Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione 2019

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Grape Varieties: Sangiovese

A couple of weeks ago I tasted this wine with the importer/supplier and found it quite impressive. The history of this estate is also intriguing and it is worth discovering this beautiful wine, especially with Valentine’s Day around the corner.

Poggio Scalette is named for the landscape of the property, which is characterized by dry, stone walls supporting terraces on which the vineyards and olive groves are planted. After the death of its previous owner, Poggio Scalette remained abandoned for years until Vittorio Fiore, one of Italy’s most famed winemakers, discovered the property in 1991 with his wife, Adriana. In 1996, 42 additional acres of land became available, enabling them to expand. It was discovered that the plot of land known as Il Carbonaione was the first area to be replanted after World War I (1914-1918), which means these vines, more than 90 years old, are a rare example of the original clone of the famous Sangiovese di Lamole variety in the Chianti Classico area.

Despite legally being a Chianti Classico, Vittorio prefers to acknowledge the history of the site rather than the appellation. Adding a modern touch, Vittorio ferments in concrete then ages the wine in a mix of new and second-pass French barriques, which helps to soften the texture. Decant for a half hour and you are greeted with a deep nose of dried cherries, caramel, cigar box and tobacco. Overall this wine is bigger in texture than a typical Chianti, with the power of the old vines and slow ripening from the high elevation site apparent. Think of this more like a Brunello di Montalcino than Chianti and drink 2025-2035.