Find this wine.

~ Beautiful deep color on this Chianti Classico that sees no oak or stainless steel during its production ~

Salute!  Stay tuned as we have more reviews of new releases coming; plus highlights from Benvenuto Brunello and Part V of our coverage on 2012 Brunello.   Avanti!