Winemaker Notes
The vineyard from which this wine is born consists of highly reflective sandstone (Arenaria-Calcare-Pietraforte), rich with quartz inclusions, resulting in a complex reserve style Sangiovese which is elegantly balanced; given time, this wine reveals luscious fruit components, a strong minerally-driven backbone, balanced acidity and firm elegant tannins. This wine can be laid down to be enjoyed in the years to come, but can also be enjoyed upon release.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Sa'etta comes from 50-year-old vines planted on pietraforte sandstone. According to owner Michael Schmelzer, this reflects the sun onto the bunches, helping to build tannins and a darker fruit profile. For the 2015, he added about 50% of the stems back to the must, giving it an extended maceration of 60 days. This needs lots of air but gradually opens up to reveal plum blossom, dusty red cherry, balsamic herb and heather. It's savoury and earthy on the palate, though still wrapped up in mouth-clinging tannins, with a wondrously textured and fresh finish. Drinking Window 2021 - 2031.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
One of the first wine regions anywhere to be officially recognized and delimited, Chianti Classico is today what was originally defined simply as Chianti. Already identified by the early 18th century as a superior zone, the official name of Chianti was proclaimed upon the area surrounding the townships of Castellina, Radda and Gaiole, just north of Siena, by Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany in an official decree in 1716.
However, by the 1930s the Italian government had appended this historic zone with additonal land in order to capitalize on the Chianti name. It wasn’t until 1996 that Chianti Classico became autonomous once again when the government granted a separate DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) to its borders. Ever since, Chianti Classico considers itself no longer a subzone of Chianti.
Many Classicos are today made of 100% Sangiovese but can include up to 20% of other approved varieties grown within the Classico borders. The best Classicos will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and be full-bodied with plenty of ripe fruit (plums, black cherry, blackberry). Also common among the best Classicos are expressive notes of cedar, dried herbs, fennel, balsamic or tobacco.