# La Prima Gran Selezione (2018)

- **Producer:** Castello Vicchiomaggio
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
- **Region:** Toscana, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €50
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackcurrant, black cherry, blood orange peel, red cherry, raspberry, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, smoke, cedar, cloves, dried fruit, tobacco leaves, balsamic, grilled herb, earth

## About this wine

La Prima Gran Selezione 2018 is a distinguished Chianti Classico DOCG from Castello Vicchiomaggio, a historic estate in Tuscany's Greve Valley. The wine originates from the estate's 'La Prima' vineyard, characterized by its clay and 'Galestro' soils and vines over 20 years old. This wine is a 'Gran Selezione,' signifying a top-tier Chianti Classico produced from single vineyards or the estate's finest plots, adhering to stringent aging and quality requirements. The Matta family has owned and managed Castello Vicchiomaggio since 1964, continuing a winemaking legacy that dates back centuries.

## Interesting facts

- La Prima vineyard sits at 250 meters elevation.
- Soils are a mix of heavy clay and 'Galestro'.
- Vine age in La Prima exceeds 20 years.
- Gran Selezione is Chianti Classico's highest quality tier.

## Food pairing

The wine's full body and fine tannins are well-suited to complement the richness of red meats and game. Its inherent acidity cuts through fatty elements, cleansing the palate, while savory notes in the wine can echo or contrast with herbs and spices in the dishes.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for La Prima Gran Selezione begins with hand-harvested and sorted grapes. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for 10-15 days, with an emphasis on extended skin contact to extract desirable compounds. Following fermentation, the wine undergoes aging for 18-26 months in French oak barriques, which may include a mix of new and second-use barrels. A period of bottle aging follows before the wine is released. Sustainable farming practices are utilized in the vineyards.