Vecchie Terre di Montefili is ann organic estate in Greve in Chianti in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, Italy. 

Owner: In 1980 Roccaldo Acuti (born 1933; married to Maria; suffering from Parkinson’s in later life), who was in textiles, decided to make a top Tuscan wine. In 1994 Roccaldo began working with Richards Walford in the UK market. Roccaldo handed over to his son-in-law, Tomasso Paglione (from Piemonte). In 2015 the estate was acquired by Tom Peck Jnr (USA), Nicola Marzovilla (Italy, USA), and Frank Bynam (USA).

Staff: In 2019 I was told there was no consultant as the viticultural and winemaking was handled in-house. Under the previous regime the consultant oenologist was Vittorio Fiore. In 2020 the in-house agronomist was Serena Gusmeri.

Vineyards: Montefili is up in the hills to the west of the Greve-Panzano road, and enjoys its own microclimate. High altitude. 480 metres (feet). On the mountain road, equidistant between Panzano and Greve. Began with 5 hectares. Got to 10 hectares. Sold their north-facing vineyards. | 2005 Had about 13 hectares of vines. Lots of galestro. Both cordon (3 spur with 2 buds) and archetto toscano.

Organic certification: 2016 Certified organic. | 2020 Still certified organic.

Winemaking: Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. Have an auto-pigeage system. Governo is used.

White wines

Vigna Regis Bianco: From 1,000 Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vines. 1997 Colli della Toscana Centrale Bianco IGT. 80% Chardonnay, 15% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Traminer. Around 2,000 bottles. Straw yellow colour, some oak, creamy, ripe, buttery without being lush; firm palate, tight but not mean, lovely richness later on and a clean finish; sample from Roy Richards; tasted with Laure in February 2002 in Garratt Road, Stamford. | 2005 80% Chardonnay, 15% Sauvignon, 5% Traminer.

Toscana Bianco, Montefili Bianco: 2019 Certified organic.

Pink wines

Toscana Rosato, Montefili Bianco: 2019 Certified organic.

Red wines

Toscana Rosso, Montefili Rosso: 2015 Certified organic.

Chianti Riserva DOCG: 2006 Tommaso introduced a new wine, Chianti Riserva, with the 2006 vintage. Tommaso’s aiim was to be able to make the Bruno di Rocca 100% Cabernet Sauvignon in the future.

Chianti Classico DOCG, Vecchie Terre di Montefili: 1999 New oak and tight fruit. Tasted at Burghley Road 24th June 2002. | 2001 100% Sangiovese. | 2002 100% Sangiovese. Difficult year. In 2002, the Anfiteatro cuvée was included in the Classico. Nice and crisp; perhaps a bit hot at the finish, light, cleanish, decent, perhaps a bit bitter at the winery in 2005. | 2003 100% Sangiovese. Small volumes, very hot vintage. In 2003 the vineyards enjoyed the good fortune of 50ml of rain just two weeks before the harvest, rain which did not fall on either Panzano or Greve. Prolonged malolactic fermentation. | 2004 100% Sangiovese. | 2005 100% Sangiovese. Rot-affected. | 2006 100% Sangiovese. 14 months in Slovenian oak, compared to 12 months for the 2005. | 2015 100% Sangiovese. Quite oaky, rich modernist fruit (Anteprima 2018). Touch of over-ripeness (2019 Anteprima). | 2016 100% Sangiovese. Quite sappy, clear, different weight and brightness compared the the 2015 wines (2019 Anteprima). | 2017 Certified organic.

Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva, Vecchie Terre di Monetefilli: 2013 100% Sangiovese. | 2015 100% Sangiovese.

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione, Vecchie Terre di Montefili: 2016 Certified organic.

Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione, Vigna Vecchia: 2015 100% Sangiovese. 14% alc. Very ripe, bit extracted (2019 Anteprima). | 2016 Certified organic.

Colli sella Toscana Central Rosso, Anfiteatro: 100% Sangiovese. From old vines (1930s and later) a east-south-east facing vineyard. | 1989 Tasted by Roy Richards of Richards Walford in 1994 and this convinced them to buy this estate’s wines. | 2000 100% Sangiovese. | 2001 Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 100% Sangiovese. Aged in big botti which are reshaved every five years and 350- and 225-litre barrels, Vosges oak so not too woody. Nice wild plum fruit with a new oak feel at the winery in 2005. | 2002 No Anfiteatro made, went into the Chianti Classico. | 2003 100% Sangiovese. | 2004 100% Sangiovese. | 2005 100% Sangiovese. | 2013 100% Sangiovese. | 2016 26 months in 10hl Slavonian botti, and 500-litre Hungarian oak barrels. Creamy fruit (Anteprima, 2020). | 2016 Certified organic. | 2000 100% Sangiovese. Oaked.

Bruno di Rocca: Earlier vintages (eg 2001) seem to have been labelled Vino da Tavola Colli della Toscana Centrale. | 2000 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Sangiovese. | 2001 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Sangiovese (Anfiteatro grapes). Aged in French oak barrels. 10,000 bottles. The 2001 is a “bigger” vintage than the 2000. Nice black fruit and structured tannin, elegant and fresh, touch of over-ripeness here too I think at the winery in 2005. | 2002 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Sangiovese. More elegant than in previous vintages. | 2003 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Sangiovese. | 2004 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Sangiovese. | 2005 Bruno di Rocca ‘65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Sangiovese. Perhaps not the best vintage here. | 2016 Certified organic.

Sales: In 2005 I was told 50% was sold in Italy, and 50% was exported. The USA is the biggest export market; then Japan. Dealt with Richards Walford in the UK.

Contact

Tenuta Vecchie Terre di Montefili

Via San Cresci, 45

50022 Greve in Chianti (FI), Italy

Tel+39 055.853739 | Website: www.imontefiliwines.com

Bibliography

Richards Walford, Dies Irae, Italy 2003 report (June 2003).