# Bindella I Quadri Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (2021)

- **Producer:** Bindella
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Sangiovese
- **Region:** Toscana, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €32
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 18–20 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, rose, violet, blackcurrant, blackberry, black pepper, liquorice, vanilla, cloves, cedar, smoke, tobacco, forest floor, leather

## About this wine

Tenuta Vallocaia is the personal project of Rudi Bindella, who acquired a small, ruined estate in Montepulciano in 1983. Today, under the technical direction of winemaker Giovanni Capuano, the estate has grown into a benchmark of elegance in the region. 'I Quadri' is a single-vineyard Cru born in the 2000 vintage, crafted to showcase the pure, powerful potential of 100% Sangiovese (locally known as Prugnolo Gentile) grown on the calcareous silty clay soils of the Santa Maria vineyard. The estate beautifully integrates winemaking with contemporary art, housing notable sculptures and paintings within its modern cellar.

## Interesting facts

- Unlike most Vino Nobile wines which are blends, I Quadri is a 100% monovarietal Sangiovese showcasing pure varietal expression.
- The estate's modern cellar doubles as an art gallery, housing contemporary bronze sculptures and expressive oil paintings.
- The 2021 vintage suffered a severe spring frost that naturally reduced yields, resulting in exceptional concentration and structure.

## Food pairing

This highly structured, high-acid Sangiovese demands rich, savory dishes with ample protein and fat to soften its robust tannins. The wine's bright acidity cuts through the richness of game meats and aged cheeses, while its red fruit and balsamic notes beautifully complement earthy, herb-infused Tuscan dishes.

## Wine making process

Grapes are strictly hand-selected and harvested by micro-parcel. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at 25–28°C, followed by an extended maceration on the skins for approximately 20 days to extract optimal color and fine tannins. The wine is aged for 18 to 20 months in French oak tonneaux, where the small wood beautifully integrates with the wine's concentrated structure. Finally, it undergoes an additional 12 months of bottle maturation prior to release.