Castello di Poppiano is an estate in Frazione Poppiano in Montespertoli, a commune in the Metropolitan City of Florence in Tuscany, Italy, about 20 kms southwest of Florence itself. Red wines are made under the Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG and Morellino di Scansano DOCG.

Background: 1199: Documents show the Castello di Poppiano has been in the Guicciardini family since 1199 (this date could be 1150 in fact).

Owner: Count Ferdinando Guicciardini (runs Third World development projects from Milan) and his wife, who is Anna-Maria (from the north of Italy, Lombardy and speaks perfect English). Cousins of the Guicciardini-Strozzi of Fattoria di Cusona in San Gimignano. Castello di Poppiano owns Massa di Mandorlaia (which see) in Scansano.

Staff: Consultant Oen: Giorgio Marrone. | Director: Paolo Bartalucci.

Estate Vineyards: 2005 280 hectares of land of which 120 hectares are vines in Poppiano and vines in Morellino di Scansano (120-ha here or which 52-ha of vines); at Poppiano have 45-ha of olives). 150-300 metres. Alberese soil.

White wines

Camposegreto:

Gora: Muller-Thurgau. No longer made.

Sassaia del Virgino: Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Red wines

Toscana Rosso, Syrah: 2000 Bottled.

Toscana Rosso, Toscoforte: From Poppiano; based on Sangiovese, plus Syrah. | 1996 Bottled. 2000 Bottled.

Toscana Rosso, Tricorno: 1993 Bottled. 1997 Bottled. | 1998 Bottled. | 2000 45% Sangiovese, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot. Allier barrels. Deep black colour, sweet berries, soft tannins that are very sticky and taste more like Aglianico than Cabernet Sauvignon at the winery in 2005.

Chianti dei Colli Fiorentini DOCG, Il Cortile: 2002 Chocolate nose; not hugely typical, seems very ripe for 2002; plenty of colour too but not over-extracted; a bit southern, leather at the finish, very sweet tannins. Unusual style (Visit, 2005)

Chianti dei Colli Fiorentini DOCG Riserva, Castello di Poppiano: 1993 Bottled. 1997 Bottled. 1998 Bottled. |  2000 Seems quite southern, very animal and leather, very soft even for this zone. Seems atyical for a Chianti (Visit 2005). | 2009 75% Sangiovese, 10% each [sic] CS & Merlot. £15.29.99. Red cherry, floral, attractive, nice evolution, raspberry and blackcurrant, polished oak, firm and refreshing (Silver, DWWA May 2013).

Contact

Castello di Poppiano

Fraz. Poppiano, Via di Fezzana 45

I-50025 Montespertoli (FI), Italy

Tel+39 055.82315 Website www.guicciardini1119.it