Poggio Scalette, Il Carbonaione, Tuscany 2019

The vines used for Il Carbonaione, some more than 90 years old, are rare clonal examples of the famous “Sangiovese di Lamole” varietal in the Chianti Classico area. The vineyard plot “Il Carbonaione” is so named because the Fiore family found evidence indicating a charcoal pit (in Italian ‘carbone’) was located there many years ago.

Poggio Scalette takes its name from the landscape, which is characterized by dry, stone walls supporting terraces on which the vineyards and olive groves are planted. From a distance the impression is of a series of stairs climbing the slopes of Greve. After the death of its previous owner, Poggio Scalette remained abandoned for years until Vittorio Fiore, one of Italy’s most famed winemakers, discovered the property in 1991 with his wife, Adriana. In 1996, 42 additional acres of land became available, enabling them to expand. It was discovered that the plot of land known as Il Carbonaione was the first area to be replanted after World War I (1914-1918), which means these vines, more than 90 years old, are a rare example of the original clone of the famous Sangiovese di Lamole variety in the Chianti Classico area.