Belguardo Maremma Serrata 2016
Winemaker Notes
Power and freshness define Belguardo wines, from the estate’s structured Bordeaux blend to the refreshing, bright Vermentino. The ability to produce such diverse wines is owed to the Maremma, where Belguardo lies, six miles in from the Tuscan coastline bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The Mazzei family, owner of Chianti Classico’s highly esteemed Castello di Fonterutoli, took the helm at the Belguardo estate in the 1990s after recognizing the area’s potential for quality winemaking. In the years since, the Mazzei family has established Belguardo among the top producers in this exciting, fast emerging wine region.
After acquiring the land, the Mazzei’s implemented an intense replanting campaign throughout the Belguardo property with careful, studied selection of varieties and clones. Along with the introduction of traditional grapes such as Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the family is currently undertaking a research and development project to cultivate an ancient local variety found only in the oldest vineyards of nearby Scansano. These efforts are an example of the family’s philosophy to create wines that convey the terroir from which they’re produced.
Belguardo’s logo is designed after Leonardo da Vinci’s geometrical symbol, a rhombicboctahedron, representing representing a union between precision, perspective, and proportion.
Belguardo comprises a total of 173 acres (70 hectares). The vineyard area is planted at altitudes ranging from 70-130 meters (230-426 feet) above sea level, with south/southwest exposure. The well-drained soil comprises of limestone and sandstone rocks.
Legendary in Italy for its Renaissance art and striking landscape, Tuscany is also home to many of the country’s best red wines. Sangiovese reigns supreme here, as either the single varietal, or a dominant player, in almost all of Tuscany’s best.
A remarkable Chianti, named for its region of origin, will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and plenty of cherry fruit character. From the hills and valleys surrounding the medieval village of Montalcino, come the distinguished and age-worthy wines based on Brunello (Sangiovese). Earning global acclaim since the 1970s, the Tuscan Blends are composed solely of international grape varieties or a mix of international and Sangiovese. The wine called Vine Nobile di Montepulciano, composed of Prognolo Gentile (Sangiovese) and is recognized both for finesse and power.