Vin Santo
di Montepulciano D.O.C.
L iterally holy wine, the Vin Santo is a sweet wine deeply rooted in Tuscan tradition. The first references date back to the Renaissance, which is also when the Avignonesi family first came on the scene. To this date our Vin Santo and Occhio di Pernice are produced with the madre (yeast) that has been passed on for generations and provides that ethereal taste. This sweet wine is the result of an exceptionally long ageing process during which over half of this precious liquid evaporates. It has been calculated that with the same amount of grapes used to produce one of our 375 ml bottle you can produce twenty-four 750 ml bottles of wine.
This caramel colored Vin Santo is characterized by intense aromas of caramel and dark chocolate, softened by notes of acacia honey, thyme and nutmeg, leading the way for inviting scents of candied orange peel and butter cookies. On the palate, this sweet wine reveals new and surprising flavours with every sip, including notes of figs, almonds, orange marmalade and roasted coffee beans. A perfect balance between acidity and sweetness compliments a sensual finish.
Malvasia and Trebbiano.
The grapes have been hand-picked from the best vineyard parcels and placed in small, vine leaf-coated bins.
The grapes are laid out for a few months on straw mats in the “appassitoio” (drying room). They are then softly pressed and the must is transferred in “caratelli” (50-liter oak casks) for a slow, natural fermentation with the aid of an indigenous yeast known as “madre”.
10 years in “caratelli”.
2002:
95 pts Wine Spectator
97 pts Wine Advocate
4 Stars - Vini Buoni d'Italia
2001:
95 pts Wine Spectator
98 pts Wine Advocate
92 pts Vinous
96 pts Veronelli
2000:
94 pts Wine Spectator
97 pts Wine Advocate
3 Stars - Veronelli
1999:
97 pts Wine Spectator
94 pts Wine Advocate
96 pts Vinous
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