San Angelo Pinot Grigio (2021)

About this wine

San Angelo Pinot Grigio 2021 from Castello Banfi offers a fresh bouquet with notes of pear, peach, anise, and honey. On the palate, it is fruity and crisp, very refreshing. This wine is notable for being the first 100% Pinot Grigio produced in Montalcino, Tuscany, setting it apart from its northern counterparts. The grapes are harvested selectively, and the wine undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation, followed by storage at a low temperature to maintain its fresh character. Bottled a few months after harvest, it captures the essence of the region's terroir.

About the grape

Pinot Grigio, originally from France's Burgundy region, is a mutation of Pinot Noir and is known for its grayish-pink grape skins. In Italy, particularly in the northeastern regions, it has become a staple white grape variety. Castello Banfi's San Angelo Pinot Grigio is notable for being cultivated in Tuscany's Montalcino area, a region traditionally renowned for red wines like Brunello di Montalcino. This adaptation showcases the versatility of Pinot Grigio and highlights Tuscany's diverse winemaking capabilities.

Quick facts

• 🍇 San Angelo Pinot Grigio was the first 100% Pinot Grigio produced in Montalcino, Tuscany, showcasing the region's versatility beyond its renowned red wines.
• 🌍 The wine is crafted exclusively from Pinot Grigio grapes grown in the southern part of Montalcino, benefiting from the area's unique microclimate and soil composition.
• ❄️ San Angelo Pinot Grigio undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks, preserving its fresh and fruity character.
• 🍐 The wine exhibits a pale straw yellow color with aromas of pear, peach, and citrus fruits, leading to a pleasantly fresh taste with balanced acidity.
• 🏰 Castello Banfi, the producer of San Angelo Pinot Grigio, is a family-owned vineyard estate in Tuscany, recognized for blending tradition with innovation in winemaking.

Palate profile

Producer

Castello Banfi, located in Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, was founded in 1978 by Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani. They transformed the historic Poggio alle Mura castle into a state-of-the-art winery, pioneering research on Sangiovese clones to enhance Brunello di Montalcino production. The estate spans approximately 2,830 hectares, with about one-third dedicated to vineyards, and the remainder comprising olive groves, fruit trees, and forests. Notably, in 2007, the fossilized remains of a Pliocene-era whale, estimated to be around 4 million years old, were discovered on the property, highlighting the region's rich geological history.