Querciabella Mongrana

Description

A critically acclaimed bold, intense medium-bodied red wine with red cherry,plum, red berry and spicenotes with a super smooth finish. Pairs well with beef, lamb and venison.nWine Spectator – 90 ptsnWhen steel magnate Giuseppe Castiglione bought the rundown estate in Greve in 1974, it had only a single hectare of vines. He set about restoring the property to its former glory, and gradually acquired more and more land, spreading into Panzano, Radda and Gaiole. It was his intention to be able to grow not only Sangiovese, but the international grapes of his beloved Bordeaux and Burgundy wines as well. The estate is now 74 hectares and, indeed, is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco.nHowever, for Querciabellas founder, the estate was essentially a hobby producer. Almost from the start, Sebastiano Castiglioni worked with his father and, when Giuseppe was taken ill in the late 1990s, he took over completely. It has been under Sebastiano that Querciabella has become known as one of Italys best wine producers – and a pioneer in biodynamic winemaking, taking his fathers move towards organic viticulture in the 1980s considerably further. He also acquired an additional 32 hectare estate in the Maremma, on the Tuscan coast.nQuerciabellas interpretation of biodynamic agriculture is a very particular one. Like many biodynamic winemakers, Castiglioni does not believe in the mystical aspects of the system, having said he has no time for astrology or any New Age nonsense. But, having studied data on the effects of lunar forces on plant development, he is convinced there is scientific proof of its efficacy. He insists, though, that the dogmatic adherence of many practitioners to the strict tenets of biodynamism fails to take into account the needs of the terroir. In fact, Castiglioni points out, the methods founder, Rudolf Steiner, actually said that his principles should always be adapted to local needs. Castiglioni and his winemaker Manfred Ing tailor the techniques to specific sites within the estates in the Chianti region and the Maremma.nIn one way, Castiglioni goes further than biodynamism – in the area of animal welfare. Querciabella is an entirely vegan operation – no animal product, including manure, is used in the process at all. Biodynamic farming calls for field preparations and compost to be made by burying specific minerals or plants underground over the winter, sealed inside a cows horn. At Querciabella, ceramic horns are used instead. Visitors to the estate are treated to fresh, light and entirely vegan lunch from the estates gardens – since 2012.nQuerciabella has been active in trying to combat apiary colony collapse disorder, which is causing numbers of honeybees to drop drastically. As well as setting up several colonies in its Maremma vineyards, the producer launched the Bee Biodynamic campaign to persuade other winemakers of the dangers of the decline in pollinators and the effects of pesticides on bees.nQuerciabella straddles the divide between Chianti and Super Tuscan but makes the stance look surprisingly comfortable. While some producers in the region have rejected the native grape almost entirely, the main estate here is still planted with around 80 per cent Sangiovese. Querciabellas Chianti Classico is notably savoury and complex expression of the grape, especially in years when the longer-aged Chianti Classico Riserva is produced. Castiglione has talked of releasing single cru Chiantis as well – we await those with excitement.