Vittorio Innocenti Vin Santo del Chianti 2003 (375 mL)

This is a pre-arrival offering that is expected fall 2026. Please order these Innocenti wines separately from the wines of other producers and separately from in-stock Innocenti wines. The minimum order is 3 bottles - mix or match. Our tasting impressions The beat goes on with Innocenti's Vin Santo. They are such special wines that amaze and delight everyone who tastes them - even folks who "don't like" sweet wines can't resist their charms. This 2003 Vin Santo is excellent and beautiful. It's so smooth! The wine coats the palate but it's the liveliness that disperses the myriad flavors so wonderfully. There is no evidence of the scorching heat of this hottest ever vintage. Innocenti explained that he Madre mitigates the effects of the heat. If you have loved this wine in past vintages, this is a can't miss. If you haven't tried it yet, you need to discover what you're missing. About this wine Vin Santo translates to Holy Wine and one can imagine the gods happily sipping it. Innocenti's is a blend of Malvasia Toscana, Grechetto and Trebbiano. The grapes come from low density vineyards, planted on average 40 years ago in Montefollonico, which neighbors Montepulciano. They are handpicked and collected in small crates. Only the best grapes that are ripe and have tough skins from sparse clusters are selected. They are moved into the farmhouse in which Vittorio grew up, to dry naturally in crates for about about 5 months, and then are pressed. The must obtained from this process - the Madre (mother yeast) -is fermented in small, 50-125L barrels called Caratelli. Innocenti uses chestnut. The mother (yeast) has been used for generations and provides the unmistakable taste of his Vin Santo. Significant evaporation occurs during the many years the wine is in the barrel. By regulation, the final product must not be more than 30% of the original volume of grapes. Technically, this is an oxidative wine because of the protracted maceration and aging. About the grapes Malvasia is an incredibly flexible grape variety used to produce many different types of wine. Likely of Greek origin, it was first cultivated about 2,000 years ago. It is prone to oxidizing, which is why it is commonly used in fortified wines. Grechetto is prevalent in Umbria and is the basis for Orvieto. It adds body and structure to the Vin Santo. Trebbiano, known in France as Ugni Blanc, is the main grape in Cognac. It provides acidity and precision.