Kevin's comments: Exceptionally intense colour, full bouquet with oaky, vanilla aromas with almost jammy, fruity tones. Dry, robust and harmonious palate with soft balanced tannins.

Chateau Tasting Notes

MARCHESI DE FRESCOBALDI

The Frescobaldi name goes back many centuries into the history of art, culture, trade and finance of Italy in general and Tuscany in particular. The Frescobaldi family has always succeeded in understanding and anticipating change by successfully combining experience with innovation. In the last 700 years grape growing has been a predominant feature in the Frescobaldi family business. Frescobaldi has been a keen player in the development of Tuscan vine-growing and was the first to plant new varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot and Pinot and to adopt new planting, cultivation and winemaking systems in their properties.

One of the major and largest vine growing business in Europe, Frescobaldi owns nine estates and includes over 1,000 hectares of vineyards, all located in prime areas where the "terroirs" are of the utmost importance. Directly managed by its family members, Frescobaldi produces almost 7 million bottles and the wines are exported to over 60 countries throughout the world.

CASTELGIOCONDO, built in 1100, was one of the first four estates to produce and bottle Brunello di Montalcino wine at the end of the last century. The property is located on the Montalcino hills, 40km from the sea and at an altitude of 250 to 450M above sea level. The surroundings of Castelgiocondo feature the typical Mediterranean woodlands. The climate is hot and dry, with a little even rainfall, good ventilation and the vines have an excellent exposure to the sun. The estate covers 150 hectares of Brunello vineyards and is the largest estate producing Brunello di Montalcino wine where the annual production reaches 700,000 bottles.

Grapes: 100% Sangiovese grapes from the Castelgiocondo Estate.

Altitude: 250-450M Exposure: South, Southwest Pruning: Low spur cordon

Soil: Rich in marl, with clay, limestone, and rich in calcium

Age of Vines: 20 years old Yield: 35 HL per Hectare

Winemaking: The grapes were hand harvested during the first 2 weeks of October and then softly pressed. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at 30C and lasted 12 days. Maceration lasted 25days. Immediately after alcoholic fermentation malolactic fermentation took place.

Ageing: Part in 80 & 100HL Slavonian oak casks and balance in French oak casks. 1/10 of the wine was aged in French oak casks for 1 year and the rest in traditional large oak casks for 30 months followed by at least 4 months in bottle prior to release.

Taste: Purple red, exceptionally intense, deep tending to garnet. The aroma is typical, ethereal, full with youthful notes first, then with oaky aromas (light mocha, and vanilla); the bouquet is ample and fine with fruity flavours hinting of jam. The taste is dry, warm, with soft noble tannins, robust and harmonious