Vallepicciola’s journey with Chardonnay shows there certainly is room for Super Tuscan whites from this landscape. This is 100% Chardonnay, selectively hand-picked from the Poggione vineyard in Castelnuovo Berardenga. The vines grow on clay/limestone soils, with a presence of galestro and alberese, providing a balance of both minerality and generosity in the grapes. Selectively harvested, the wine has been given the royal treatment for vinification and maturation, with a combination of fermentation vessels (including oak tonneaux) and then aging in barriques for 12 months with plenty of bâtonnage.
2023
From a vintage a full 5-6 degrees cooler than 2022, longer time on the vine has allowed for an even more concentrated Grand Cru Bianco for Vallepicciola than usual. It’s a richly coloured Chardonnay, with an intense nose, primary stone-fruit flavours and tropical notes sitting alongside judicious oak and malolactic characters. The palate is at the same time both rich and elegant, with great tension and sapidity, vibrant acidity and layers of complexity.
99+ points, Le Guide Espresso
99 points, Luca Gardini Notes
2022
This is a richly coloured Chardonnay, with an intense nose, primary stone-fruit flavours and tropical notes sitting alongside deeper spicy/caramel oak and malolactic characters. On the palate, it balances richness with elegance, and has plenty of power to partner with hearty fish dishes like swordfish, creamy sauces and even white truffles.
