Castellare I Sodi di S. Niccolò

I Sodi di San Niccolò Toscana IGT bottle image

Wine Description

This legendary wine was one of the first Super Tuscans crafted entirely with indigenous varietals. I Sodi di San Niccoló was created in the early 1970s with the goal of demonstrating that the native grapes of the region could produce a wine of the highest quality without the aid of international varietals. Today this goal has been achieved, with I Sodi consistently ranking in the top 100 wines among the most important international wine magazines. Made from 85% Sangioveto and 15% Malvasia Nera. After a maceration period of 18-25 days, the wine is transferred to new barriques and aged for 24 months. "I Sodi" refers to land that is difficult to till and must be harvested by hand, while "San Niccoló" is an abandoned church on the Castellare property.

Alessandro Cellai
Castellare Vines
Castellare Vineyard
accordion plus icons
Acclaim
The 1997 I Sodi di San Niccolò is wonderfully elegant, pure and silky. It remains very young, but is so polished that opening a bottle today is far from a crime. Dark red cherries, flowers, mint, spices and new leather flow across the palate in this gracious, totally elegant wine. The 1997 boasts huge dry extract and a show-stopping personality to match.
— Wine Advocate, Jun 2012
A red that gushes with floral, berry and vanilla character, yet in a subtle way. Full-bodied, with super, well-integrated tannins and a beautiful fruity, spicy aftertaste. Even chewy.Also recommended by Thomas Matthews in Old Italian Reds at an Old-School Italian:
“This top producer in Chianti Classico makes a wide range of wines; I Sodi is their top cuvée, made from Sangiovese with Malvasia Nera. The I Sodi 1997 was delicious. Still rich and plush, it offered plum, dried cherry, tobacco and coffee flavors, smooth and balanced. Thanks, Anthony [who recommended the wine], for standing up for the best of Italy.”
— Wine Spectator, Oct 2001
View more acclaim Arrow Right
accordion plus icons
Vineyard & Production Info
Production area/appellation:
Toscana IGT
Vineyard name
Chianti Classico/The I Sodi di San Niccolò vineyard
Vineyard size
12.4 acres
Soil composition
Diatomaceous
Training method
Upside down Guyot
Elevation:
1,100-1,500 feet
Vines/acre:
1,100-2,800
Exposure:
Southwestern
Harvest time:
October
First vintage of this wine:
1980
Bottles produced of this wine:
30,000
accordion plus icons
Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
18-25
Varietal composition:
85% Sangioveto and 15% Malvasia Nera
Fermentation container:
Stainless Steel Tanks
Fermentation temperature:
83 °F
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Length of aging before bottling:
24 months
Age of Aging Container:
New
Length of bottle aging:
12 months
accordion plus icons
Analytical Data
pH level:
3.3
Acidity:
5.8 g/L
Alcohol:
13.5 %
Dry extract:
32 g/L