Grape blend: Malvasia Toscana, Trebbiano Toscano
Aged: 36 months in Caratelli barrels
Alcohol content: 15.5% vol
Acidity: 6.30 g/l
Residual sugars: 130 g/l
Vin Santo is a blend of farmers’ pride and… “bottled” hospitality. It takes a great deal of work and patience to produce just a little of this sweet, Tuscan nectar. The 2018 Vin Santo grape harvest began in mid-September and continued for 2 weeks; a long period that was necessary in order to select, by hand (and “eye”) the Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes from Casa Conforto farmstead. The bunches, laid out on racks in the “fruttaio” (= fruit storeroom), were turned over at regular intervals to ensure uniform drying out, which lasted until the beginning of December. The last phase takes place in caratelli barrels containing 90-100 litres, where the must is combined with the “mother Vin Santo”, and then left to ferment and age for 3 years.
Tasting – Colour: bright copper, with bronze tinges and highlights that tend towards an orangey brick colour; it descends densely with copious legs around the side of the glass. The nose: an explosion of sweetness; date, sultanas, ripe apricot with woody notes of vanilla, but also a hint of earth and mushroom. In the mouth: unctuous thanks to the wealth of sugar and intense alcohol content; honey-like on the palate, with an exquisite, long aftertaste.
Wine and Food Pairing – “Traditional”: sweet Tuscan delicacies such as Cantucci, Brigidini and Ricciarelli. “Unusual”: make small holes in some chunks of mature pecorino cheese, fill them with Vin Santo and enjoy! “Viallino”: prepare a “cream” of ricotta and Vin Santo, and mix crumbled Viallini biscuits into it…
Awards – 96/100 points for the 2018 vintage at the Wine System International Organic Wine Award 2023, Frasdorf, Germany – 95/100 points for the 2018 vintage at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2023, London.