Castello di Volpaia : Balifico 2020

The richness and fruity framework of a Tuscan red wine

The estate

Nestling in the heart of Tuscany, Castello di Volpaia is a medieval treasure where time seems to stand still. This small village’s stone houses, cobbled streets and fortified towers render this beautiful setting timeless. Built in 1172, the estate is one of the most important architectural testimonies to the glory and prestige of the Chianti region. Owned by the Stianti Mascheroni family since the 1970s, Castello di Volpaia boasts an exceptional 46 hectares of vineyards. With organic farming, massal sélections and indigenous clones, the estate looks after its vines with the utmost care.

The vineyard

Located between 1300 and 1900 feet above sea level, the Tuscan vineyards face south, south-east and south-west. This means that the vines enjoy perfect exposure to the sun, producing highly concentrated grapes. The soil is predominantly sandstone, with the exception of the Castellino and Santa Maria Novella vineyards, which are dominated by clay. The vines are Guyot pruned to maximise exposure of the grapes to the sun and to aerate the bunches.

The wine

Balifico 2020 from Castello di Volpaia follows the inspiration of the Super Tuscans, resulting with a great wine that does not follow the traditional DOC rules, but rather aligns itself with the IGT quality standards attributed to the Super Tuscans.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage began with a relatively warm winter and spring, leading to early budburst and flowering. Despite a dry winter, rainfall in May and June enabled the vines to withstand a very hot summer.

Winemaking and ageing

The wine benefitted from 18 months of ageing in new French oak barrels.

Blend

Sangiovese (65%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (35%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for Balifico 2020 from Castello di Volpaia

Tasting

Colour
The wine has a bright ruby colour.

Nose
The nose is very elegant, unveiling scents of blackberry and blueberry, followed by notes of oak and cinnamon.

Palate
Delicate and structured, the palate expresses a long finish with red fruit flavours.

To serve

For the best tasting, this wine should be served at a temperature between 16 and 18°C.

Food and wine pairing

This Italian wine pairs perfectly with red meat dishes, hard cheeses and spiced dishes.