Why it matters
The producer
Sangiovese occupies most of San Felice's Chianti Classico planting. The winery near Castelnuovo Berardenga is dedicated to Chianti Classico production and produces 800,000 bottles from that estate. Its named labels include Il Grigio Riserva, Il Grigio Gran Selezione and Poggio Rosso.
San Felice also produces wine in Montalcino and Bolgheri. Native Tuscan grape research runs alongside the Chianti Classico work, and Pugnitello is one of the varieties brought back through that research.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Sandy silty soils drain readily beneath San Felice's vines. The site has a Mediterranean climate of mild winters, hot dry summers and sea breezes, conditions that support ripening in red grapes. Sangiovese brings acidity and tannin to dry red wine, so the conditions suit Chianti Classico production centred on the grape.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
A Sangiovese planting measure for the Chianti Classico estate covers 150 hectares, with 85 percent planted to the grape. In the 2018 Gran Selezione, Sangiovese comes from I Colti, Pianaccio and Chiesamonti, while the indigenous varieties come from four other named sites.
Fermentation for that Gran Selezione takes place in steel, with 22 days of skin contact at 28 to 30 degrees Celsius. Each variety is vinified separately. The wine matures in equal parts of 60 to 100 hectolitre Slavonian oak casks and French oak vessels of 225 and 500 litres. Separate vinification keeps each grape variety distinct through fermentation, while the oak split brings two ageing vessel types into the same release.
Wines to know
The range in view
San Felice's Chianti Classico range is built around Il Grigio Riserva, Il Grigio Gran Selezione and Poggio Rosso. Il Grigio Riserva is the Riserva tier built on Sangiovese. Il Grigio Gran Selezione is a separate category that adds indigenous Tuscan varieties to the grape composition.
Vigorello 2019 is a red blend of 35 percent Pugnitello, 30 percent Merlot, 30 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 percent Petit Verdot. San Felice also produces wine in Montalcino and Bolgheri, extending the range beyond Chianti Classico.