Gattavecchi is an estate in the Montepulciano region of Tuscany, Italy. It produces Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOC, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, and Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC.

Owners: Brothers Luca and Gionata Gattavecchi, sister Daniela (fourth generation) and mother Gianna. The Gattavecchi family’s roots in Montepulciano date from the 18th-century. The estate was among the seven who created the Consorzio, under their Valente Gattavecchi.

History: In 1944 during the Second World war the vineyards of grandfather Vincenzo Gattavecchi were badly damaged. After the war, Valente Gattavecchi restarted with the production and trading of wine with help from his mother Sidonia.

Staff: Consultant oenologist: Valerio Coltellini.

Vineyards: 53ha of vines of which 18ha for Nobile, 12ha for Rosso and 1ha for Vin Santo. Production zones (all in the southern part of Montepulciano): Argiano, Ascianello and Le Caggiole (also Abbadia di Montepulciano?). The main body of the company is located in the southern part of Montepulciano, in Loc. Argiano, while other historic vineyards are in Loc. Le Caggiole and Ascianello. Also Poggio alla Sala.

Wineries (2): Priorino, Villa Sant’Anna. The historic cellar in the centre (‘centro storico’) of Montepulciano town was originally an Etruscan grotto, which became part of the ‘Convento dei Padri Serviti in 1200. The other cellar is located in what was Poggio alla Sala. The Gattavecchi family winery acquired it in 1996 from the Bonci Casuccini family, who had earnt a reputation in the 19th-century for their wine and olive oil. In the 1970s they introduced single vineyard selections such as ‘Parceto’.The vinification of the grapes takes place in the modern company centre at the Banditella farm, powered almost entirely by renewable energy. Vino Nobile and particularly prestigious wines are refined in the historic cellars of Montepulciano.

White wines

Collepio, Toscana Bianco IGT: 2017 L2518. 12.5% alc. Pleasant lightly, peachy lemon citrus dry white (tasted Jan 2020).

Red wines

Toscana Rosso IGT, Marlone: 2015 Sangiovese, Merlot. 13.5% alc. Full frontal fruit and tannin, no spikes, just about enough refinement, best drunk over two days to let it open more widely (tasted Dec 2019). Second bottle (L15192) in late December 2020 was similarly monolithic, and took three days to open when it showed richness of fruit, if little complexity.

Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, Gattavecchi: 2013 Bottled.

Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, Gattavecchi: 2013 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and Colorino. Bright, clean and fluid (Anteprima 2014). | 2016 Botti. Attractive rich, ripe fruit (Anteprima 2017). Bronze (DWWA 2017). | 2017 Juicy, light, savoury (Anteprima 2020).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Poggio alla Sala: 2011 100% Sangiovese. Very nice, deep, ripe, clear and old-viney (Anteprima 2014). | 2013 Slightly green tannin, plus oak notes from ageing in a mix of tonneaux (20%) and older botti (Anteprima 2017). Silver (DWWA 2016). | 2014 Bronze (DWWA 2017). | 2015 Commended (DWWA 2018). 

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Parceto Poggio alla Sala: The Parceto vineyard is part of the Poggio alla Sala estate (see above). It was the first named ‘cru’ or site-specific vineyard in the DOCG: medio impasto, Pliocene sediments: shells and stones. On top of a hill. | 2010 30% aged in 10hl casks, 30% in 5hl casks, and 30% in 225l barrels. Bit oaky (Anteprima 2014). | 2013 Aged in mix of tonneaux and botti. Nice rich fruit (Anteprima 2017). | 2015 Smooth oak, bright dryish fruit, well-styled (Anteprima 2018). | 2016 90% Sangiovese, 8% Canaiolo, 2% Colorino. | 2017 10,000 bottles. Bright, balanced, creamy fruit (Anteprima 2020).

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva, Parceto Padri Serviti: 2010 Bottled.

Sweet wines

Vin Santo di Montepulciano DOC, Gattavecchi

Sales

UK: Belloni. | Norway: Einar Fjoran.

Contact

Sede legale e Cantina Storica: Via di Collazzi, 72, I-53045 Montepulciano (SI), Italy. Tel+39 0578.757110

Sede Operativa e Centro Aziendale : Via delle Chiane, 3, I-53045 Montepulciano (SI), Italy. Tel+39 0578.767224

Website: www.cantinagattavecchi.com