Tenuta Monte Rosola, Volterra (Tuscany)

A magical scene: two miles along a dirt track in the middle of nowhere, Tuscany. A roadside clue informs you that you are near your destination and you make a left turn. Suddenly the garrigue gives way to immaculate olive groves and the rolling hills of Tuscany offer their finest product: the vine. Through the gates, the 15th Century U-shaped farmhouse, La Rosola is spectacular. More...

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Acquired in 1999 by Gottfried Schmitt and his wife Carmen Vieytes, it has been spectacularly restored and a vineyard planted, mainly to Sangiovese with a smattering of international varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

However, there are only 2 hectares of vines, producing only around 5,000 bottles in total. This means that every vine, each barrel and, ultimately, every bottle of wine released receives a disproportionately high level of care. And it shows. It is almost unheard of to produce wines of this quality with good intensity and great finesse from such a young vineyard but Gottfried and his team have succeeded well. The vineyard quality is similar to the renowned Montalcino with rich clay soils which form a hard crust in the hot summer months locking the humidity into the ground. High in the hills, the vineyard benefits from steady breezes which keep the vines healthy. The vineyard is maintained immaculately with 50% green crop reduction and rigorous selection helping to ensure the very best possible fruit is transformed into wine.

Essentially there are two wines: "Crescendo" is pure Sangiovese and gives out a warmth that suggests a Tuscan sunset. "Corpo Notte" (sold out) is a classic Super-Tuscan blend of 65% Sangiovese, the rest made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. A bigger, more brooding wine which evokes the Tuscan night. New barriques are used for ageing the wines for 12-16 months but wines are released only when they are deemed ready. Perfectionism has never come so reasonably priced as this!