2015 Agriturismo Colognole, Chianti Vigna 'Rogaie'

ABOUT THE WINE
In 1892, Conte Vencesalao Spalletti, Senator to the Kingdom of Italy and owner of a fine agricultural estate in upper Emilia, purchased the Colognole and Lucciano (in Chianti Montalbano) estates. Colognole was initially utilised mainly for lumber production, thanks to its extensive forests, but in 1912, due to the interest shown from the Conte’s sons, Giambattista and Cesar, production focused on grapevines and olive trees. This development led, in the 1930s, to the construction of the Cantine Spalletti in the city of Rufina. Production significantly increased both in quantity and quality, and in the 1960s the name Spalletti had become synonymous with high-quality Tuscan wine, particularly for age-worthy reds. In the 1980s, with the addition to the shareholders of a large sparkling-wine producer, the owner gave up both the production cellar and the name Spattelli and concentrated their efforts on the Colognole Estate.

TASTING NOTES
A richer, more powerful wine than the Riserva; black cherry and bramble characterise the aromas, with red fruit on the palate. The finish shows a hint of barrel-ageing; long and promising, with grippy tannins suggesting a long life ahead.

FOOD PAIRING
Excellent with lamb loin chops and roast potatoes; or a roast butternut with trimmings.

FRIARWOOD SAYS
The Colognole estate spans 700 hectares in the Tuscan hills, of which only 27 hectares are planted to vines. In 2004 the estate embarked upon a project to find out which plots produced their finest Sangiovese grapes, the result of which is this exceptional single-vineyard release.