The estate of
Castello ColleMassari

Montecucco

2014

Winery of the year Vini d'Italia guide
gambero rosso

The Landscape

ColleMassari vineyards are located at 300 meters above sea level, directly across from Montalcino to the north with the influence of Monte Amiata – an extinct volcano, but 30 Km closer to the Tyrrhenian Sea

Today the estate has a total surface of 1.210 hectares, of which 120 hectares are vineyards and nearly 90 hectares of olive groves (three trees are even more than 900 years old). Key single vineyards include the 50-years-old Sangiovese vines called Poggio Lombrone and in fact clones of this Sangiovese were planted subsequently at the winery to increase the vineyards; along with white Vermentino vines planted in 2000.

Founded

1999

Altitude

320 m

Total area

1210 ha

The Vineyards

The vineyards extend over 120 hectares most of which are planted with Sangiovese, accurately selected from autochthonous vines in co-operation with the University of Pisa.

They cover 120 hectares, featuring the following three types of soil:

Cracked sandstone and Sea gravel near the Castle
Limestone and Clay
Clay loam and Red clay

Vineyards

120 ha

Olive groves

90 ha

Mixed crop

400 ha

Yield

6 t/ha

Red wines grape varieties

80% Sangiovese
9% Ciliegiolo
6% Montepulciano
5% Cabernet Sauvignon

White wines grape varieties

85% Vermentino
15% Grechetto

Olive varieties

40% Frantoio
30% Leccino
20% Olivastra seggianese
5% Moraiolo
5% Pendolino

The Cellar

Production takes place in a multi-floor, so-called gravity-flow cellar; with the ageing cellar deeply dug underground in the solid rocks to enjoy a natural air conditioning.

Grapes are hand-harvested and spontaneously fermented. For our cru Poggio Lombrone, a 100% Sangiovese that obtained the DOCG in 2011, the winemaker relies on a traditional fermentation in small oak vats with daily manual punching downs resulting in longer macerations with a soft tannins extraction.