THE TERROIR
Each vineyard has its ideal environment
Our vineyards are divided into two historic territories. On one side there are the Carmignano hills, loved by Leonardo da Vinci and the Medici; on the other the area of Chianti Montalbano.
In the middle flows the Arno river, which contributes to create a unique microclimate, with perfect soil and climatic conditions for the cultivation of vines.
The mild winters, the humidity, the excellent exposure of our vineyards; the nearby mountains, which shield and protect; the forest surrounding the vineyards, all guarantee biodiversity.
Sandstone areas are interspersed with clay and sometimes rich in limestone as well.
Each grape variety is planted after a careful study of the soil and exposure and close examination of clones and rootstocks. There are 70 hectares, never too far from the cellar, located between 200 and 400 meters above sea level, organized such that each cultivated variety can best express its qualities.
SANGIOVESE
Prince of Tuscan viticulture
Sangiovese di Carmignano, and of Artimino specifically, is a delicate and elegant grape variety that produces fragrant and sweet violet-scented wines without excessive peaks of acidity. The soils chosen for the Sangiovese planting are mostly sandstone, with the classic presence of the so-called Macigno stone which also characterizes some parts of the Chianti Classico territory, formed about 22 million years ago. It is the famous Pietra Serena, gray sandstone rock with blue stripes that has been the building material of central Tuscany for centuries and which we also find in our Villa.
On the estate you can still see the remains of an ancient quarry. The soil has an important presence of stones and good drainage. As such, it has a moderate water reserve, as well as being able to hold the heat and release it gradually, which is useful especially on the colder slopes of our estate. Terrains where the presence of sand is predominant produce balanced wines with smooth tannins; where instead the soil is characterized by sedimentary rock, or sandstone, the wines have greater body and longevity.
MERLOT
Not the usual international
Merlot finds an exceptional terroir in Artimino. This is ancient soil, dating back to about 65 million years ago (Upper Cretaceous), made up of sand, silt and clay in variable percentages, with little presence of stone and a good depth for the development of the roots. The further down the roots can penetrate, the more they can draw on components useful for the aromatic development of the grapes. From these silt and clay soils wines of intense polyphenolic structure are obtained, rich in color. These tend to be alluvial soils, which give rise to full-bodied and complex wines with low acidity. Merlot is an early ripening variety: most of our vineyards face east, allowing for optimal ripening, with significant day / night temperature range that helps Merlot to best express its nuances. Merlot in Artimino gives elegant and alluring wines, with many shades of complexity and personality.
CABERNET
The Medici and Carmignano wine
The history of Carmignano wines is strongly linked to the history of the Medici family, already in their day great admirers of this land and its excellent wines. Carmignano is produced with the use of “French grapes,” that is, Cabernet, a vine that is said to have been brought here by Caterina de’Medici in the mid-16th century. We can imagine how many Cabernet vines in the early 1600s surrounded the Villa, first Franc and then also Sauvignon.
The soils of our Cabernet vineyards are rich in limestone and marly limestone (with the presence of clay), rocky and characterized by large, clearly visible stones. The sedimentary rocks, in particular those with parts of calcium carbonate, have veins of quartz and sedimented clay, responsible for the famous mineral notes that we also find in our Cabernets and that give greater complexity to our Carmignano Docg and our Iris IGT. The calcareous soil increases the impact of anthocyanins: the wines are powerful but well-balanced and with a marked freshness.
