Cinciano Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC, 2011

Vin Santo is a Tuscan speciality dessert wine. Often served with cantucci – a typical Tuscan almond biscuit which is dunked in the wine – or aged cheeses. 2011 has lots of appealing aromas and flavours: barley sugar, honey, vanilla, almonds, dried apricots, sultanas and wood come together in this sweet dessert wine. The sweetness, alcohol and acidity combine perfectly and the whole just remains on the tongue. Grapes came from 40-year-old Malvasia and Trebbiano vines co-planted in the same vineyard with the Sangiovese that goes into Camponi – previously, it was common to mix white and red vines in Chianti vineyards. The white grapes are harvested separately; the quantities produced are tiny and left to dry for several months then pressed and the juice put into 100- to 150-litre barrels known as “caratello” made from local chestnut, cherry or acacia wood. The barrel is filled to two-thirds then sealed and left untouched for five years.