Wine Details

La Spinetta Sassontino Riserva Toscana IGT

The Sassontino is a pure expression of Sangiovese from 45-year-old vines, allowed to age slowly at the winery for a full ten years before its release to market. This is an incredibly fine and elegant illustration of the quintessential Tuscan grape with red and blue berry aromas followed by crushed rocks, balsam herb and licorice. The vineyard site is characterized by loose, sandy soils with a notable presence of ocean sediments, contributing to the aromatic purity and finesse of the final result. Rich and dense, a delightful vibrancy gives this Riserva a gracefulness that will continue to evolve for many years.

Region:

Producer:

La Spinetta Tuscany

Classification:

Toscana Sangiovese IGT

Variety:

100% Sangiovese

Number of bottles produced:

6,000 bottles

Production area:

Casanova, Terricciola, Tuscany, south exposure

Altitude:

200 meters (656 feet) a.s.l.

Age of vines:

45 years

Yield:

2,000 bottles/ha

Vinification:

Maceration and alcoholic fermentation in temperature-controlled vats for an average period of 10 days. Malolactic fermentation done in French oak barrels, of which 80% new and the remaining second passage, followed by 24 months of aging.

Refining:

Bottle aging for at least 100 months

Alcohol content:

14%

Acidity:

5.7 g/L

Soil:

Calcareous, containing ocean sediments

Time of harvest:

Middle of September

Harvest:

Manual

Recent press reviews

92

La Spinetta Sassontino Riserva Toscana IGT 2009

James Suckling (92)- "Lovely old wine with spices, cedar and cherry on the nose and palate. Medium body. Creamy and polished tannins and a crisp finish. Drink now."

91

La Spinetta Sassontino Riserva Toscana IGT 2007

Wine Advocate (91)- "Here is another late-release Sangiovese from Casanova della Spinetta, only in this case, fruit is sourced from precious 50-year-old vines. The 2007 Sassontino is a concentrated, thickly layered and aged wine packed tight with dried fruit, spice, smoke and tar. There is a lot of tertiary definition here, and unlike the other late-release wine, the Sezzana, this bottle is less oxidative and still shows some recognizable fruit. Roto-fermenters are used to obtain rich extraction, and the wine is aged in tonneaux for up to 14 months."

93+

La Spinetta Sassontino Riserva Toscana IGT 2006

Wine Advocate (93+)- "The 2006 Sassontino is a pure expression of Sangiovese from 45-year-old vines. Past editions of this wine saw a small percentage of Colorino (about 5%) in the blend, but I am told this is no longer the case. The wine ages slowly at the winery for ten years before its commercial release. This is an incredibly fine and elegant expression with wild berry aromas followed by balsam herb, cola and licorice. The vineyard site is characterized by loosely knit, sandy soils, and these contribute to the aromatic purity and finesse of the final result."