MONTERAPONI JOINS THE ITALIAN WINE CRYPTO BANK
IWCB visited the renown winery in Radda di Chianti that has just joined the Italian Wine Crypto Bank (IWCB) with Baron Ugo, 2016. Monteraponi is only the latest of important wineries (https://italianwinecryptobank.io/wines-and-wineries/) that have joined the IWCB, the only crypto wine bank that combines fine wines, blockchain and cryptocurrency.
MONTERAPONI, WHEN MAKING WINE IS WRITTEN IN DESTINY
Radda in Chianti is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico appellation, but in an extremely characteristic area, given by the altitude and wild countryside. Michele Braganti, winemaker and owner of Monteraponi, is waiting for me and I can't wait to have my petit-déjeuner with his wines …
When I go visit the producers, I love to walk the final stretch of road, taking time to plunge myself in the nature that surrounds ne, observing the vineyards and the composition of the soil:
walking along the dirt road my black dress is completely covered with an impalpable white powder of alberese, which reflects the light between the rows of the vines, which strike me for their steep slope. A deer jumps out of a vineyard and disappears into the woods with two quick leaps: harmony with the nature of this place is evident.
Michele welcomes me and tells me about his place of the soul, bold and irreverent, but simultaneously moved and aware of the luck that this secluded piece of land brought him:
The Braganti family is a famous family of Florentine silversmiths, in 1974, Michele's father bought the medieval village of Monteraponi which was lying in a state of neglect, where he began to make wine, for fun, to be able to give friends and customers a few bottles of wine.
But it was in 1997 that Michele's adventure as a winemaker began, when at the age of 23, he was sent as punishment to Monteraponi, where he was pushed by his parents to fix the village and give himself up to country life. Never had punishment turned out to be so fortunate, as, in a period when everyone was abandoning the countryside, Michele found himself discovering it, learning good peasant techniques from a single worker.
At first, illustrious oenologists passed by Monteraponi shaking their heads, saying that Sangiovese at those altitudes matures poorly, is lean, and suggesting to Michele that he discard the old concrete tanks to replace them with steel and wood, and planting international vines to enrich the wine.
But Michele had a different, clean and frank vision, which was reflected in the same vision of Daniele Rossellini, who advises him well, keeping the concrete tanks and using the woods wisely.
Michele's courage and audacity led Monteraponi to form that unique personality that distinguishes it from all its neighbors: the Burgundian style, elegant, fresh and lashing.
The certified organic company has more than 200 hectares of woods, rivers and lakes, 12 and a half hectares of vineyards, where the "lowest" one stands at 400 meters.
I will tell you about Baron Ugo, one of the oldest vineyards, only one hectare that sits 570 meters above sea level. The south-east aspect is perfect, because the bunches are exposed form the very first ray of sunshine, and the exceptional slope leads to grapes in perfect sanitary conditions.
The production of this vineyard is obviously very limited, a few thousand bottles of scrupulously selected grapes, a natural blend based on Sangiovese, where Colorino Caniaolo and Trebbiano also appear, as tradition dictates.
Baron Ugo 2016 in the glass still recalls my beloved Côte de Nuits, the ruby ​​colour, light but bright and brilliant, on the nose floréal notes of violet, iris and the lilac followed by more complex and ethereal notes, now powdery, then balsamic, in the mouth a savoury and sanguine sip, and the silky tannins caress your palate.
The best breakfast I could have wished for. Bravo!
Davide Casalin, Email: [email protected]