Visiting Chianti Classico country
Part 10: Collelungo

Website www.collelungo.com

Collelungo is a beautifully situated estate near Castellina in Chianti. It’s quite high by Chianti standards, with the vineyards at an altitude of 500–600 m.  Laden with a crop just approaching full ripeness, the vineyards looked absolutely beautiful.

Collelungo is both a vineyard and also an agriturismo, and with this great location, it would be a lovely place to stay.

We met with owner Lorenzo Cattelan (above), who left his career in the furniture business to turn to winegrowing here in 2002. Winemaking is in the hands of consultant winemaker Alberto Antonini, whose enologist Giacomo Cesari visits once a week.

The wines

Collelungo Chianti Classico 2006
This has just a dribble of Merlot in it, and is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Spicy, earthy, medicinal, slightly woody character to the palate. Dense and tannic with a bitter plumy finish. 85/100 (this is £8 at Lay and Wheeler)

Collelungo Chianti Classico Riserva 2004
Dense aromatic nose is very spicy and medicinal with a savoury, herbal character. Slightly balsamic. The palate is dense, savoury and spicy, finishing dry and astringent with bitter plum notes. 86/100

Collelungo Campo Cerchi Chianti Classico Riserva 2004
A single-vineyard, 100% Sangiovese wine. Slightly medicinal, savoury, herbal nose with a balsamic edge along with some bright cherry and plum fruit. The palate is fresh and bright with spicy, earthy fruit and some bitter plum notes. Drying tannins on the finish, with the oak sticking out a bit. May settle down with time? 87/100

Collelungo Campo Cerchi Chianti Classico Riserva 2000
This was in barriques when Lorenzo arrived here in 2002. Slightly green herby nose with nice red and black fruits. Some elegance. The palate is fresh with a gravelly minerally edge to it. Stylish pure and elegant with lovely expressive fruit. 90/100

Collelungo Merlot 2006 IGT
First vintage. Very sweet, pure, liqueur-like nose with red berry fruits. Slightly confected sweet edge. Seductive. The palate is quite elegant with fresh, dense red berry and cherry fruit and some spicy oak. A forward style with real appeal. 90/100

CHIANTI SERIES

Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Fontodi
Part 3: Castello di Querceto
Part 4: Castello della Paneretta
Part 5: Bibbiano
Part 6: Fattoria di Felsina
Part 7: Castell'in Villa
Part 8: Palazzino
Part 9: Barone Ricasoli
Part 10: Colle Lungo
Part 11: Vicchiomaggio

Wines tasted: 10/08
Find these wines with wine-searcher.com

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