I Sodi di San Niccolò was created in the early 1980s to demonstrate that native grapes could produce a wine with all the power and grace of a Super Tuscan. The name “I Sodi” refers to land that is difficult to till (the grapes must be hand-harvested), and “San Niccolò” is an abandoned church on the Castellare property. This wine captures both the rich history of the vineyard as well as the enormous potential of Sangioveto, a prized indigenous clone of Sangiovese.

Set in the hills of a natural amphitheatre facing the south-west, I Sodi di San Niccolò is an experimental vineyard planted in collaboration with the Universities of Milan and Florence and the Istituto di San Michele all’Adige for ongoing research into the best grape clones. It has excellent exposure to the sun, and the small amount of clay in the terrain allows for good water drainage. The soil’s low organic content also reduces the quantity of nitrogen, at the expense of yield per hectare but in favour of a discernible quality.

The percentage of polyphenols in the grapes is high - as is their complexity and concentration in the wine - partly due to the average soil mix which has an extremely rich skeleton. The term “sodi”, from which the wine derives its name, comes from the word given by Tuscan peasants to soils that are hard and stiff to work.

Full-bodied, with firm yet fine-grained tannins, I Sodi di San Niccolò is a rich and elegant wine that offers aromas of ripe cherries, dark berries, and currants which are complemented by notes of vanilla, leather, and cedar. On the palate, this wine is full and rich with high aging potential. Pair this wine with braised veal, demi-glaces, roasted suckling pig, and Boeuf Bourguignon.