Castello di Monsanto was founded in 1961 and sits in San Donato in Poggio, a sub-zone of Chianti Classico. The vineyards cover 72 hectares in four parcels: il Poggio, Scanni, il Mulino and il Salcio. The castle's thick walls date to 1740.
Sangiovese takes up 56 of those hectares. The rest is planted with Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The soil includes galestro, a schistous rock, and the southern slope has a high concentration of tuff.
In 1962 the estate vinified the Il Poggio grapes separately, and that wine became the first Cru of Chianti Classico. The cellar archive still holds bottles from that year. Nemo is a different kind of wine here, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Il Mulino vineyard.
Not tasted yet
I haven't reviewed a wine from Castello di Monsanto yet. They're on my Top 100 list, which is built from awards.