Fattoria Castello Sonnino is an estate in Montespertoli in the Metropolitan City of Florence in Tuscany, Italy, about 20 kms southwest of Florence itself. Sonnino produces Chianti DOCG and Chianti Montespertoli DOCG red wines. The estate is also known as the Castle of Montespertoli. The castle dates from the 13th-centuray. It comprises several annexes to a sixteenth century mansion, with a fortified tower overlooking the Pesa valley. Fattoria Castello Sonnino is not the same as the Castello di Sonnino estate near Grosseto on Tuscany’s Tyrrhenian coast.

Owner: Barone Alessandro de Renzis Sonnino and his wife Caterina. Their son is called Leone. Caterina has designed wine labels for Tenuta di Argiano (Suolo and Solengo); Pian delle Vigne (Antinori); Guidalberto and Le Difese (Incisa della Rocchetta), Tenuta di Belguardo, I Perazzi (Joe Bastianich); Tenuta del Terriccio (Rondinaia, Lupicaia, Tassinaia and Terriccio). She aldo did the San Leone label for Castello Sonnino.

Staff: Stefano Chioccioli was consulting here in the early 2000s..

Estate Vineyards: Just west of the Pesa river, touching Chianti Classico. 45ha of vines; 160 ha; 15ha of olives; 200 metres for white grapes and 280 metres for rted grapes; south south west; galestro

Winery: Stainless steel and cement, plus barriques.

White wines

IGT Toscano Bianco:

Red wines

Chianti Montespertoli DOCG, Sonnino

Chianti Montespertoli DOCG, Castello di Montespertoli: 2002 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo. 5% Syrah. Very dirty nose, high tone and unclean with oxidation, reduction, and some mercaptan too. Deepish colour so could also be a bit southern, green and bitter, really poor (tasted 2005).

Chianti Montespertoli DOCG Riserva, Castello di Montespertoli

IGT Toscana Rosso: Il Brecciolino:

IGT Toscana Rosso: Numero Otto:

IGT Toscana Sangiovese, Cantinino: 2001 100% Sangiovese. Decent weight; this cannot be 100% Sangiovese, but anyway. Thick style of fruit, could also be a bit southern as very soft).

IGT Toscana Merlot, Sanleone [sic]: 2001 70% Merlot, 20% Sangiovese, 10% Petit Verdot. At least this has some acidity but it is very southern.

IGT Toscana Rosso, Leone Rosso: 30% each Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Ancellotta.

Sweet wines

Vin Santo del Chianti DOCG, De Renzis: 1997 Bottled. Trebbiano and Malvasia.

Contact

Castello Sonnino

Fattoria Castello Sonnino

Via Volterana Nord 10

I-50025 Montespertoli (FI = Firenze), Italy

Tel 0571.609198 or 0571.657481 | Website www.castellosonnino.it