Montesecondo 2022 Chianti Classico

At the Northern edge of the Chianti Classico zone, in the sub-zone of 'San Casciano in Val di Pesa', lives Silvio Messana and his family. Here they tend to about 12 hectares of Sangiovese, Colorino, and Canaiolo (and a bit of Cabernet and Trebbiano). His Chianti Classico is from two parcels, one warmer with more clay and the other cooler with more limestone. The grapes are hand harvested, fermented spontaneously with native yeast, no sulfur (small amount at bottling), and no temperature control. 10 day maceration in the traditional submerged cap method (cappello sommerso), then a year and a half aging in concrete reveals a Chianti made in a very old school, traditional way. 

2022 was a hot and dry year for Chianti, but rainfall in late Summer saved the vintage. Great winemakers like Silvio are able to find consistency year to year and the wine shows silky fruit and grippy rustic tannins.