Montecalvi Alta Della Greve

Wine has been made at Montecalvi since the 1400s. Montecalvi was for centuries part of the Castello di’Uzzano estate, at one time owned by Niccolo da Uzzano, a Florentine politician in the Medici era, and latterly owned by Don Briano Carlo Maria Castelbarco-Albani Visconti Simonetta dei principi di Montignano (the Count Castelbarco). It was farmed throughout this period according to the mezzadria system, by which local farmers farmed the estate for, and shared the year’s harvest with the castello.

Montecalvi became an independent estate in the 1980s and is now owned by the Drake family, owners of Collalto in the Adelaide Hills region of Australia. They have set about upgrading and updating the vineyards, restoring the old vines (they have one of oldest vines in Tuscany, planted in 1932) and replanting with indigenous Italian varieties. The winery is now a certified organic estate and all that they do with an eye towards sustainable farming in the vineyard and making wines (and olive oil) that are the best reflection of their particular place in our particular part of Tuscany.

The vineyards are among the finest in the Chianti Classico area, on sandstone/ clay soil at an altitude at 250 m above sea level and with ideal south/ south-east/ south-west exposures. Montecalvi farm their vineyards (and all of their estate) organically and sustainably.

The estate is 10 hectares, with about four hectares under vine (and half a hectare under olives).

Whilst the main focus is on Sangiovese, Montecalvi dedicate the same amount of care to the other varieties and all are harvested, fermented and aged separately. In this way the distinct character of each variety is nurtured so that, when they finally make the blends, they become much more than the sum of their parts.

It is Montecalvi’s intimate size that lies behind the success of their wines. They know their vineyards like the back of their hands, helping them to tend to each, row by row, vine by vine, bunch by bunch. By the time harvest comes around, the grapes arriving in their cellar are the very best that the year can bring.

Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon

The vineyards are among the finest in the Chianti Classico area, on sandstone/ clay soil at an altitude at 250 m above sea level and with ideal south/ south-east/ south-west exposures. Montecalvi farm their vineyards (and all of their estate) organically and sustainably.

Montecalvi produced an AVG in the past (the last vintage year was 1996) and we decided that it was only right to reintroduce this denomination now in celebration of our specific terroir. This new interpretation of the AVG is a blend in equal measures of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.

50% Sangiovese, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon grown on sandy clay soils.

30 days fermentation maceration

48 months in French oak, 500 l tonneau of 3rd use.

Medium ruby red in colour. Aromatics of old red rose and violet. Bing cherry on a bed of alcohol, raspberry, cassis, eucalyptus. Dried Mediterranean herb nuances. Juicy and inviting. Broadens on the mid palate. Silky tannins encircle fresh fruit with baking spice dusting. Full of character.

Drink with roast lamb studed with garlic, rosemary and anchovies.