Super fresh and thirst quenching, lemon peel, orchard fruit, and jasmine are all beautifully delineated in this expressive, vibrant 100% Vernaccia, grown organically in sandy soils at 250m asl. Aged in stainless steel, it’s lush and layered, the palate unveiling almond, honey, and sage flavors, with touches of baking spices. This is a pretty rich style, but it absolutely works; Simone’s is an astoundingly bright, crisp white to drink now, and over the next few years.
Winemaker Simone Santini enjoys nothing more than a good joke, though he is very serious about winemaking at his small estate, located near the renowned hill town of San Gimignano, outside Siena. Le Calcinaie is one of San Gimignano’s younger wineries, founded in 1987 by Santini, but in less than no time he transformed it into one of the region’s best. The estate takes its name after the composition of the soil of this area: layers of limestone, originating from marine deposits of the Pliocene era, are found at half a meter underground. Simone started with 6 hectares but has now grown to 12, all organically managed, the vines benefiting from perfect exposure and tender care.