Winemaker Notes
Giovanna’s “second wine” is produced from younger vines around the property and supplemented by a parcel of Sangiovese she rents in the nearby commune of Villa a Sesta, just six kilometers from Castelnuovo Berardenga. The wine’s name references several numerological coincidences: the five grape varieties of the estate (Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino, Mammolo, Fogliotonda), the five leaves and flowers per bunch of a grapevine, and the winery’s home address. Aged for one year in Slavonian oak casks varying in capacity from 500 liters to 30 hectoliters, Cinque is slightly simpler and more fruit-driven than Giovanna’s longer-aged wines below, but it nonetheless bears a profound soil imprint and will age effortlessly for years. 2023’s particularly acute drought conditions led to a Cinque of dark fruit and ample structure, yet through Giovanna’s skilled stewardship the tannins remain fresh and finely articulated even as they penetrate deep into the wine’s dense palate.
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.