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Wines by San
Giusto a Rentennano |
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San
Giusto a Rentennano
The estate of San Giusto a Rentennano has undergone
many transformations over the course of its history,
with an inaugural period as a medieval monastery (San
Giusto alle Monache). Its vocation changed drastically
in the 9th century, when the Florentines adapted the
structure for protection against the Sienese, equipping
it to serve as a fortress. (Florence and Siena were engaged
in a centuries-long battle, reaching a resolution only
in the 15th century.)
The Ricasoli family of Chianti Classico fame (Baron
Bettino Ricasoli authored the original formula for Chianti
in 1874) presided over the estate for several centuries,
with Enrico Martini di Cigala assuming ownership in 1957.
It is presently overseen by three of Cigala’s children—Franceso,
Luca, and Elisabetta. The estate—which is situated
in the Gaiole zone of the Chianti appellation—comprises
160 hectares, 30.5 of which are planted to vines, and
benefits from a microclimate marked by a dramatic fluctuation
between day and night temperatures.
Percarlo—a monovarietal Sangiovese—debuted
with the 1983 vintage and currently enjoys status as
San Giusto a Rentennano’s most renowned bottling.
It derives from low-yielding vines representing six cru
sites that feature ancient soils of sand and stone, and
a clay foundation. As Percarlo is crafted as a wine of
considerable concentration, the grapes utilized ripen
beyond the mature stage. Its stylistic orientation is
born out further through the vinification regimen, which
entails a fairly extensive maceration of 18 days, followed
by barrique aging for a period of 20 to 22 months. It
is bottled unfiltered and ages for an additional 6 months
in bottle prior to being released. With peers such as
Flaccianello and Cepparello, Percarlo operates in Sangiovese’s
cult realm. Its minute production level (approximately
1,600 cases per year) derives, in part, from a highly
regimented grape selection process: In some vintages,
the entire grape production is deemed unfit.
La Ricolma—its portfolio companion—is a
pure-varietal Merlot bottling sourced from several vineyard
sites. It follows the vinification regimen used in the
crafting of Percarlo, though it is produced in even smaller
quantities (approximately 375 cases). The estate also
produces a Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva,
and Vin Santo; the last of these—labeled Vin
San Giusto—is regarded as a standard bearer
in its class.
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