Chianti Classico deep dive (16) Principe Corsini’s Villa Le Corti
Website: https://principecorsini.com/en/villa-le-corti/
We are in the northern and eastern part of Chianti Classico here, in San Casciano.
San Casciano is so different from other places in Chianti Classico, says owner Duccio Corsini, who when we visited was still dressed in his rather elegant hunting attire. ‘Between us and the sea is the mountain behind Pisa, so in terms of climate everything is earlier by 10-15 days.’ This brings frost into the equation and they pick a little earlier, avoiding the October rains.
There are river stones on hills here, which is unique. They farm organically, and on the 230 hectare estate they have 51 hectares of vines, 60 hectares of olive trees, some wheat and some olives. This is a typical Tuscan estate with a third of it woods.
San Casciano used to make a lot of cheap wine, he says. And there were 27 olive oil mills here before the 1985 frosts – now there are just seven. It’s a region that is still famous for its oil, though.
Duccio rents barrels from a company in Bordeaux: Location de Barriques. You choose the tonnelerie you’d like to use. For the used barrels he can choose what wines have been in the barrel so far, including the region and even the winery. This only works for the small barrels, not the tonneaux. For their Zac cuvée they try to use barrels from Burgundy.
THE WINES
Le Corti Chianti Classico 2021
14% alcohol. Sangiovese with 5% Colorino. Lovely intensity on the nose with vivid red cherries and raspberries. The palate has brightness and purity with stony mineral underpinnings and good acidity. Fresh, bright and well balanced, and so drinkable. But it has character and focus too. 93/100
Villa Le Corti Cortevecchia Chianti Classico Riserva 2020
14.5% alcohol. Sangiovese with 5% Colorino. Nice raspberry and cherry fruit here with freshness and some flesh, as well as some grainy, mineral structure. The fleshy fruit is so appealing, and there’s also purity and freshness, leading to a structured palate, but structured with refined tannins that integrate beautifully into the wine. Quite beautiful, showing drinkability but some seriousness. 94/100
Villa Le Corti Don Tommaso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Casciano 2019
14.5% alcohol. 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot. Tonneaux, with some new. Lovely supple, elegant style with a green sappy edge to the sweet cherry and plum fruit with some fine spiciness. It’s not a heavy wine, but has an approachability to it with fine spicy hints on the finish. Nice elegance, with fine-grained structure. 95/100
Villa Le Corti Don Tommaso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Casciano 2020
14.5% alcohol. Ripe and inviting with a cedary spicy edge to the sweet cherry and plum fruit. Has nice freshness and acidity, sweet fruit, and some woody notes. Attractive and already quite open for business. 93/100
Villa Le Corti Zac Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Casciano Val di Pesa 2019
15% alcohol. Aged in barriques, some new. Appealing ripe fruit here with some sweetness from the alcohol, but also nice presence and some structure. Quite seamless with a liqueur-like edge to the fruit, showing some elegance even despite the ripeness. Has a fine-grained tannic structure and a touch of saltiness, as well as hints of mint. Power and elegance. 94/100
‘No added sulfite wines are like a sunset,’ says Duccio. ‘They change so much in the glass that each time you take a sip they are different.’
Villa Le Corti Per Filo Sangiovese 2021 IGT
From the same vineyard as Zac. No added sulfites (NAS). Fermented in upside down tonneaux. The nose is brooding, slightly baked and smoky, and has dried fruits. In the mouth it is much more alive with vital black cherry and blackberry fruit with orange peel, spice and some dusty tannins, as well as good acidity. 93/100
Villa Le Corti Fico Sangiovese 2021 IGT
From the same vineyard as Zac. NAS. Selection before and after destemming, then fermented in upside down barriques. Very stylish and bright with lovely purity and freshness with juicy cherry and plum fruit, with lovely energy and pure fruit, with iron and herbs. So lovely. 94/100
