Le Cinciole Petresco 2010

In 1991, Milan residents Luca and Valeria Orsini took a radical leap; tired of the fast-paced city life, they seized the opportunity to buy the Le Cinciole estate in the storied Chianti village of Panzano. They relocated to Tuscany and left their former careers as math professor and architect to become grape growers and winemakers. Their first vintage was not the most encouraging: 1992 was a horrendous vintage in Tuscany! Nevertheless, the Orsinis kept on in their pursuit of great Chianti Classico and now, almost twenty years later, they have succeeded masterfully!

Named after the property’s historical place name, which was a twist on the ancient Etruscan-Roman name designating the immediate area as “the lands of Quintius,” the estate, now recognized throughout Italy for its quality, extends across northern Chianti Classico district Greve’s famed “Conca d’Oro”, or “golden vale”. Though most vineyards in Greve are at approximately 200-350 meters, Le Cinciole’s Panzano slopes rise to a cool 400-450 meters and host Chianti’s famous galestro soil mixed with sand and chalk. With a total of 13 hectares planted to vines, 11 are currently in production, whereas 5 additional hectares are planted to olive groves. The Petresco vineyard, which is the source for the grapes for the Riserva, is limestone-based. Only a few wines are produced at Le Cinciole in order to focus on quality.