The Casanova dell’Aia vineyard is close to the village of Radda itself and was planted entirely to Sangiovese in 2002. The 2022 is super-expressive of Radda, redolent of dried herbs, sage, tobacco, mint, and scorched earth. This site clearly handled the rigors of the growing season well: linear in its contours yet full of depth, with bright saline overtones and a concentrated but lingering finish. A standout.
Istine only works with autochthonous varieties, so it's 100% Sangiovese with their Chiantis, and has been certified organic since 2016. The wines are aged the old-fashioned way, in large 20hl botti grandi of neutral oak, after a prolonged skin maceration that can last as long as six weeks. Production is small - only about 60-70,000 bottles and the family does not envision expanding much. Their 26 hectares of galestro (rocky schist) and alberese (sandstone) are some of the highest-elevation vineyards around: some 400-600 meters above sea level, which exactly suits their pure, linear aesthetic.