The Vendemmia Tardiva or Late harvest Selection is a sweet dessert wine obtained by the vinification of Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes over-ripened on the vines and partially affected by Noble Rot. The grapes were carefully selected by hand and harvested during late December 2003. Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes were the two white varietals once used in the original Chianti Classico recipe and in Vin Santo but the very particular weather conditions of 2003 yielded quite extraordinarily an unexpected attack of Noible Rot (Botrytis) and thanks to enthusiasm of Paolo Cianferoni could be recorded by the production of an exclusive and refined sweet white wine quite unique in the Comune of Radda in Chianti situated at over 500 metres on sea level. The Chianti district traditionally has often yielded Vin Santo, sometimes of excellent quality (like Caparsa's Vin santo), but always the wine is by own very nature oxidative like an oloroso sherry but the Vendemmia Tardiva tastes fresh with clear fruty and floreal aromas while the palat is caressed by harmonic sensations of balanced sweetnes, the finish is charaterized by a candied slightly bitter note typical of grapes affected by Noble Rot. Persistance is long. The extremely slow fermentation and successive "elèvage" was carried out in new Allier barrowl (Mercier) and were constantly surveyed by Paolo applying the technical advice of Cristiano Castagno who has been contributing to the wine-making of the Caparsa wines for some years.
Total production of the Vendemmia tardiva was 1400 bottles (0,5 liter)
Characteristics:
Grapes: 50% Malvasia Bianca + 50% Trebbiano
Aged: Small barrowls for 12 months
Ferments: Wild Yeast
Filtration: Yes
Size bottle: 0,5 liter
General Informations:
sales Menager: Federico Cianferoni
Director of Cultivation, General Manager: Paolo Cianferoni
Oenologist (Masterof Wine): Federico Staderini e Paolo Cianferoni
Agronomist: Monica Coletta e Paolo Cianferoni
Total Surface Ha: 66,60,00
Vineyards surface: Ha 11.33.29
Surface of Chianti Classico: 9.79.00
altitude vineyards: m 450
Type of vineyards structures: Archetto Toscano, Guyot, Cordone speronato
Total productions: Hl 500
Imbottled Vendemmia Tardiva 2003: Hl 7
Cellar capacity Hl: 3.300 (Inox 363, cement 2.680, Oak Vats 90, barrowls 167)
Bottles stock: 40.000 bottiglie
Average length of stay (monthsi): no limits
