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Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei
Winery
Tenuta degli Dei has been owned by Tommaso and Roberto Cavalli for well over thirty years. Their winemakers, Gioia Cresti and Carlo Ferrini – Wine Enthusiast’s 2007 winemaker of the year – have worked together since 1998. The estate is located in the village of San Leolino, near Panzano in Chianti, one of the loveliest regions in the Tuscan countryside. Nestled in the famed Conca d’Oro (the “golden basin”), the vineyards benefit from ideal geographic and climatic conditions for viticulture. Their wines also contain juice from grapes grown in vineyards just south of the city of Florence. Both areas receive prime southern sun exposure. Panzano’s soil type is mixed, rich in the marl-based soil known as galestro, and well-drained, allowing the vines to absorb all the minerals in the soil and transfer the characteristics of the terroir to the grapes. Florence’s soil, high in clay, produces grapes rich in tannins and poliphenols.
All grape varieties grown on the estate are of French origin: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Alicante Bouschet. The winemakers are committed to making quality wines and therefore insist on hand-harvesting, as well as a two-step hand-selection process, to insure that only the best grapes are selected for fermentation. Once the grapes are manually removed from the vines, they are transported to the winery in refrigerated vans to preserve their integrity. Upon arrival, the grapes undergo two rounds of manual selection: one round for clusters, and one round for individual berries. Maturation takes place over 18 months in French-oak barrels, after which the wines are bottle-aged for 12 months.
Each vintage of Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei “wears” its own distinctive print from the family’s renowned fashion house on its label as a way of distinguishing between vintages. This practice creates a visual link between the family’s longstanding creative tradition and their enduring passion for wine.
Visit the winery at www.deglidei.it!
Cavalli United States Debut Press Release
Wines
Rosso Toscana 2007
This sublime blend of 30% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, with Cabernet Franc and Alicante boasts a full body with soft tannins and a gloriously smooth finish. Redolent of dark cherries and black fruits with hints of chocolate, laced with delightfully herbaceous hints of rosemary and mint, the grapes see up to a 20-day maceration with pumping over in stainless-steel tanks. No yeasts are added: fermentation is spontaneous and malolatic fermentation takes place in barrels. Aging takes place over 18 months in 60% new, fine-grained, medium-toast French-oak barriques. Under 3,000 total cases are produced. Dubbed an “impressive debut” by James Suckling of the Wine Spectator with the 2004 vintage, Cavalli Tenuta degli Dei has earned 90 points from Wine Spectator for three consecutive vintages and we expect no less for the 2007 vintage.
Layered and beautiful, with blackberry, licorice and mineral on the nose and palate. Caressing on the palate. Why wait? From fashion designer Roberto Cavalli
92 points, Wine Spectator, 10/2010
The 2007 Tenuta degli Dei is gorgeous in this vintage. Elements of softness and minerality create an attractive tension, while the fruit shows terrific focus. This is a relatively soft, mid-weight Tuscan 2007, but it is much improved over the 2006 version. It will be interesting to see what develops here over the coming years. Sweet scents of French oak linger on the floral, refined finish. Tenuta Degli Dei is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Alicante aged in French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2017.
91 points, Wine Advocate, 10/2010
From fashion designer Roberto Cavalli’s wine estate (run by his son Tommaso), this elegant super Tuscan blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Alicante Bouschet opens with compelling intensity and pristine aromas of ripe blackberry, spice, leather and dark chocolate.
93 points, Wine Enthusiast, October 2011
A Top 100 Italian Wine for 2011
label / tech sheet / shelf talker
Rosso Toscana 2008
“The 2008 Tenuta degli Dei is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 18% Petit Verdot and 2% Alicante. The 2008 is a big step up from previous vintages. It is an intense, brooding wine packed with jammy blueberries, blackberries, cassis and crushed rocks, all of which flow effortlessly from its structured frame. This shows considerable textural depth and plenty of complexity. It is a strong effort for the year…This is the strongest set of wines I have tasted from Cavalli.”
92 points, Wine Advocate # 196, August 2011
“From fashion designer Roberto Cavalli and his son Tommaso, this dark, masculine super Tuscan (made with mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) features an inky, impenetrable color and tight aromas of blackberry and spice. The tannins are firm but not astringent.”
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast, February 2012
Rosso Toscana 2009
A wine with lots of cedar, chocolate, plum and toasted oak character. Full and chewy, with velvety tannins. Give it two or three years of bottle age.
91 Points, JamesSuckling.com
Le Redini 2009
“The 2009 Le Redini is a new entry-level wine made predominantly from Merlot, with 10% Alicante. Layers of warm, ripe fruit radiate from this polished, impeccable Tuscan red. The wine possesses terrific intensity and fabulous overall balance, with silky tannins that frame the finish. This is a very strong first effort…This is the strongest set of wines I have tasted from Cavalli.”
91 points, Wine Advocate # 196, August 2011
“From superstar fashion designer Roberto Cavalli and his son Tommaso comes this plush blend of Merlot (90%) and Alicante that is aged 10 months in French oak. Le Redini is a soft, velvety wine that shows food-friendly fl avors of exotic spice, black cherry and dried tobacco.”
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast, February 2012
A wine with chocolate, vanilla and dried berry character. Full and silky, with fresh acidity and a clean, lively finish. Drink now.
90 Points, JamesSuckling.com, Dec. 27, 2011
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