Vigna L'Aja Bruciata Maremma Toscana Vermentino Superiore 2022 - Tuscany, Italy

92/100 James Suckling
91/100 Vinum
91/100 Falstaff
91/100 Michael Godel, WineAlign
92/100 James Suckling (2021 vintage)

James Suckling "Fresh and crunchy white showing notes of sliced apples, nectarines, white flowers and some flinty reduction. Medium-bodied, sleek and delicious, with crunchy acidity and a polished texture. Nicely filled with fruit. Juicy finish."

Falstaff "Bright, pale straw yellow with silver nuances. A finely drawn nose with scents of sage, lemon balm and grapefruit. Beautiful playfulness on the palate, juicy on the attack, well-defined fruit, lots of peach."

Michael Godel, WineAlign "Second vintage for the white wine brainchild of Andrea Zingarelli and the first labeled under the new DOC of Maremma Toscana Vermentino DOC. Winemakers Luca Francioni and son Duccio are very much a part of this project with the intention to make a vermentino of flesh and karst with some potential to age. This second attempt really makes an impression because of how it expresses place with more brightness and harmony between its parts. The citrus is here, as are those mineral elements from 2021 but without the overt phenolic and botanical aromas. Length is better, precision is finer and finesse bringing this vermentino into better focus"

James Suckling "A new single-vineyard vermentino from here, with sliced pear and lemon aromas and flavors. Medium body with fresh, crunchy and honeyed character. Honeysuckle, too." (2021 vintage)

Winemaker "Color: pale straw, tending towards greenish. Bouquet: very fine varietal aromas, overall floral and fruity.Taste: savory, rounded, and elegant, with a fresh and harmonious aroma, and a rhythmic longevity."

100% Vermentino

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973, when Italo Zingarelli – producer of Ettore Scola’s “We All Loved Each Other So Much”, and also of the wildly popular series of films featuring comedy duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (including “They Call Me Trinity” and “Trinity Is Still My Name”) – decided to realize his lifelong dream by acquiring the “Le Macìe” estate – extending across 93 hectares (230 acres) in all, of which only two were under vine – in order to create a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone.

The estate now extends to more than 500 hectares (1250 acres) with, in total, more than 200 (500 acres) used as vineyards and 22 (54 acres) as olive groves, subdivided across the company’s six estates: Le Macìe, Sant’Alfonso, Fizzano e le Tavolelle in the Chianti Classico Area, in addition to the Campomaccione and Casa Maria estates in the Morellino di Scansano Area (Maremma).

The Chianti region is located in Tuscany, that romantic area of central Italy known for its sweeping landscapes, burning hot sun and its wealth of art and food history. Like most other wines made in the Old World, Chianti derives its name not from the grape used to make the wine, which is Sangiovese, but from the region where it is made.

For a Chianti to be a Chianti, it must be produced in the Chianti region and be made from at least 80% Sangiovese grapes. While most Chiantis are 100% Sangiovese, some winemakers in the region like to blend the Sangiovese with a little Cabernet, Merlot or Syrah to soften the finish of the wine.

The Chianti region in Italy's Tuscany wine growing region is split between Chianti and Chianti Classico. Accordingly, two separate DOCG designations apply to wines from the Chianti region: the Chianti Classico DOCG for the heartland of Chianti, and Chianti DOCG for all other Chianti regions. (In 1984, the Chianti region was promoted from DOC to DOCG - Italy’s highest classification - and in 1996, Chianti Classico - the historic heartland of the region - DOCG was created, which gave autonomy to that region. In the last 20 years, a consortium of Chianti Classico producers have researched new Sangiovese clones, replanted vineyards, updated cellar practices and generally made Chianti Classico DOCG a world-class appellation. Chianti Classico must contain a minimum of 75% Sangiovese. In the 2014 edition of its annual compendium of wine ratings, Gambero Rosso noted that Chianti Classico DOCG wines were noteworthy for their “significant return to a more defined style, true to tradition.” The typical Chianti Classico wine is a ruby-red, Sangiovese-based wine with aromas of violets and cherries and a hint of earthy spice.

The Chianti DOCG designation covers wines from six Chianti sub-zones (Colli Pisane, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colli Aretini, Montalbano and Rufina) as well as all other Chianti wines. The Chianti Classico DOCG is located in the very center of Tuscany, between Florence and Sienna."

Vermentino (“vur-men-teeno”) is a light-bodied white wine that grows mostly in Italy on the island of Sardinia. What’s exciting about Vermentino is it can be deliciously complex in taste in similar style to Sauvignon Blanc; One style is richer and creamier and the other is lighter, more floral and zestier. Because Vermentino is so unknown, you can find high quality wines for a great value. Wines with similar body and taste profile include Albariño, Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Soave and Verdejo.