LLS Portfolio Book

Castello ColleMassari

ColleMassari is the most important and largest estate of the Montecucco appellation. The vineyards are located on the Montecucco hill that gives name to the appellation. The vines on the Montecucco hill are the oldest Sangiovese vines of the DOCG (more than 60 years old). Although it is a “new” DOCG, wine has been made in Montecucco since the time of the Etruscans in the 8th century. The wine making tradition is now continued by Maria Iris Bertarelli and Claudio Tipa, who purchased the vineyard in 1998 to be the heart of the Montecucco DOC that it was their vision to create. Montecucco is located between Montalcino, and Scansano, and benefits from microclimates similar to both of those regions. ColleMassari produced its first vintage in 2000. The Castello ColleMassari winery is located in Cinigiano in the foothills of Monte Amiata, about 1050ft above sea level. It is about 24 miles to the north-east of Grosseto in the DOC Montecucco, which is famous for its particularly favorable micro-climate. The Castello ColleMassari is not entirely a medieval castle. Its structure is more reminiscent of a fortified hamlet or even a grancia, a type of protected agricultural operation, founded by Cistercian Monks in the 8th century. During this era, they set up an agricultural system between Siena and the Maremma. The term massari, or massaro referred to a representative of an agricultural organization, an important part of which was the farmhouse, located in the center of the area. Melacce Montecucco Vermentino DOC Melacce, whose name is taken from the small river that crosses the property, is produced from Vermentino vineyards at 985 ft. above sea level on fractured sandstone soils that are exposed to sea winds. Those winds combined with pronounced temperature fluctuations lend the characters of freshness and aroma to this variety. Early harvest preserves vivacity in the grapes. Vinification occurs in stainless steel vats at low temperatures to better preserve the varietal aromatic expression. It is then aged on lees, to gain smoothness and flavor.

Rigoletto Montecucco Rosso DOC A blend of Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, and Montepulciano, Rigoleto is produced from vineyards at 985 ft. The soil is characterized by fractured sandstone, tufaceous clays and calcareous marl. The training of the vineyard helps maintain the characteristic features of freshness and flavor of the grapes from the hills of Montecucco. The wine is aged for 15 months in steel tanks, and a small quantity is aged in barrels.

Montecucco Rosso DOC Riserva The Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, and Cabernet grapes for the Riserva come from a selection of the oldest vineyards with an average age of 30 years. The gentle cultivation of the grapes, and the characteristic of soils help to preserve the authenticity of the Sangiovese in the ColleMassari Riserva. Vinification in stainless steel vats and in small wood vats with spontaneous fermentation and long macerations of 3 – 4 weeks. Ages for 18 months in vats and tonneaux.

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WINES OF CENTRAL ITALY