Castelgiocondo Brunello

Beef stews, braised meats and aged cheeses.

Winter in 2017 was rather mild, with slightly above-average temperatures. Summer and spring saw high temperatures and low rainfall. The combination of the clay-rich soils and particularly dry growing season resulted in decent growth and excellent subsequent ripening. When the grapes were harvested, they were healthy, intact and well concentrated. The abundant light and heat in 2017 gave the CastelGiocondo wines extraordinary strength and richness.

The wine was then aged in wood containers, where it was able to mature and develop balance. 5 years after the grapes were picked, and only after another period spent ageing in the bottle, CastelGiocondo Brunello is ready to be placed on the market.

The great care take in the vineyard, together with the typical characteristics of this unmistakable terroir, resulted in an outstanding harvest. The Sangiovese grapes were picked by hand and carefully selected after arriving at the cellar. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at acontrolled temperature with frequent pump-overs, particularly during the early stages.

The Marchesi de' Frescobaldi is one of Italy's oldest wineries with a history dating to the 1300s. The family has included medieval knights bankers lawyers and patrons of the arts. The Marchesi de' Frescobaldi is one of the most significant wine producers in Italy with nine estates—and roughly 2 500 acres—in Tuscany. The family has been growing wine since the late 19th century when they became the first in Tuscany to import and plant French vine cuttings. Because they have been producing wines for more than 700 years to experience Frescobaldi is to glimpse the history of Florence from the Middle Ages to the present day. Wine Spectator has ranked many of their offerings in the 90s and their wines are consistently listed in the magazine's Top 100 Wines of the Year encouraging wine enthusiasts from around the globe to become familiar with some of Italy's finest wines.