Fassati is an estate winery in the Montepulciano region in Siena Province, Tuscany. The origins of the estate date to 1908 and Marchese Fassati who founded his business at Gaiole-in-Chianti in 1913. In 1969, Barbara Giannotti’s grandfather (the Sparaco family), who already owned Fazi-Battaglia of Verdicchio dei Castilli di Jesi in the Marche decided to invest in Tuscany with the purchase of Fassati, and in 1974 bought their first vineyards in Montepulciano, moving to new winemaking premises in 1986–see below (Rosemary George MW 2004: p.192-3). The wines (all reds) are Chianti DOCG, Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOC, plus a small amount of Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC.

Owner: Danilo and Gianni Della Camera since January 2015 vintage, having bought it from the Le Marche-based company Fazi-Battaglia. Their father had 40ha of vines, but did not have a winery, so sold in bulk.

Staff: Winemaker: Fabrizio Ciufoli. | External relations: Maddalena Mazzeschi.

Vineyards: Mid-2000s ’70ha of vines at Graccianello and Caggiole, of which 40ha of Vino Nobile and 30ha of Rosso di Montepulciano and Chianti DOCG. Mainly Sangiovese. Also other indigenous Tuscan varieties, including Mammola and Colorino, preferring Colorino which gives more colour and flavour, whereas Canaiolo is more susceptible to disease. Also a couple of hectares of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, plus some experimental Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Pinot Noir. They are not convinced by Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Merlot works well. It is more of a challenge to get the yield in balance. 5,000-6,000 vines/ha. Vineyards in three different places: around the cellar, called Vigna Nuova, as these were the first to be replanted; at Graccianello where the soil has a much higher clay content; and at Le Caggiole where the soil is sandier,’ (Rosemary George MW: 2004, p.192-3).

Vineyards – 2018 90ha of vines of which 51 hectares of Vino Nobile, 13.3 of Rosso di Montepulciano, 1.45ha of Vin Santo, 16ha of Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG and 7.2ha of IGT Toscana (Cabernet, Merlot etc). Various locations in Montepulciano: Caggiole (16.75ha), Graccianello (15.08 ha), Via Cupa (5.7ha), Vignone (17 ha), Nottola (3ha), Saltecchio (12ha), Fornace (7 ha), Salarco (20 ha), Ascianello (2.5ha) and Valiano (2ha).

Winery: When she first visited Fassati in 1979, Rosemary George MW (2004, p.192-3), said the cellars were old-fashioned, vaulted, and in Sinalunga and were stuffed with old wooden vats (‘botti’), but in 1986 they had moved to newer, more streamlined premises.

White wines

Rocca delle Querce Bianco, IGT Toscana Bianco:

Red wines

Rocca delle Querce Rosso, IGT Toscana Rosso:

Torre al Fante, IGT Toscana Rosso:

Chianti DOCG Riserva, Le Gaggiole: 1999 Bottled

Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, Selciaia: Fantasy name. | 2016 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and Cabernet. Has a core of fruit to be fair, but faded and evolved (Anteprima 2019).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Pasiteo: The entry level Nobile. | 2015 From Gracciano, Caggiole and Acquaviva. 95% Sangiovese, 5% other (Mammolo, Colorino, or possibly Merlot). Fading, starting to dry out, too much extraction it seems (Anteprima 2019). | 2016 13.5% alc. Simple (Anteprima 2019).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Fassatti: 2002 Modern style colour, not too over-extracted for a 2002, a newish oak coming through, lots of black fruit, sexy but arguably a little soulless too at the consorzio on Tuesday 8th March 2005. | 2015 95% Sangiovese, 5% local varieties. | 2016 Bretty (Anteprima 2019). | 2018 Clean (2019 Anteprima). The new owners got rid of all the dirty oak casks).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Selezione, Gersemi: From vines in Acquaviva. | 2015 Green and sandy (Anteprima 2018). | 2017 Creamy yet tannic and a little green (Anteprima 2020).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva, Salarco: Named after a nearby local stream. | 2017 100% Sangiovese. 14% alc. Primary fruit nose. texturally somewhat gritty (Anteprima 2020).

Torre al Fante: A Sangiovese blended with Merlot and Cabernet produced at Montepulciano.

Vin santo

Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, L’Augusto

Contact

Fassati

Fraz. Gracciano, Via di Graccianello 3/A

53040 Montepulciano (SI), Italy

Tel+39 0578.708708 | Website: www.cantina-fassati.it/en

Bibliography

Rosemary George MW, Treading Grapes (London, 2004).