Chianti Classico deep dive (14) Villa Pomona
Website: https://fattoriapomona.it/en/
The story of Villa Pomona begins with Giovanni Bandino Bandini, the great grandfather of the current owner, Monica Raspi, who we visited with. Giovanni bought a building that was previously a brick factory (because of all the clay in the soils around here), with 90 hectares of land, back in 1890. Her grandfather abandoned the vineyard, only for Monica’s parents, Enzo and Inge, to begin again here, buying two vineyards in 1982. Pomona is a small town near Castellina in Chianti, and Monica has lived here since 1991, although she initially chose a different career.
Monica was working as a vet when her parents told her that they were tired, and would like to stop running the family winery, which they’d started again after a hiatus in the 1980s. This was back in 2005. They said: we would like to stop, and if you want to follow, that’s great, otherwise we will sell. So Monica had a decision to make. She sold her clinic, and then started as a winegrower in 2007.
She says she’ll do the same when it’s her turn: offer the kids the winery, and if they don’t want to follow, then she will sell. Fortunately her son Cosimo is interested: he’s studied winemaking and now works in the vineyard along with his partner Andrea, although not so much in the cellar. Her daughter isn’t currently interested.
There are six hectares of vines here, and no grapes or wines are purchased: everything is estate. Viticulture here is organic.
Pomona Trebbiano 2022 Toscana
This is made in clayver. Full colour from 24 hour skin contact. Powerful with nice spicy apple and yellow plum fruitiness, with grainy structure. Lovely weight here with nice presence. Just 318 bottles made. 93/100
Pomona Pierro Rosso 2022 Toscana
From the lower parts of the Chianti Classico vineyards, made in stainless steel. Lovely lush sweet fruit here with red cherries and raspberries as well as good texture and weight. Floral with nice flesh and a bit of grip, showing purity. 93/100
Pomona Chianti Classico 2021
Sangiovese with a little Colorino. Wild ferment, 3-4 weeks on skins. Lovely fruit, with good weight, and a stony mineral edge as well as sour cherries and plums, and notes of aniseed and wax. Spicy and herby with a nutty (almond) edge. Very fine and expressive. 94/100
Pomona L’Omino Vigna Pomono Chianti Classico Riserva 2019
14% alcohol. Very fine and fresh, and really expressive with bright cherry and plum fruit. Fine, bright and savoury with some spicy, mineral detail and good tannins. 94/100
L’Omino Vigna Pomona Chianti Classico Riserva 2020
100% Sangiovese from a special vineyard. Fresh, elegant and refined with lovely firm tannins. Has some floral detail and some silkiness with also some balsamic notes. Really lovely, with a grainy edge and good complexity. 96/100
Pomona Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 (sample)
Concentrated and taut with nice tannins and lots of cherry and raspberry fruit. Refined with fine spices. Grippy and precise with great potential. 94-96/100
Pomona Chianti Classico Riserva 2016
Spicy, aromatic nose with herbs and some green notes, as well as spice and balsamic hints. Supple palate tending to elegant. Juicy with some development and elegance. 95/100
