Villa Cafaggio Basilica del Cortaccio Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana 2018

The estate known as Basilica Cafaggio can trace its roots back to 1408, on a precious parchment conserved in the estate’s archives. The estate was then called ‘Cahago’, which means ‘enclosed, cultivated field’. Records also indicate that in the late 15th century the property was owned by the Benedictine monks of Siena before passing into the hands of various owners, including the famous Niccolini family from Florence. Before the end of the modern age the estate was sold to the Florentine Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova, and records show that, even at that time, the farm produced a great variety of food products, including wine and oil. Today Cafaggio is a prized property of Istituto Atesino di Sviluppo S.p.A., a respected company of Trento, that invests and strategizes global markets. 

Situated in the hamlet of Greve in Chianti, in Panzano, the estate is nestled in the ‘Conca d’Oro’ (Golden basin), an area recognized as the finest zone for producing Chianti Classico.  But they are also very proud of this single vineyard wine: Basilica del Cortaccio, comprised of 4.2 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon. Produced for the first time in 1989, the Basilica del Cortaccio vineyard is grown according to the principles of organic farming.

VINEYARD LOCATION: Cortaccio, Conca d’Oro and Panzano in Chianti. South-west, 355 meters above sea level

SOIL COMPOSITION: Silty-clay loam soil, originating from grey and olive green marl limestone and calcareous sandstone of ‘Argille scagliose’ (scaly clay) formation 

TRAINING SYSTEM: spurred cordon PLANTING DENSITY: 7,200 vines/hectare 

VINIFICATION PROCESS: Hand harvesting in mid-October, alcoholic fermentation at controlled temperatures in stainless steel tanks, breaking and soaking of the marc through manual pressing and pump-overs with air, spontaneous malolactic fermentation, maturation for 18 months in French oak (Tronçais and Allier) barriques that have been used once previously (medium-toasted), and bottle-aged for six months before sales start.