From the Conca d’Oro of Panzano in Chianti
Gagliole IGT 2017
Two vineyards for a deep and vertical wine
Panzano in Chianti’s magnificent Conca d’Oro, one of the finest Chianti Classico areas, is the birthplace of Gagliole IGT, the historic flagship wine of the estate it takes its name from. This year presents the 2017 vintage, an elegant Sangiovese blend with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon – a soft, harmonious wine, whose structure contains layers of dense tannins, and is an excellent representation of the grapes that originate from two of the best vineyards on the Panzanese estate.
The first lies on the highest ridge of the Conca d’Oro, at 510 metres and facing south-west. It comprises two hectares of clay-limestone rich in minerals, which represent the strength of Gagliole’s regional terrain. Verticality and length as well as intensity and purity are distinctive features of this vineyard. The second vineyard, at an altitude of 400 metres and north-west facing, consists of about one hectare of looser, galestro-rich soil, and highlights the characteristic structure and balance of Gagliole, giving the wine its volume and depth and characteristic fragrances of red berry fruits and spices.
2017 was a year full of uncertainty, marked by the effect of strong climate change. It began with a winter with almost no rain, followed by an unstable spring – a heavy and unexpected late frost at the end of April shaped the entire year’s pedoclimatic trend, initially causing a considerable reduction in grape production. This was followed by an extreme summer with no rain, and daily temperatures exceeding 40° centigrade during the hottest weeks. It was essential to protect the plants and their water levels from drought and extreme heat, by supporting the foliage with seaweed-extract natural stimulants and avoiding shoot topping and soil cultivation that would have led to the deterioration of the vineyards. Through careful management, the grapes reached the end of August somewhat stressed by the extreme conditions, but with big potential for improvement. The abundant rains of the first days of September were essential to rehydrate the soil and roots and to promote the ripening process. Thanks to the last phase of the season remaining cool, the grapes destined for Gagliole IGT were harvested on 5th October.
After rigorous selection in the vineyard, a second sorting of the grapes was carried out on the sorting table to remove all those that withered during the very hot summer. Only the healthy and turgid grapes were vinified, and their wines were aged for 18 months in 40% new French oak barriques, followed by a four-month élevage in newly made concrete tanks, which encouraged the natural clarification of the wine and enhanced the richness and radiance of the Panzano area. The result of this careful work is a wine in which the characteristics of such an extreme and warm vintage are not noticeable; on the contrary, finesse and elegance are the undisputed main features of Gagliole IGT 2017. The vibrant acidity typical of Panzano supports an almost creamy tannic structure. The wine has the fragrance of ripe fruit and sweet spices and the taste is smooth and delicious at this very moment, even though the structure already suggests that the wine promises surprises for future years.
5,000 bottles of Gagliole 2017 were produced.
*The Swiss Bär-Bettschart family, with their cosmopolitan spirit, belong to that avant-garde of internationalists so struck by the beauty of Chianti that they decided to put down roots here and create a wine that reflects this location and its atmosphere. The Gagliole winery was founded in 1990 and today boasts two distinct vineyard properties. One, located in the Conca d’Oro in Panzano in Chianti, provides grapes for the two IGT wines, Gagliole and Pecchia, and for Chianti Classico Rubiolo. The other, in Castellina in Chianti, yields the pure Sangiovese Chianti Classico Riserva Gallule. The estate comprehends 20 hectares in vineyards and 16 in olive trees. In addition to their elegant wines and extra virgin olive oil, the Bär-Bettschart family established in Panzano in Chianti a cosy luxury bed & breakfast, La Valletta.