Our wines

Il Castagno

Syrah Cortona DOC

Il Castagno is the wine I have always dreamed of making. It's our main wine, the most representative of the winery. And, up until a few years ago, it's the only one I made. As with all our wines, Il Castagno is made only with Syrah grapes grown in our vineyards in Cortona. What characterizes this wine is the low yield per hectare (the maximum we obtain from 5000 plants is 50 quintals), our care for the vines throughout the year but particularly before and during the harvest (which usually takes place in the last ten days of September so that we can get the maximum maturity from all the fruit), and the gentle way that we handle the fruit (it's picked exclusively by hand and carefully placed in small, perforated 15 kilos crates).

The grapes are picked in whole bunches, and the alcoholic fermentation takes place naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts in steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Depending on the characteristics of the season and the quality of the grapes from each parcel (which are vinified separately, as each one requires different times and a customized approach), a small and variable percentage of the grapes are processed by the bunch. Maceration on the skins lasts, on average, another three-four weeks, depending on the quality of the grapes from that year.

Malolactic fermentation relies only on the first-pressed must (the juice obtained by pressing marc is never used in the production of our wines), and it takes place spontaneously, without bacteria being introduced. There then follows at least 18 months of aging on the noble lees in wooden barrels (French oak, Allier, Nevers and Troncais, and Slavonian oak) of different sizes (barriques, tonneaux and 15 hl barrels), that are made especially for us by master coopers, and in old cement barrels that have been a part of our winemaking process for a long time and which have been perfectly restored by experienced craftsmen.

Il Castagno represents the most “classic” of our wines while also adhering to the winery's philosophy of continuous exploration, experimentation, and evolution. For me, this wine is essential and irreplaceable, an accurate representation of my Syrah. All of our other red wines are much-loved variations on the theme. Still, Il Castagno is the decisive one, the backbone of our production. Il Castagno tells us about the vintage, what we can expect from it, and what we can do with it. Il Castagno most fully captures my conception of Syrah in Cortona. While Il Castagno aims to be a powerful wine, it is also harmonious and balanced, with considerable structure, yet elegant and refined.

“

A stellar example of Syrah from Cortona

”

Monica Larner

Wine Enthusiast

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I migliori vini italiani

Luca Maroni

Di lui dicono che abbia aromi complessi, profondi ed affascinanti di frutti rossi e neri maturi, cioccolato, caffè e pepe bianco, con sfumature di tabacco biondo, spezie e catrame; che al palato offra tannini vellutati e corretta acidità, gusto fruttato e speziato, con note esuberanti di fragole, more e ciliegie, sentori balsamici e minerali, di carne alla griglia e chiodi di garofano. Che il finale mostri grande carattere e personalità, retrogusto stratificato, lunghissimo e persistente.

The one thing that is certain about Il Castagno is that it intends to be a unique and original Syrah: very Tuscan, an authentic representation of the varietal, but also a faithful and sincere expression of the terroir of Cortona and our beautiful area thanks to simple, ethical and environmentally friendly growing and winemaking practices that are both exemplary of “technologically-driven craftsmanship” and our respect for nature and the fruit.

Data sheet

Grapes

100% Syrah

Yield per hectare

50 quintals from 5000 plants

Annual production

15.000 bottles

Available formats

750 ml / 1.500 ml

Color

Steady and clear ruby red with purplish hues

Perfumes

Ripe red and black berries, currants and blackberries, undergrowth, chocolate, coffee, and white pepper, with hints of blond tobacco, spices, and tar.

Alcoholic degree

14%

Service temperatures

16°

Il Castagno - Reviews

Bibenda

I Migliori Vini Italiani

4 GRAPPOLI

Rubino vivido. Profilo olfattivo coinvolgente, fatto di belle note di fragole e amarene, toni di torrefazione e spezie dolci, tabacco biondo e pepe. Bocca calda e di grande estratto, splende per eleganza fenolica ed integrazione della sponda morbida. Persistente.

Ernesto Gentili

Wine Ratings

91/100

Mostra scioltezza, equilibrio, freschezza di fondo, profumi ben definiti con prevalenza speziata-floreale, tannini ben registrati e un finale non trascinante ma coerente.

James Suckling

Wine Ratings

94/100

There’s a delicious, herbal streak of cypress and lightly dried stems, before this moves expertly through dark plums, hot stones and dried violets. Full-bodied and structured with encompassing tannins and a long, chewy finish.

Wine Enthusiast

92/100

A stellar example of Syrah from Cortona, Il Castagno is a soft and delicious wine with loads of ripe fruit, dark chocolate and leather. It’s a finely textured, smooth red with power and plump cherry on the finish.

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Vinous

by Antonio Galloni

94/100

Il Castagno is fabulous. Aromatically expressive and yet also powerful on the palate, is super-impressive its balance, persistence and pure character. Mediterranean herbs, black olive, leather, tobacco and game build into the explosive finish. What a gorgeous wine this is.

Wine Advocat

by Robert Parker

93/100

Here's a standup Syrah from the sun-drenched countryside that surrounds the little city of Cortona in eastern Tuscany. Il Castagno is a generous and softly layered wine with an inviting and cheerful personality. The bouquet opens evenly to showcase dark fruit, blackberry, spice and even a touch of powdered mocha or bitter chocolate. There are some very distant tones of charred meat and black pepper that are a standard feature of most quality Syrah-based wines. However, this wine delivers a magic touch of Tuscany as well.

Stephen Tanzer's

International Wine Cellars

90+/100

Deep ruby. Smoky herbs and smoked beef on the big nose. Then full and dense on the palate, with lively acidity lifting the saline black fruit and tar flavors. Finishes youthfully chewy and persistent.

Wine Spectator

93/100

This has a complex, deep and fascinating nose of tar, grilled meat, blackberry and plum. Full-bodied, with gorgeous fruit and velvety tannins. Finishes with wonderful multi-layers of character, from clove and meat to coffee and berries.