La Vigna di San Martino ad Argiano, Chianti Classico
La Vigna di San Martino ad Argiano
One single hectare
The brainchild of Giampaolo Chiettini, oenological virtuoso at Castagnoli, La Vigna di San Martino originates from a single hectare of vines owned by the Curia (Bishopric) of Florence, who have vast historical holdings in the region. Situated in the cooler northeastern corner of Chianti Classico, this tiny vineyard sits on a ridge of ancient marine sands and marls intermixed with pebbles and gravels. Its free draining soils are planted to Sangiovese to make Chianti, and Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca for Vin Santo. All viticulture is organic.
In the winery, Giampaolo’s reds are destemmed, gently crushed and fermented with indigenous yeasts, subsequently bred in used oak tonneaux for around 18 months. Courtesy of their cooler terroir, at 300 meters of altitude, these are harmonious wines of great energy and elegance. His Vinsanto is made the traditional way, grapes dried on racks between September and January, pressed and the must fermented in small oak barrels (caratelli). After remaining in barrel to mature for the next five years, the wine is ready for release. Although La Vigna di San Martino’s production only began with the 2017 vintage, Giampaolo’s wines are already at the very apex of Chianti, ranked amongst the handful of finest bottles in the region by both Decanter and Jancis Robinson. Their Vin Santo is a rare and precious thing, just 400 half-bottles produced in a vintage. With 290g/l of residual sugar, this is a wine of awe-inspiring intensity, power and richness.
Their Wines