We’d deem a Margaux fine and velvety, a Pauillac powerful and a Saint-Julien somewhere in between.
If we “left-bank” Castello di Meleto’s three most revered Gran Seleziones (Crus), then the Casi appears to be Margaux, the Poggiarso Pauillac and the Trebbio Saint-Julien.
Located in Gaiole of Chianti Classico, Castello di Meleto has been where it is since the 11th Century. Initially, it’d belonged to Order of Saint Benedict. Fate then transformed it into a military fortress and why not also a mansion for the nobility? In 1960s, newspaper director Gianni Mazzocchi raised a lofty fund (Bless the public!) to purchase Castello di Meleto and abandoned lands in the vicinity turning them into an agricultural party in full swing. Vines and olives have been thriving ever since.
Like many prestigious vineyards in Chianti Classico, Castello di Meleto’s Casi, Poggiarso and Trebbio face mostly south or southeast for optimal sunlight exposure aiding grape ripeness. A high diurnal range promised by the rolling hills’ altitudes is perfect for retaining Sangiovese’s bright, juicy acidity. In Cru Casi, the grapes grown on clayey soils with more sandstones in the west and marlstones in the east give the wine extraordinary silkiness and elegance; the clayey marl and alberese soils in Cru Poggiarso toughen up the skeleton of the wine; Cru Trebbio’s clayey red sand soils with alberese strike a good balance between finesse and strength.
All three wines had been matured in large oak casks for 27 months and can age beautifully. But if I was a Poggiarso, I wouldn’t mind lingering in somebody’s cellar/wine fridge for 10 years at the very least. Trebbio 5 to 7 years. In my opinion, Casi can be enjoyed upon release though it’d be quite a shame to miss the fun discovering its development into a bottle of tertiary marvel.
- Vintage: 2019
- Date of tasting: 22 Nov 2024 / 26 Dec 2024
- Location: Tokyo / Taipei
- Character: sour cherry, tomato leaf from grapes / spice, smoke from oaking
- Tannins: grippy Poggiarso / velvety Casi / gritty Trebbio
- Finish: long, displaying the quality of the grapes
- Ending notes: a dozen more please ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
