Perano is one of the nine Tuscan estates of the Marchesi Frescobaldi, a thousand-year-old family that from Pomino to Nipozzano, from Montalcino to Montepulciano, from Bolgheri to Gorgona constitutes an exceptional repertoire of the various winemaking souls of the region.
In this case we are in the heart of the Chianti Classico, in a natural amphitheater at 500 meters above sea level, facing south-west with peculiar pedoclimatic conditions that give Sangiovese a particularly elegant expression rich in personality. I recently had the opportunity to taste the 2022 vintage of Chianti Classico Docg Tenuta Perano, a wine resulting from a truly auspicious year. After a winter full of rainfall and characterized by frosty mornings, spring was pleasant and regular, favoring budding and flowering. Then the sunny summer punctuated by regenerating rains, especially in the month of August, allowed balanced maturation, giving intense aromas and a pleasant tannic softness.
The harvest began on September 18th, the manually harvested grapes were vinified with a long maceration to best extract the polyphenolic substances. Subsequently, a maturation period of 12 months in barrique and steel and a further period in the bottle completed the aromatic baggage of the wine. The wine has a brilliant and intense ruby red color, the nose recalls berries (raspberry, blackberry, blueberry) and then turns to elegant spicy notes with surfano on a balsamic trail. On the sip it is chewable, full-bodied, with thick and enveloping tannins and made vibrant by freshness and flavor. The price is around 15 euros.
The other wines of the estate are the Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico Docg Riserva, from Sangiovese and Merlot grapes that rest in oak barrels for 24 months (24 euros), and the Rialzi, a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Docg Gaiole from a vineyard in a altitude of 500 meters and positioned on three terraces with alberese soils and a south-west exposure, which rests for 36 months, of which 24 in barriques (40 euros). A wine which, explains Lamberto Frescobaldi, “is a dream I have been chasing for years. From Tenuta Perano, strongly desired by my entire family, we chose the Rialzi vineyard, which rises above the others thanks to three characteristic natural steps. A Grand Selection which, as the name suggests, reminds me every day of the continuous commitment to excellence”.
Frescobaldi owns nine estates: in addition to Tenuta Perano there are Castello Pomino in Pomino, Castello Nipozzano in Nipozzano, Tenuta Castiglioni in Montespertoli, Tenuta Castel Giocondo in Montalcino, Tenuta Ammiraglia in Magliano in Toscana, Remole in Sieci, Tenuta Calimaia in Montepulciano
and Gorgona. The group also includes independent high-end brands such as Ornellaia and Masseto in Bolgheri, Tenuta Luce in Montalcino and, outside Tuscany, Attems in the Friulian Collio and Domaine Roy&Fils in Oregon.