Castiglioni Chianti

Full-flavoured dishes such as meat-sauced pappardelle, and roast chicken as well, sautéed beef with vegetables, and medium-aged cheeses.

Following a mild winter, the vines sprouted in early April, just afew days earlier than expected. Overall, April was clear and reasonably cool, contributing to a moderate growth under dry conditions. Flowering occurred around the last week in May, a period in which the climate was always mild and slightly windy; this resulted in an excellent fruit set. From April to August, there were some quite heavy rainfalls, with aslight peak in June; during the months of vegetative expression, the water supplies were always in proportion to demand (neither drought nor excessive rainfall). Veraison took place from the last week in August onwards, and was followed by a gradual ripening in September. The Sangiovese and Merlot were harvested from mid-September onwards. There were magnificent concentrations of fruit and with excellent aromatic intensity.

6 months in steel and a period of time in the bottle

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.