Vignamaggio Chianti Classico Terre di Prenzano Review

Strawberry, raspberry, cherry and a touch of mint and tomato leaf. That’s what I wrote down for the Vignamaggio Chianti Classico Terre di Prenzano 2020. One hundred percent Sangiovese from Greve in Chianti. Vignamaggio sent me the bottle.

The estate and the region

Vignamaggio lies in Greve in Chianti, between Florence and Siena. Tradition has it that Lisa Gherardini, the woman in da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, was born on the estate. There’s more on that in my piece on the Monna Lisa Gran Selezione.

Chianti Classico is the historic heart of Chianti. Cosimo III de’ Medici fixed the boundaries of the area in 1716. Today a Chianti Classico must be at least eighty percent Sangiovese; Vignamaggio uses a hundred percent here.

Where the grapes come from

The name points to Prenzano, the highest part of the estate’s historic core. The soil there resembles Lamole’s, with a lot of sand. According to the estate, Sangiovese from ground like this gives fresh wines with good fruit and medium structure.

The vines average twenty years old and yield 45 hectolitres per hectare. In Prenzano and Petriolo the grapes are picked by hand; in Orto and Poggio Asciutto by machine.

How it’s made

The grapes are destemmed and ferment on their skins for ten days in stainless steel, with délestage and remontage. After racking, the wine goes through malolactic fermentation. It then ages for ten to twelve months in large oak barrels of 20 to 40 hectolitres. Big wood leaves Sangiovese’s fruit and freshness intact.

Tasting Note

Appearance

Deep ruby.

Nose

Fresh and ripe red fruit with herbs: strawberry, raspberry, red and black cherry, plum, blackberry and blueberry. Alongside that, fresh mint, thyme, tomato leaf and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Full-bodied, with medium acidity and medium tannins. The fruit and herbs from the nose return. Silky.

Finish

Elegant and balanced, fruity and spiced.

Quality

A smooth wine that gives a taste of what Chianti Classico can be.

What to watch for

First, the name promises more unity than there is. Terre di Prenzano sounds like a single vineyard, but the grapes also come from Petriolo, Orto and Poggio Asciutto. It’s an estate blend.

Second, this is volume. Vignamaggio makes 130,000 bottles, in half bottles, bottles and magnums. The Monna Lisa Gran Selezione is the smaller, more concentrated production.

Third, the estate and I differ a little. Vignamaggio talks of medium structure; in my glass it felt fuller. At 13.5 to 14 percent alcohol, that’s no surprise.

At the table

The estate recommends serving it at 18 to 20 degrees.

Producer: Vignamaggio, Greve in Chianti
Wine: Chianti Classico DOCG Terre di Prenzano
Vintage: 2020
Region: Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy
Grape: Sangiovese (100%)
Vineyards: Prenzano, Petriolo, Orto, Poggio Asciutto; sandy soil
Ageing: 10-12 months in 20-40 hl oak barrels
Alcohol: 13.5-14%
Production: 130,000 bottles

Sources

My own tasting note
Vignamaggio (official): vignamaggio.com
Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico: chianticlassico.com