by Jenise » Tue Aug 16, 2022 1:43 pm
Just got this from Rare Wine Company about this producer:
When vinous.com's Antonio Galloni chose to publish an excerpt from Alessandro Masnaghetti's forthcoming book on Chianti Classico, he chose Alessandro's article on Lamole. And it was fitting he did. Lamole could be the least understood, yet the most exciting, of all eleven of Chianti Classico's newly created UGAs.
Lamole is a tiny area, with only 90 hectares of vines, most of them terraced. And until recently it had no famous estates. The lack of interest in Lamole was due to its high altitude, which resulted in late ripening and a style of Chianti that is delicate and perfumed, rather than bold and powerful.
But with summer temperatures soaring, interest in Lamole has soared as well. And that resurgence of interest was led by Jurij Fiore, the son of the great enologist Vittorio Fiore, who produced his first wines from Lamole in 2015, having been attracted by its high altitude, old vines and unique soils.
Jurij’s first three releases were the single-vineyard Nonlosò, Puntodivista and Porcacciamiseri, each made in a thrillingly transparent style and offered as a set each year. But starting in 2019, Jurij has made a fourth wine, Sonocosí, that’s yet another take on terroir.
Primarily from a single ancient vineyard near the Castello di Lamole, but with additions from nearby old vineyards, Sonocosí sees no wood, having been aged in concrete tanks for seven months before bottling. The result is a 100% Sangiovese Chianti Classico of remarkable purity. At $27.95 a bottle—with a 6+ bottle purchase—it is an extraordinary value.
Back Story
With his Lamole project, Jurij is in the Tuscan vanguard of producing and selling wines based on terroir not on brands or estate names.
Jurij’s mission began in the village of Lamole, where he discovered 100-year-old vineyards of an ancient clone, Sangiovese di Lamole. All of them are on the high slope of Lamole, sheltered from the north winds, but open to the gentle breeze from the Tyrrhenian Sea and home to a cool climate that slowly brings the fruit to an ideal balance of expressiveness and structure.
The soils are also extraordinary: classic galestro marl but with the rare Macigno blue-grey sandstone that gives Lamole’s wines their characteristic freshness and fine tannins.
Despite its bargain price, Sonocosi is an outstanding example of a gifted winemaker allowing a terroir to express itself without interference. We urge you to grab at least a 6-pack.
By the way, if you haven't yet secured your copy of Masaghetti's new Chianti Classico "bible" at our special pre-publication price, you can do so here.
2020 Jurij Fiore
Chianti Classico “Sonocosí”
$27.95 btl with a 6+ btl purchase
Single Bottle Price: $29.95
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov
