CASTELLARE DI CASTELLINA, I SODI DI SAN NICCOLÒ
TUSCANY, ITALY 2019
Why It's Special: Proprietor Paolo Panerai and longtime winemaker Alessandro Cellai have crafted the kind of Super Tuscan we dream about – a 96-point powerhouse that is light on its feet, and that even in its relative youth dazzles with its complexity and maturity. It's little wonder that Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls it "the single most overlooked high-end wine in Tuscany today."
What They're Saying About It: "The nose alone you could smell for hours," declared Decanter’s Georgina Hindle in a 96-point rave. "Powerful and concentrated on the palate, this is broad and muscular, sinewy with depth and determination … it's cool, clean, sleek and packed full of flavour."
The Story: I Sodi di San Niccolò was among the first crop of Super Tuscans to emerge in the early 1980s, its name a wry allusion not to the challenge of helping to birth a movement but to the difficulty of launching a vineyard site on a balky patch of land – "I Sodi" refers to land that is difficult to till. Accordingly, all grapes must be hand-harvested, and that throwback, labor-intensive approach extends throughout the winemaking operation. But this is not benighted soil -- not by any means. In fact, its calcareous clay-loam composition, coupled with its high elevation, makes it optimal for the production of big, concentrated wines with acidity and elegance.
The Specs: After fermenting in stainless steel tanks, with racking and pumpovers, the wine was aged for 24 months before bottling in new French oak; in bottle, it aged for an additional 24 months in the cellar.
Our Tasting Notes: Weighty, muscular, rich – yet in spite of its size and flesh, a wine with soft, fine-grained tannins; that beguiling duality makes for a drinking experience of unexpected sensuality and elegance. On the nose, dark fruit (ripe cherries, berries) predominates, with complementary notes of vanilla, leather, and cedar. The aforementioned tannins and the welcome streak of acidity don't just make for a more complex wine; they also testify to the great potential, here, for aging.
ABV: 13.7%
Fun Fact: The vineyard literally sits on holy land; San Niccolò in the title refers to the abandoned church on the estate property.
What to Pair It With: Pasta Bolognese; braised lamb; double-bone pork chops with pan sauce; chicken with preserved lemon and olives.
Our Guarantee: We always buy direct and only source direct, so you can rest assured that your wine will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2023 (Dec. 21st - Mar. 20th, 2024). All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NY or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Monday, August 28th, 2023.
