Podere Poggio Scalette, 'Il Carbonaione’ Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany, Italy, 2020

Overview The Wine
Poggio Scalette takes its name from the landscape, which is characterized by dry, stone walls supporting terraces on which the vineyards and olive groves are planted. From a distance the impression is of a series of stairs climbing the slopes of Greve. After the death of its previous owner, Poggio Scalette remained abandoned for years until Vittorio Fiore, one of Italy’s most famed winemakers, discovered the property in 1991 with his wife, Adriana. In 1996, 42 additional acres of land became available, enabling them to expand. It was discovered that the plot of land known as Il Carbonaione was the first area to be replanted after World War I (1914-1918), which means these vines, more than 90 years old, are a rare example of the original clone of the famous Sangiovese di Lamole variety in the Chianti Classico area.

The slopes of the Greve Valley are without question some of Italy’s most ideal locations for vineyards and olive groves. The combination of exposure and soil composition contributes to the excellent quality of the wines and the extra virgin olive oils of the area. Named for the river that passes through as it travels from a medieval hilltop town, this area happens to be one of the most important historical centers of the Chianti Classico region. Il Carbonaione, Poggio Scalette’s signature wine, is the culmination of knowledge and experience and therefore an important message of quality. Vittorio Fiore dedicates this wine to Tuscany and to Sangiovese — the region and the variety that have allowed him to fulfill his aspirations to produce superb wine.

Winemaker
Vittorio Fiore

Grape / Blend 
100% Sangiovese

Origin
Alta Valle della Greve IGT, Tuscany, Italy 

Tasting Notes
Il Carbonaione is a full-bodied, rich wine with an exuberant personality and great aging potential. It has abundant aromas of red and dark berry fruits - tart cherries, blackberries, currants, and plums with notes of spice. On the palate, the wine is lush and full-bodied with flavors of berry fruits buoyed by focused tannins unfolding over a pleasant, lingering finish.

Pair this wine with grilled lamb chops, sugo all'amatriciana sauces, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, and terrine de foie gras.

94 Points - James Suckling
Exotic oriental spices, black pepper, black berries with hints of pine cones, porcini mushrooms and incense. Naturally concentrated on the palate with a full body rounded by plush, velvety tannins. Very long and mealy.

93 Points - Wine Spectator
A lush, eloquent red, with smoke and charred oak flavors wrapped around a core of black cherry, blackberry, plum and iron. Polished, with a youthful grip of tannins on the long, spice- and smoke-laced aftertaste. Give this a few years in the cellar. Sangiovese. Best from 2026 through 2038. 2,100 cases made, 600 cases imported.