Wine Advisor
San Giusto a Rentennano, La Ricolma Merlot Toscana 2011
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
Nothing short of spectacular, the 2011 La Ricolma is a pure expression of Merlot that has ripened to perfection during the final stages of the warm harvest season. The richness and intensity of the wine know no bounds, and the textural finesse is equally impressive. Black cherry and blackberry render a sense of softness, while exotic spice flavors and Mediterranean herb give the wine depth and dimension. Although this edition of Ricolma doesn’t have the same level of focus and precision of cooler vintages (like 2010), it remains a true standout Tuscan Merlot nonetheless. I’d give the 2011 a shorter drinking window because of the overtly ripe nature of the fruit that may evolve quickly with cellar aging.
About the Producer
San Giusto a Rentennano is a family-run winery located in the Tuscany wine region of Italy, now owned by the Martini di Cigala family. Family) is responsible for management. The name "San Giusto" comes from the Etruscan people in Italy. During the Middle Ages, Chateau San Giusto was a convent where nuns lived, so it was called "San Giusto alle Monache". In 1204, the Florentines fortified the winery, making it the border between Florence and Siena. Today, the grounds of the winery still stand part of the remaining city walls, while the other part has sunk to become a wine cellar for aging. In 1914, the Martini de Chigala family became the current owners of the winery through a marriage to the previous owner. Descendants of the family still manage San Giusto Winery today. In 1999, the winery hired Attilio Pagli as winemaking consultant. The San Giusto winery covers an area of 160 hectares and is 270 meters above sea level. From the winery, you can see the Arbia river extending to the farthest southern tip of the Chianti Classico region. Among them, the vineyard area is 31 hectares. In addition, the estate of the winery is also planted with olive trees, woods and pastures. The soil of the vineyard is varied, the main components are sand, clay, limestone, volcanic ash and terracotta, the soil is alkaline and rich in calcium ions. At the same time, the temperature difference between day and night in the vineyard is significant, and the temperature is higher during the grape harvesting season. These conditions are conducive to the production of ripe, high-quality grapes with intense flavours. The winery adopts an organic planting model to strictly manage the vineyard, and most of the vineyard work is manually operated. After the grapes are ripe, the winery conducts green hand harvesting of the grapes. Since its establishment, San Giusto Winery has been committed to producing high-quality wines with Tuscan terroir characteristics. The wines that have been officially released include Percarlo Sangiovese, La Ricolma Merlot and Le Baroncole, etc., which are well received by consumers. favorite.
