San Felice Belcaro Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC 2011, Italy

SAN FELICE is located in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, a few kilometres from Siena, in the heart of Chianti Classico, and it is owned by Allianz since the late ’70s. Surrounding the tiny medieval hamlet and the winery complex are 140 hectares of vineyards, 80% planted with Sangiovese, a testimony to the commitment of San Felice to the production of Chianti Classico with a manifest bond to its local terroir, as shown by its ‘Il Grigio’ and ‘Poggio Rosso’ wines. 2011 Vin Santo: Nose: A lovely amber hue, releasing draughts of toasted almond, honey and subtle spice. Crisp acidity on the palate, with a perfectly-calibrated level of sweetness. This is a Vin Santo that is traditional both in its blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes as well as in its method of production. The clusters are hand-picked in early October then hanged under the cellars roof to dry until December. They are then gently pressed and the must ferments and matures very slowly in small oak barrels for 5 years.