Acciaiolo (pronounced Atch-eye-oh-loh) derives its name from the noble Acciaiuoli family, who resided in the villa and protected the renowned vineyard at Castello d'Albola. VINTAGE 2011 APPELLATION Toscana IGT AREA Radda in Chianti, Siena GRAPES 65% Sangiovese and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon VINIFICATION The grapes are slightly over-ripe because they are picked late (2nd - 8th October) after a previous selection to discard the less promising bunches. The must ferments for 10 days in vertical vinification tanks, where the wine then remains for 15 days to macerate after the fermentation. Maturation takes place in new, two year-old barriques for 14 months, followed by an extra six months in stainless steel tanks and another six in the bottle. VINTAGE The 2011 Vintage was exceptionally successful: the estate experienced a warm summer and enjoyed helpful rains in winter and spring. Temperatures were ideal during the maturation period in September and October. This allowed for a wonderful maturation of the late harvest Cabernet Sauvignon and was one of the best years seen in the last five years. The perfect temperature range in September provided an excellent perfume and elegance to the 2011 Acciaiolo Sangiovese. VINEYARDS Altitude is the key factor at Castello d'Albola for Acciaiolo 2011 vintage; it directly relates to the amount of sun exposure reaching the vines, which influences fruit quality. In this regard, there are two considerations: one is the angle of the land and the other is the land's natural open hilltop. The vineyards' geological angles allow for the optimal exposure to the sun's rays. Our many different angles are ideal for Sangiovese, which exposes the vineyard to the sun from dawn until dusk. An open hilltop with no windbreaks helps keep fungal problems and insects at bay, thanks to the constant breeze. These combined factors help distinguish Acciaiolo as an elegant blend of Sangiovese made from old vines, grown in an outstanding vineyard named after the "Acciaiuoli" family, who lived on the estates in the fifteen century. The three-hectare (seven acres) vineyard of Sangiovese is 450 meters (1475 ft.) with southerly exposure, which gives the wine the stamp of tradition, history, and of the terroir. The exceptionally ripe, richly flavored Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a vineyard, which is four hectares (ten acres) at 350 meters (1150 ft.) called "Vignale", which is off the beaten path of the main vineyards of Albola. WINEMAKER'S NOTES "This 50% Sangiovese, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon Super Tuscan is the ultimate jewel in Radda. This is my premium wine, which combines the elegance of Sangiovese with the expressivity of Cabernet Sauvignon. Its structure is very concentrated, but is nicely balanced by full-bodied fruits, hints of plums, and a suggestion of undergrowth. For some time now, this exclusive wine has only been produced in the best vintages and in very limited quantities. The wine is aged 12 months in 225-liter French oak; half the wine is aged separately in new barriques and the other half in second year barriques. This barrel-aging is followed by six to 12 months of aging in the bottle." – Alessandro Gallo COLOR Ruby-red color with luminous garnet reflections. BOUQUET Pleasantly complex and shows beautiful dark plum, delicate spices and violet notes, exalted by a light vanilla background. PALATE Full-bodied and elegant, revealing mouthwatering plum, rich dark chocolate, delightful leather and crushed rocks. The tannins are full and plush that tend to lead to a long nish. ALCOHOL LEVEL 13.5% BOTTLE SIZE 750 mL, 1.5 L