2023 Poggioseco Chianti DOCG

90% Sangiovese and 10% Malvasia Nera, all certified organic and biodynamic from 10+ year old vines on chalk and sandstone. Once manually harvested, the grapes are gently destemmed and crushed and then undergo fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Clarification is done by decantation only, no fining product used. The wine then ages for 12 months in cement tanks and further 6 months in bottles before release.

Tasting Notes

Medium bodied and classically rustic on the nose, this shows off aromas of red cherry,  tart pomegranate, cloves, sundried tomatoes and a pleasing earthiness. Medium bodied, with more ripe fruit on the palate than the nose, including ripe blueberries, cherries and plums. Fresh and vibrant, with plenty of acidity to back up the grippy tannins here. Excellent value.

About Poggioseco

For Azienda Agricola Poggiosecco, a Chianti winery located between the Renaissance gems of Siena and Florence, the finest results come from respecting natural cycles and intervening as little as possible. This 16-hectares estate is situated on well-drained soils (the literal translation of Poggiosecco is ‘dry slope’) of the Montalbano Hills, where it cultivates the classic Tuscan combo of vines (12ha) and olive trees (4ha). Both the olive and the grape are treated to a meticulous biodynamic regime, something the owners Marco and Guiseppe consider “the only possible way of farming considering the historical context in which we live.” 

They set on this path in 2001, gaining organic certification in 2004 and biodynamic in 2009, and not looking back ever since. “Biodynamics establishes a unique balance in the soil and allows for the maximum expression and independence of each plant, making use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, etc. completely unnecessary,” they explain how they manage to steer clear of systemic treatments or irrigation.

All the natural treatments (green and cow manure, herbal tisanes, small amounts of copper and sulfur) happen following the biodynamic calendar and the phases of the moon, with great attention to detail: for example, the removal of old vines and branches takes place with a rising moon along with incineration and reintroduction of the ashes, whereas pruning is done when the moon is in a descending phase when the plant faces a lot of gravitational pressure, and thus has little sap, and this way the cutting wounds heal more easily.