ISOLE e OLENA Vin Santo dei Chianti Classico - Barberino Val d'Elsa, Tuscany 2009/10 HALF

Description

Paolo De Marchi's vineyards, like those of Giovanni Manetti at Fontodi, are superbly tended. This, more than anything, yields wines of the quality that have kept them both ahead of the chasing pack for the past three decades.

The name 'Isole e Olena' came about in the 1950s when two adjoining estates, 'Isole' and 'Olena', were purchased by the De Marchi family and combined to form one. The history of both estates dates back many hundreds of years, with the earliest documentation of the village of Olena in the 12th century.

Tasting...
Lovely golden-amber in colour with an intense, open perfume of dried citrus peel, dried apricots and honey, giving way to a rich, luscious palate, with incredibly concentrated characters of honey, dried apricot and vanilla. A delicious, fresh finish keeps the wine unctuous without being cloying.