Frescobaldi

The Old World of wine embraces the New in 1995 when Marchesi di’ Frescobaldi, vintners active in Florence since 1300, announced a joint venture with the Robert Mondavi Winery of California. The mush-publicized product of the union is Luce, a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot from the Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo estate at Montalcino. The wine, first produced in 1993 by the team of Lamberto Frescobaldi, Niccolo D’Afflitto and Tim Mondavi, shows indubitable promise. An independent winery is being prepared for its production, though in the meantime tastings suggest that Luce is still in its trial phases, awaiting release of the great vintages of 1997 and 1999. Connoisseurs wont need to wait to taste the prime of Montesodi, the Chianti Rufina that experts have rated as Frescobaldi’s finest wine for years (although Brunello fi Montalcino and the Merlot called Lamaione from Castelgiocondo also win high praise). Montesodi is a podere, one of the farms of Castello di Nipozzano, the historic core of the Frescobaldi dynasty that takes in eight estates in Tuscany with some 800 hectares of vineyards. Sangiovese grown in hard, arid soil there proves that vines that struggle produce wines of character, for Montesodi has an aristocratic aura that distinguishes it from all other Chianti, whether from Rufina or Classico of the six less illustrious zones that carry the appellation. In all, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi, run by brothers Vittorio, Leonardo and Ferdinando Frescobaldi and their sones and daughters, produces about 6 million bottles of wine a year. Principal types are Chianti Rufina Castello di Nippozzano and the IGT red Mormoreto (from Cabernet), as well as Pomino DOC Bianco, Rosso and Vin Santo from the estate of Pomino. From Castlegiocondo come Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino along with the IGT Luce and Lucente (Sangiovese with Merlot).