Di Ghizzano Super Tuscan BYOB at Angeli’s Italian
With sister Jan visiting from SoCal, we dined at Angeli’s Italian, our favorite neighborhood trattoria. We took BYOB from our cellar this Super Tuscan red Bordeaux Blend, a perfect complement to the hearty Ricotta Cheese Ravioli Pasta with Bolognese Sauce and Angeli’s Meatballs.
This wine is from Tenuta di Ghizzano in Tuscany located in the village of Ghizzano, a small mediaeval hilltop village, close to the Tuscan coast, about 40 km from Livorno and 40 km south of Pisa.
The area is called ‘Colline Pisane’ - hills of Pisa. The vineyards are located in Peccioli (Pisa), at about 200 meters above sea level with a south-westerly location, in an area referred to as “Terre Di Pisa” - The Pisan Countryside. The landscape is gentle, and the climate is mild, thanks to the sea breeze, without extreme temperatures or great risk of springtime frosts.
The soil is a composite of sand and clay, a good example of calcareous clay sands formed from marine sediments from the "Astiana" geological era.
The grapes were traditionally pressed with the feet after which fermentation took place exclusively with natural yeasts in open wooden and/or concrete barrels.
Wines from the area are classified I.G.T. Costa Toscana (Tuscan coast) to recognize the terroir of the Tuscan Coast, that part of Tuscany influenced by the Tyrrhenian Sea, and to differentiate from wines from the IGT Toscana classification.
In 2011 the DOC Terre Di Pisa was established, to further sub-classify and differentiate and represent the highest quality Pisan wines from the municipalities of Fauglia, Crespina, Lari, Chianni, Capannoni, Palaia, Peccioli, Terricciola, Casciana Terme, Ponsacco, Pontedera, Montopoli V.A., San Miniato, Orciano Pisano, Lorenzana and Santa Luce.
The history of the original proprietors Venerosi Pesciolini Family date back to the Carolingian period with the first recorded signs of the Venerosi in 803 A.D. It is believed that the family settled in Ghizzano towards the end of the 14th century.
The family’s estate country house is a beautiful, typical classic late renaissance style Italian garden residential Villa surrounded by the estate vineyards.
The vineyards that surround the estate winery of Tenuta di Ghizzano are some of the oldest in the area. The estate is made up of 690 acres of rolling hills and some of the most stunning landscapes in the world. There are 45 acres of vineyards, 37 of olives, 250 acres of arable land and the remaining 370 of woodland and poplar groves where truffle hunters search for their perfumed golden treasures secretively.
The soil is a composite of sand and clay, a good example of calcareous clay sands formed from marine sediments from the "Astiana" geological era.
The wine estate has age-old history is considered one of the most innovative, famous for its terroir-driven wines, a high standard of quality highly acclaimed by wine critics.
Tentative Di Ghizzano Nambrot Costa Tocana IGT 2016
This wine is named after the founder of the Venerosi family, Nambrot, who lived in 830. It is called a Supertuscan as it is made of Bordeaux varietal grapes.
The Nambrot label was first made in 1996 using Merlot grapes and has evolved over the years into a blend together with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in a style demonstrating the potency, warmth and character of the terroir. Nambrot is called the “Pomerol of Tuscany” as it is made from exactly the same grapes as a Bordeaux Right Bank Pomerol.
The grapes were picked by hand and then, before the stalks, a further bunch selection was done on the sorting table.
The grapes were traditionally pressed with the feet after which fermentation took place exclusively with natural yeasts in open wooden and/or concrete barrels.
The wine was aged 18 months in 225 liter oak barrels, 10% new, followed by 8 months aging in the bottle.
Only 8,000 bottles of this wine were produced.
The 2016 Tenuta di Ghizzano Nambrot IGT Costa Toscana received 94/100 points from wine writer James Suckling, and the Highest rating, Gambero Rosso - 3 red glasses
The 2016 Tenuta di Ghizzano Nambrot IGT Costa Toscana received 94/100 points from wine writer James Suckling, and the Highest rating, Gambero Rosso - 3 red glasses
Bright dark ruby red colored with purple violet sprites, medium to full bodied with full round expressive black berry and plum fruits with notes of anise, tar and dark mocha, hints of oak, black pepper and smoke with firm but approachable tannins on the long moderate finish.
RM 91 points.
