2017 La Vigna di San Martino Vin Santo 375ml

John Caro

In stock

A beautiful dessert wine from the classic wine region of Tuscany. Truly artisanal, this wine is incredibly rare anywhere in the world, with only around 400 half bottles being produced each year! We know it exists because the winemaker is the accomplished Tuscan oenologist Giampaolo Chiettini, who was friends with John Caro years ago when they were both working at the legendary Chianti house Isole e Olena. A unique wine and a must-try for lovers of complex dessert wines.

$79.99 in mixed 6+ or $88.99 per bottle

Overview

Grape

Usually Trebbiano and Malvasia

Its Origins

The Vigna San Martino Chianti Classico is the project of oenologist Giampaolo Chiettini. Chiettini operates as a consultant oenologist in Tuscany, as well as throughout Italy and Europe. Trained in Trentino, Chiettini moved to Tuscany at a young age, where he spent many years working alongside Paolo De Marchi as winemaker at Isole e Olena, where he developed a profound understanding of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Malvasia del Chianti and Trebbiano. The Vigna San Martino is produced in miniscule quantities from a 1ha vineyard in Argiano, in the commune of San Casciano Val di Pesa, in the north-west of the Chianti Classico zone. The soil is a mixture of clay loam, stone fragments and sand, not unlike the soils of Berardenga in the south of Chianti Classico. The difference here is the cooler climate, producing more fragrant and tightly structured wines. The vineyard is at an altitude of 250 metres and is cultivated with organic methods. The vines are planted at a density of 5000 vines to the hectare, trained with the Guyot system. The ferments are carried out with wild yeasts and in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine is racked into used barriques where it ages for 18 months. The wine is not clarified and only undergoes a light filtration prior to bottling, then bottle aged for a further 30 months prior to release.

What The Critics Say

96/100 John Caro

"An outstanding and incredible rare Vin Santo produced from half Trebbiano and half Malvasia trained to guyot and grown organically in San Casciano Val di Pesa, Argiano at an altitude of 300m. The grapes were hand-picked on September 20th 2017 and were placed on bamboo racks to dry for four months until they were gently pressed the following January and run off to ferment and breed on 110l 'Caratelli' barrels for the next five years. The wine was bottled in February 2023. Only 436 37.5cl bottles were produced in total. The wine came out at 13.5 % abv with a residual sugar level of 290 g/l and a total acidity of 6.3 g/l."

94/100 RobertParker.com, Monica Larner (2012 vintage)

"La Vigna di San Martino ad Argiano is a tiny property measuring just one hectare in San Casciano Val di Pesa. This is another estate to add to my list of new discoveries in Chianti Classico. The tiny vineyard sits behind the roadside chapel of San Martino ad Argiano. The vines are planted 300 meters above sea level, and farming is organic. This is an extremely precious production of just 400 bottles (tiny 375-milliliter bottles), and I am honored to review this wine. The La Vigna di San Martino ad Argiano 2012 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico is a clear labor of love made from equal parts Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia del Chianti that mature for a very long five years in 100-liter caratelli barrels. The grapes are air-dried until January of the year following the harvest before going into the fermenter. This artisanal approach results in a wine with discreet sweetness, brown sugar and molasses. There is smoke and tarry resin, but the wine also includes a much-needed spot of acidity."

17++/20 JancisRobinson.com, Walter Speller (2012 vintage)

"Orange amber. Lifted and rich hazelnut, molasses and raisin nose with a peppery tingle. Real complexity. At first the volatile acidity is quite noticeable, but is overcome by wonderful, concentrated raisin and candied orange fruit and hazelnut and burnt sugar. Very long, sweet and well balanced and modern in its perceived lightness of style, compared with other more traditional Vin Santo. (WS)."

Stats & Food Matching

Variety	Sangiovese
Region	Tuscany
Closure	Cork
Volume	750ml
Maturity	2022 - 2032

This Wine Goes Well With

Taste

Delivery & Returns

We deliver throughout New Zealand and to some locations overseas. Our deliveries are made by trusted third party carriers. For further details on prices and delivery options please go to DELIVERY INFORMATION section of our site.

If for any reason you are not entirely happy with your order or you suspect that they may be affected by a quality issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will remedy the problem straight away. Contact us on 0800 422 767.

Skip to the end of the images gallery

Skip to the beginning of the images gallery