Italie Castellare du Castellina di S Niccolo 1981
The 1981 I Sodi di San Niccolò is a Tuscan red wine tied to the Chianti appellation, produced by Castellare di Castellina. This cuvée blends 85% Sangiovese and 15% Malvasia Nera. Launched in 1977, I Sodi di San Niccolò is the estate's emblematic cuvée, highlighting the expression of these two indigenous grape varieties. Its name evokes the hard soils, once worked by hand, and the San Niccolò church located on the property.
La bouteille proposée
- Size
- Bottle (75cl)
- Packaging
- Loose
- Label Condition
- Perfect
- Fill Level
- Perfect
- Capsule Condition
- Perfect
Identité du vin
- Couleur
- Red
- Pays
- Italie
- Région
- Toscane
- Appellation
- Chianti
- Producteur / Domaine
- Castellare du Castellina
- Cuvée
- I Sodi di San Niccolò
- Millésime
- 1981
Cépage et assemblage
- Grape Variety
- 85% Sangiovese, 15% Malvasia Nera
Castellare du Castellina
Castellare di Castellina is a Chianti Classico estate established by Paolo Panerai from the Castellare, Caselle, San Niccolò, and Le Case properties. Its 80 hectares include 33 hectares of vineyards, planted in a natural amphitheater at an altitude of approximately 370 meters. The estate favors native Tuscan grape varieties, notably in its iconic wine I Sodi di S. Niccolò.
- Owner
- Paolo Panerai
- Maître de chais
- Luca Ballarin
- Surface (ha)
- 80.00 ha
- Production (average bottles per vintage)
- 240000
Histoire du domaine
Castellare di Castellina was born in the 1970s through the union, at the initiative of Paolo Panerai, of four properties: Castellare, Caselle, San Niccolò, and Le Case. The first vintage of I Sodi di S. Niccolò was bottled in 1977. The estate subsequently participated in the qualitative revival of Chianti Classico by combining respect for indigenous grape varieties with oenological research. Notably, with the University of Milan under the direction of Professor Attilio Scienza and with the University of Florence, it created the first experimental vineyard in Chianti dedicated to the scientific selection of Sangioveto and Malvasia Nera clones. A vineyard inventory initiated in 1979, supplemented by comparative microvinifications, made it possible to select and then regraft the clones deemed of highest quality. Castellare also introduced barrel aging following studies and advice from Émile Peynaud, while retaining concrete vats upon the recommendation of Giacomo Tachis. Today, Paolo Panerai remains at the head of the property. Alessandro Cellai heads the oenological team of the Domini Castellare di Castellina group, while Luca Ballarin is the manager of the Castellare cellar under his direction.
I Sodi di San Niccolò
I Sodi di S. Niccolò is the flagship wine of Castellare di Castellina and a Toscana IGT historically presented as a Supertuscan. It primarily blends Sangioveto and Malvasia Nera, sourced from the estate's finest crus, without using international grape varieties. Its first bottling dates back to the 1977 vintage.
- Origin of the cuvée name
- The name combines "sodi", a term used by Tuscan peasants to describe hard, stony soils that are difficult to work, with the 14th-century church of San Niccolò located on the estate. Luigi Veronelli suggested this name after tasting the first vintage.
- Cuvée creation year
- 1977
- Style of the cuvée
- A structured, complex, and elegant great Tuscan red, driven by the freshness and acidity of Sangioveto, with a strong aging potential. Malvasia Nera completes the blend by adding depth and aromatic character.
- Position within the range
- Flagship wine and historical top-of-the-range cuvée of Castellare di Castellina.
Histoire de la cuvée
Conceived in the 1970s as a great Tuscan wine based exclusively on native grape varieties, I Sodi di S. Niccolò was produced for the first time in 1977. Luigi Veronelli participated in its creation and gave it its name in reference to the Vigna de’ Sodi and the church of San Niccolò. The cuvée subsequently established itself as the standard-bearer for Castellare, notably thanks to the inclusion of the 1985 vintage in Wine Spectator's first Top 100 published in 1988.
