What kind of wine is Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa?
The Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa is a Tuscan red wine of great personality, an authentic expression of one of the most historic and respected wineries in Chianti Classico. It was born as a Super Tuscan with an elegant yet strongly structured soul, the result of the encounter between Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, two varieties that complement each other. The result is a wine with an intense texture, great balance, and remarkable aging potential.
Vintage details
The 2007 vintage in Tuscany was characterized by balanced weather, with a warm but not excessive summer and a dry autumn: ideal conditions for obtaining healthy and perfectly ripe grapes. The vines, cultivated between 250 and 320 meters above sea level, with south and southeast exposures, produced concentrated and aromatic bunches, yielding a wine of great depth and harmony.
Winemaking and aging
The winemaking of Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa follows a traditional approach, with spontaneous alcoholic fermentation, activated by indigenous yeasts, in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of about 28-30°C for a period of 12-14 days. This phase promotes a balanced extraction of color and tannins. Subsequently, the wine ages in wood for 12-24 months: half in French Allier oak barriques (50% new) and half in large Slavonian oak barrels. After bottling, there is further bottle aging of about eight months, without filtration, which allows the wine to reach its full expressiveness.
Tasting Notes
The Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa is a complex wine, combining the strength of Cabernet Sauvignon with the elegance and freshness of Sangiovese, offering a complete and satisfying sensory experience.
Color
Visually, it presents an intense ruby red color with slight garnet reflections, a sign of achieved maturity and elegant evolution.
Nose
The bouquet is broad and deep, with notes of ripe red fruits, black cherry, and plum, blending with hints of licorice, sweet tobacco, and noble spices. With evolution in the glass, balsamic nuances and hints of dark chocolate emerge, typical of long aging in fine wood.
Palate
On the palate, it is full-bodied, rich, and velvety, with firm but perfectly integrated tannins. The structure is ample, supported by a beautiful acidity that ensures balance and freshness. The persistence on the palate is remarkable, with a long and harmonious finish that recalls the fruity and spicy sensations perceived on the nose.
What to pair Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa with
This wine pairs perfectly with rich and structured dishes of Tuscan and Mediterranean cuisine. It is ideal with:
- Grilled or braised red meats
- Game, such as wild boar or stewed hare
- Aged cheeses
- Dishes based on mushrooms or truffles
Its elegant complexity also makes it suitable for moments of meditation, enjoyed alone in large glasses that enhance its evolved aromas.
Storage and aging: how to store Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa
To best preserve the qualities of Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa, it is advisable to store it in a cool place, with a constant temperature between 14°C and 18°C, away from light and heat sources. The bottle should be kept horizontally to keep the cork moist and ensure perfect sealing over time.
This is a wine with an extraordinary ability to evolve: under the right conditions, it can continue to improve in the bottle for over 15 years, developing increasingly complex and refined aromas. A great Tuscan red that tells, sip after sip, the authenticity and longevity of the Castell’in Villa territory.
Castell'in Villa
The history of the Castell'in Villa winery The Castell'in Villa winery is an authentic gem in the heart of Tuscany, with a history intertwined with the region's rich winemaking traditions. Founded in the 1960s, the winery has become synonymous with heritage and innovation. While honoring traditio...
How to best open and serve Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa
1. Bottle positioning
Before opening the Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa, ensure the bottle has been stored horizontally, in a cool, dark place. Approximately 24 hours before serving, place it vertically to allow sediments, natural in aged wines, to settle at the bottom.
2. Ideal serving temperature
This wine best expresses its aromatic complexity when served at a temperature between 18°C and 20°C. You can gradually bring it to the desired temperature by leaving it at room temperature for a few hours, avoiding sudden temperature changes and direct heat sources.
3. Opening the bottle
To correctly open the Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa:
- Carefully remove the capsule, cutting it just below the neck ring.
- Wipe the top with a clean cloth.
- Gently insert the corkscrew, avoiding piercing the cork completely to prevent any residue from falling into the wine.
- Slowly extract the cork to preserve its integrity.
4. Inspection and initial tasting
Once opened, smell the cork: it should smell of mature, clean wine, with slight evolutionary notes. Pour a small amount into the glass and check that the color and aroma are consistent with an evolving wine, without cork taint or alterations.
5. Decanting and oxygenation
The Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa benefits from careful decanting to best release its complex notes. Perform this operation calmly:
- Use a clean, dry decanter.
- Slowly pour the wine, avoiding disturbing the sediment.
- Allow it to oxygenate for at least 45-60 minutes before serving.
This step allows the bouquet to open up, highlighting the aromas of ripe fruit, spices, and tertiary nuances typical of the 2007 vintage.
6. Serving
Serve the wine in large red wine glasses, which encourage oxygenation and perception of aromas. Pour slowly, avoiding disturbing any sediment that may remain at the bottom. Taste calmly, appreciating the aromatic evolution that develops over time in the glass.
7. Storage after opening
If not consumed entirely, reseal the bottle with the original cork or a wine stopper. Store it in a cool, dark place, preferably in the refrigerator. Under these conditions, the Toscana Rosso IGT 'Santacroce' 2007 - Castell’in Villa retains its characteristics for 1-2 days, but it is best to finish it within 24 hours to enjoy it at its best.