The Austrian entrepreneur Karl Egger had known the Chianti territory for several years, being used to spend the holidays there, with his family. Slowly Egger fell in love with those places and decided to establish, in 2012, a farm, with 100 hectares of land, in the territory of Radda, the famous sub-area of Chianti Classico, between Florence and Siena. The name chosen for the estate was Tenuta Carleone di Castiglioni, because of the fact that it stood in the Castiglioni’s burgh, known since 1078 and formerly administered by Badia a Coltibuono. Sean O’Callaghan, a leading figure in the Chianti landscape who, previously, had brought to fame another winery in Chianti Classico, was chosen from the very beginning to guide the estate’s wine production and its 20 hectares of vineyards, and to oversee the production of wines.
O’Callaghan, who decided to adopt the principles of biodynamic viticulture, with the refusal of any chemical intervention in the vineyard and in the cellar, immediately transmitted its style, made of naturalness, craftsmanship and attention to the smallest production details. The standard bearer of this production is, without doubt, UNO: a wine coming from the best Sangiovese grapes selection, from the best company vineyards. After a careful manual harvest, the grapes ferment in cement tanks and open casks, and then macerate for more than 40 days, before aging a year and a half in new tonneaux (10%), cement tanks and stainless steel. The stated intent is to produce a wine of extreme finesse and elegance, capable of reflecting the soul of Radda in the glass, through a “naked”, “simple” and “genuine” approach.
This 2016 vintage has an almost impalpable ruby color, with aromas starting from red fruit (cherry, blackberry, pomegranate) and flowers (Thea rose petals and lavender) meticulously chiselled, followed by spices such as white pepper, Powder, cinnamon and a touch of Mount Athos incense and vinyl. The palate seems to float suspended in the void, with a rarefied memory of the olfactory component, enriched by an acid/sapid mix perfectly integrated, and refined and elegant tannins which accompany the sip until its very long finish, with notes of cherry and powder.
Rating: 95/100
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