BACKGROUND:
Nestled in the hills of Barberino Val d’Elsa in Tuscany, Castello di Monsanto stands as a true pioneer in Chianti Classico. The estate made history way back in 1962 when founder Fabrizio Bianchi oversaw the first harvest and bottled Il Poggio as the region’s first single-vineyard Cru. Still family-owned, Monsanto is dedicated to sustainability, precision viticulture, and aging wines in their remarkable underground cellars, which house one of Italy’s largest archives, preserving generations of vintages in silence. The Il Poggio vineyard remains the crown jewel, serving not only as the source of their flagship wine but also as the genetic origin for massal selections of Sangiovese, Colorino, and Canaiolo across the property.

Step back in time with the Castello di Monsanto 1980 Il Poggio, Chianti Classico Riserva—a rare offering directly from the winery’s historic archive. The 1980 vintage was characterized by a short spring, a later flowering, and fluctuating temperatures with dry weather during summer, leading to a late harvest in late October through early November. Though initially rated as a “medium vintage” by the Consortium, the Il Poggio 1980 has defied expectations, showcasing an incredible capacity for aging over the last 40 years. This “unexpected wine” reveals the true strength and resilience of the Il Poggio vineyard, standing as a testament to its elegance and refinement even in challenging conditions.

Winemaker’s Notes

“The 1980 Il Poggio is a Chianti Classico D.O.C. Riserva, composed of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo and Colorino—a blend that has been a hallmark of Il Poggio since white grapes were removed from the recipe in 1968. Grapes were hand-harvested and fermented in temperature-controlled truncated conical steel vats for 20-22 days with regular pump-overs. The wine then underwent three years of maturation in 5000-liter Slavonian oak casks, followed by two years of bottle aging before release. Today, this vintage reveals a very open bouquet and a beautiful, elegant texture, demonstrating the wine’s superb structure and richness that allows for exceptional longevity.”

VINOUS RATED THIS 94 POINTS SAYING:
“The 1980 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio is full of surprises. Haunting in its aromatic presence, the 1980 offers up kirsch, sweet spice, leather, rose petal and blood orange, with the intoxicating inner sweetness of a wine that is fully mature. Best of all, the 1980 has the depth to continue to drink well for another decade or so. Harvest took place in late October and into November, unheard of today. This was not an especially highly regarded vintage, and yet Monsanto’s 1980 Il Poggio is truly divine.”