Fattorie Melini is the top range of Tuscan wines from Melini, Chianti's historic estate since 1705. The Fattorie line uses only 100% estate-grown grapes from Chianti Classico's most renowned vineyards, creating Italy's benchmark wines, like the revolutionary "La Selvanella".
The estate holdings are divided into four individual fattorie that represent an exclusive patrimony of choice vineyards (403 acres) in Radda, Castellina, Gaggiano and San Casciano. Here, the noble Sangiovese Grosso clone is planted on sunny, hillside vineyards situated at up to 1,800 feet where a moderate, continental climate along with galestro (a loose marl-like schist soil) and albarese (weathered sandstone from sedimentary compact rocks), soils create perfect growing conditions where the fickle Sangiovese achieves maximum ripeness and aromatic complexity.
Piedmont-born Marco Galeazzo runs the winemaking, a role inherited from longtime, esteemed oenologist Nunzio Capurso. The winery, located in Gaggiano di Poggibonsi, sits carved out of a 1,000-foot hillside; benefitting from this design, multi-stage fermenters accomplish the progressive phases of vinification by gravity rather than forced pumping. Old Limousin casks rather than the more common Slavonian are used for aging the top quality wines.
“With a bright, ruby color, the wine has a pronounced bouquet of raspberries and blackberries, with hints of violets and irises. In the mouth, there
Sangiovese: 85%, Canaiolo Nero: 10%, Malvasia: 3%, Trebbiano: 2% "Borghi D'Elsa has intense, fragrant and elegant aromas of blackberries and raspberries, with violet and Florentine iris
85% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon “The Chianti Riserva is bright ruby red in color with a nose of raspberry, blackberry and a touch of violet. On
85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo Nero, 3% Malvasia, 2% Trebbiano "Borghi D’Elsa has intense, fragrant and elegant aromas of blackberries and raspberries, with violet and Florentine iris
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Italy » Chianti Classico
Decanter 90 “Frank and forthright red fruits offer a very attractive, glowing ripeness – making this an enticing glass of wine. Poised and lively fruit on
85% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon “The Chianti Riserva is bright ruby red in color with a nose of raspberry, blackberry and a touch of violet. On
“With a bright, ruby color, the wine has a pronounced bouquet of raspberries and blackberries, with hints of violets and irises. In the mouth, there
"Bright, ruby-red. The bouquet is intense with violets, raspberries and iris scents and overtones of aromatic hay, spices and toasted almonds. The taste is dry,
GAMBERO ROSSO - 3 Glass Cellartracker 94 "I agree with Gambero Rosso in giving this a 'three glass' award. This is traditional riserva at its BEST. Complex,
"With a bright, ruby color, the wine has a pronounced bouquet of raspberries and blackberries, with hints of violets and irises. In the mouth, there
"The wine shows alluring leather, red berry and herbal aromas, and elegantly balanced wild cherry fruit on the palate with spicy red currant notes. The
Robert Parker 88 "The estate’s single-vineyards 2003 Chianti Classico La Selvanella Spent a whopping 30 months in French oak, something that is rarely seen these days.
Italy's Gambero Rosso "Due Bicchieri/2 Glass" Award Cellartracker 94 "Top Rated Veteran, first single vineyard in Chianti, this was my type of wine. tobacco with a ripe
"Chianti Classico Reserva La Selvanella is Fattorie Melini's top wine and is a benchmark for Italian wine. With its 1969 debut vintage Tre Bicchieri veteran,
Decanter 95 "Masculine and generous with forest fruit aromas. Rustic with flavors of leather and wild game and gripping tannins. Plump and intense, this has great
Wine Spectator 89 "Sweet spice, licorice and cherry flavors are supported by a dense underlying structure. Still, this remains on the elegant side, showing good balance
"With a bright, ruby color, the wine has a pronounced bouquet of raspberries and blackberries, with hints of violets and irises. In the mouth, there
"With a bright, ruby color, the wine has a pronounced bouquet of raspberries and blackberries, with hints of violets and irises. In the mouth, there
"The La Selvanella vineyard, one of the best crus in the Classico area, consists of 123 acres planted entirely to Sangiovese Grosso. Chianti Classico
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