2021 Castello di Montepò, Biondi-Santi, Sassoalloro 'Oro', Tuscany, Italy

Producer: Castello di Montepo is brought to you by Italy’s Biondi-Santi family, renowned for having created the Brunello di Montalcino style of wine established in 1980. Today & since 2019 the family has sold their infamous Label & are carrying on the innovation with the Seventh generation, Jacopo with his children Tancredi, Clemente & Clio, in Castello di Montepo. Here at the St Pete Cellars we have had the pleasure of meeting and having Tancredi ‘Tanc’ over to present the family's work & new direction -  about specificity, craftsmanship & commitment to improving viticulture, with constant study & observation of their BBS11 Sangiovese Grosso Clone.

Place: The family estate, Castello di Montepò is an 11th century, medieval castle, set on a hill overlooking the estate, 10 miles from the Mediterranean, in Maremma, in the Scansano countryside, in the heart of Tuscany - with 600 hectares, 50 dedicated to vines rest are forests & olive groves. The vineyard exposure for this wine is west, southwest & the altitude is between 300 & 450 meters above sea level.

Name: ‘Sassoalloro’ is a Super Tuscan cuvee, named after a volcanic erratic boulder that has fueled many local legends over the centuries, first produced in 1991, to celebrate its 30th anniversary the family created the ‘Sassoalloro Oro’- a small production single vineyard expression of their flagship wine - from a 6 hectare vineyard named ‘Aia di Clemente’ made to have a longevity potential of 20-30 years.

Cultivation: Sustainable practices, described as farming with ‘scientific precision and deep human care’

Varietal: Sangiovese grosso BBS11 the proprietary clone safeguarded by the Biondi Santi lineage..

Soil: Galestro with a mixture of silt & clay

Winemaking: Manual harvest, fermented in steel, aged in french barriques for 16 months, 6 months in bottle before release. ‘This wine promises excellent evolution over time, and can be enjoyed even many years down the line.’

Tasting Notes: Tobacco & Sweet Spice - Ripe Fruit & Cocoa - Rich Tannin