Villa Saletta Chianti Superiore 2017
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James
Suckling
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The Chianti opens with a ruby red color with violet tinges. It has a full, intense aroma, which recalls floral and red fruit notes. In the mouth, the wine is fresh, smooth, and well balanced with a complex consistency, with hints of violets, cherries and vanilla. This blend is well fused with smoky sensations. On the palate, it shows the characteristic intensity of Sangiovese, tannins that boast suppleness in their texture, and a vibrant, dynamic freshness.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lots of richness for a Chianti Superiore, but this highlights the hot growing season of the vintage. Medium to full body, medium chewy tannins and a tangy finish. Hints of new wood at the end. Drink or hold.
The story of Villa Saletta spans centuries. The estate has been owned by just four families throughout its history, all notable in their own unique way. The Gambacorta family consolidated the lands around the estate in the 14th century, before it came under ownership to the Riccardi, a wealthy family from Florence and bankers to the famous and powerful house of Medici. The Riccardi transformed Villa Saletta into a true working estate throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, when it was then passed onto the Castelli family.
By the time the Hands family took ownership almost 20 years ago, the estate had almost entirely fallen to ruin – but they saw the potential to reinstate the tradition of an agriculturally diverse, sympathetically managed and self-sufficient estate. Today we blend traditional Tuscan techniques and modern technology, but always grounded in the heritage of the estate.
Winemaking was the first focus of the restoration, and huge investment has been made into renovating old vines and planting new plots according to a detailed understanding of the terroir. By blending traditional techniques and attitudes with the tools of modern agronomy, viticulture at Villa Saletta is now amongst some of the most advanced in Italy.
The estate is also producing a range of phenomenal wines, some of which are archetypal examples of the Tuscan style, others which, by virtue of technique, are more reminiscent of the finest Bordeaux crus, but with an unmistakable Italian flair.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
Famous for its food-friendly, approachable red wines and their storied history, Chianti is perhaps the best-known wine region of Italy. This appellation within Tuscany has it all: sweeping views of rolling hills, endless vineyards, the warm Mediterranean sun, hearty cuisine and a rich artistic heritage. Chianti includes seven subzones: Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Rufina, Montalbano, Colli Senesi, Colline Pisane, Colli Aretini and Montespertoli, with area beyond whose wines can be labeled simply as Chianti.
However the best quality comes from Chianti Classico, in the heart of the Chianti zone, which is no longer a subzone of the region at all but has been recognized on its own since 1996. The Classico region today is delimited by the confines of the original Chianti zone protected since the 1700s.
Chianti wines are made primarily of Sangiovese, with other varieties comprising up to 25-30% of the blend. Generally, local varieties are used, including Canaiolo, Colorino and Mammolo, but international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah are allowed as long as they are grown within the same zone.
Basic, value-driven Chianti wine is simple and fruit-forward and makes a great companion to any casual dinner. At its apex, Chianti is full bodied but with good acidity, firm tannins, and notes of tart red fruit, dried herbs, fennel, balsamic and tobacco. Chianti Riserva, typically the top bottling of a producer, can benefit handsomely from a decade or two of cellaring.