“I Sodi di San Niccolò" Toscana IGT 2021

Castellare di Castellina | Tuscany
Castellare di Castellina | Str. Provinc. di Castagnoli 14-15 | IT 53011 Castellina in Chianti

29302421 · 0,75 l · 101,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

When Paolo Panerai realised his vision of a great Tuscan red wine made exclusively from indigenous grape varieties at the end of the 1970s, hardly anyone suspected that this wine would make history. As early as 1988, the Wine Spectator catapulted it into the international wine elite with sixth place in its first Top 100 – a triumph for a Supertuscan that deliberately eschewed Cabernet and Merlot in favour of the genetic purity of Tuscan vines. The name itself tells of the terroir: "Sodi" is what Tuscan winegrowers call those hard, stony soils that were too heavy for teams of oxen and had to be laboriously worked by hand. Here, on calcareous Galestro soils between 350 and 400 metres above sea level, around the medieval church of San Niccolò, the vines fight for every drop of water – 85 per cent Sangioveto, the original, small-berried form of Sangiovese, and 15 per cent Malvasia Nera, an almost forgotten grape variety – an almost forgotten grape variety that was abandoned in many places due to its low yields – result in a cuvée of unnerving power and unmistakable race. The 2021 vintage perfectly embodies this philosophy: After 18 to 25 days of maceration in steel tanks, the wine matures for up to 30 months in barriques, two thirds of which in new wood, before resting for a further twelve months in the bottle.

The result is a wine of an intense ruby red colour with garnet reflections, with a bouquet of ripe red fruits – cherries in all their facets, from fresh to pickled – is dominated by ripe red fruits. Mediterranean herbs, liquorice, sweet spices and a hint of vanilla come together to form a complex aromatic mosaic, while the mineral precision that seems to speak directly from the stony terroir vibrates in the background. I Sodi di San Niccolò 2021 reveals its full potential on the palate: the dense, elegant texture is supported by the characteristic acidity of Sangiovese, which gives the wine freshness and tension. The tannins are velvety and perfectly integrated, the final is long, persistent and remarkably complex. A wine that is already inspiring today, but will only realise its full potential in the coming years – a monumental Tuscan that combines tradition, terroir and artisanal precision in perfect harmony. SUPERIORE.DE

"Powerful, bright ruby colour. Appealing nose with fine ripe fruit, dark cherry, blackberry and plum, followed by tobacco and liquorice. On the palate as if from a single mould, lots of well-ripened berry fruit, then opens up very precisely and long with fine-meshed tannins in many layers, good tension and a long finish." Falstaff

"The 2021 I Sodi di San Niccolò is a powerhouse. Many of the recent vintages have been more striking, but not the 2021. It's a wine that will need many years to get rid of its baby fat. Dark fruits, lavender, rose petals, menthol and grilled herbs emerge with air, but only very hesitantly. The 2021 is a wine for harvestwho can be patient." Vinous

"Cocoa powder and red berries on the nose, delicate ferrous notes, tobacco and rose petals. Thick and shiny, but lively with lots of life and energy. This wine is broad and powerful, complex and muscular with flesh and bite. The tannins are grippy, but they are accompanied by a delicious acidity that lifts the expression. Sun-kissed black fruits and spices on the finish. At this stage it still seems a little compact, but is full of concentration and finesse with graphite, slate and a bloody hint on the finish." Decanter

"Dark flavours of cherry, plum and blackberry are fresh, concentrated and framed by a light touch of toasted oak. Notes of iron, earth, eucalyptus and tobacco give this red wine depth in the long aftertaste. Intense and resonant, with outstanding balance and excellent potential." Wine Spectator