Sherbrooke Cellars © Copyright
Viticcio
Winery
Fattoria Viticcio in Tuscany has long been the darling of the Wine Spectator and Wine & Spirits magazines. Although it has had years of great press and its wines are priced significantly below neighboring estates in Chianti Classico, their wines were still only available in five U.S. states. What they truly needed was somebody to get their message out on a national scale, and for this they sought out the team at Sherbrooke Cellars. The Landini family have some of the finest vineyard holdings in the famed Greve in Chianti area, and with the recent acquisition of an estate in Bolgheri, I Greppi, plus significant upgrades in the cellars and vineyards, they will prove to be an important winery to watch for years to come.
Founded in 1960 by Lucio and Franca Landini, the Viticcio Estate still stands above the picturesque town of Greve, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. Their focus is to produce high-quality wines worthy of an international clientele while at the same time respecting the traditions and viticulture of the region. This focus remains the same today under the direction of the second generation, Alessandro Landini.
The estate comprises more than 30 hectares of vines, all of which are farmed organically. Additionally, seven of those hectares are farmed biodynamically. Alessandro strongly believes that in order to produce high-quality wines you must first respect the land in which the vines are planted. To this end he uses no pesticides in his vineyards and fertilizes by planting things such as fava beans and barley between the rows of vines, allowing them to flower, and then plowing them back into the soil to add important nutrients. A handful of wines see some time in the smaller barriques, but the large majority is aged in large botti. The wines of Viticcio represent an important combination of traditional, time-honored techniques with modern-day technology and respect for the environment.
Visit the winery at www.fattoriaviticcio.com
Wines
Bere Igt 2007
WINE SPECTATOR BEST VALUE “There’s a lot of Cabernet character on the nose and palate, with dried herbs and black currant. Full and very rich on the palate, with chewy yet fruit-coated tannins. Long and flavorful. Needs a little time to come together. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.”
90 points, Wine Spectator, 10/09
“Readers looking for an affordable every-day wine from Tuscany will want to check out Viticcio’s 2007 Bere. This blend of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot bursts onto the palate with generous, vinous red fruit. The wine reveals lovely density and inner perfume in a soft, accessible style that is sure to find many admirers. It is a great choice for casual drinking over the next few years.”
88 points, Wine Advocate, 08/09
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Chianti Classico 2007
“Shows a lot of bright cherry and berry character, with hints of coffee. Full-bodied, with fine, well-integrated tannins, clean acidity and a long finish. Drink now.”
90 points, Wine Spectator, 10/09
“Viticcio’s 2007 Chianti Classico is a soft, joyous wine that captures the essence of this vintage in its generous dark fruit and accessible personality. Ideally the wine is best enjoyed on the young side, while the fruit is still plump.”
88 points, Wine Advocate, 08/09
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Chianti Classico Riserva 2006
“Fabulous aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate, with super silky tannins and amazing richness and subtlety. Goes on for minutes on the palate.”
93 points, Wine Spectator 10/09
“The estate’s 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva is a rich sensual wine bursting with sour dark cherries, French oak, new leather and flowers. As it sits in the glass the wine’s inner perfume emerges with even greater clarity, melding beautifully into the soft, creamy finish. This is a terrific effort from Viticcio.”
90 points, Wine Advocate, 08/09
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Chianti Classico Riserva Lucius 2006
“Intense aromas of plum and blackberry. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins, lots of beautiful fruit and vanilla oak character and a long-to-medium finish. Generous and delicious already.”
91 points, Wine Spectator 10/09
“The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Lucius (Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) reveals an additional layer of depth and richness in its dark fruit, grilled herbs, minerals and French oak. The international varieties are felt in both the darker flavor profile as well as the greater weight of the wine versus the straight Riserva. The Lucius needs at least another year or two for its elements to come together and for some of the tannins to melt away, but it too is a promising wine.”
90 points, Wine Advocate, 08/09
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Prunaio 2006
“Displays very ripe raspberry on the nose, with black cherry. Full-bodied, with super silky tannins, toasty oak and an aftertaste of chocolate, coffee and fruit. A serious red. 100% Sangiovese Grosso.”
93 points, Wine Spectator 10/08
“The 2006 Prunaio is a selection of the estate’s best Sangiovese, and is aged in French oak. It is a gorgeous wine that impresses for its volume, depth and richness. Dark blueberries, blackberries, minerals and French oak are some of nuances that emerge from this opulent, full-throttle wine. The 2006 Prunaio is still quite primary, and will require an additional few years in bottle to acquire additional aromatic complexity. This is a terrific effort from Viticcio.”
91 points, Wine Advocate, 08/09
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Monile 2006
“Offers currant, berries, light toasty oak and light coffee. Full-bodied, with ripe fruit, soft, silky tannins and a rich finish. Ripe and beautiful, with a lovely texture. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.”
94 points, Wine Spectator Insider, 10/09
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