On the eastern slopes of the Monti del Chianti lie two farms: the Campolucci farm with its large farmhouse, vineyards dominated by Sangiovese, and olive groves, and the Ceppeto farm with a smaller farmhouse, more vineyards full of Sangiovese, and, more olive groves. (This is Tuscany, where grape and olive vines go hand in hand.) These two farms are the heart of the family-owned, artisanal Mannucci Droandi winery.
The 2018 Mannucci Droandi Chianti Classico Ceppetto Alto DOCGcomes from half of that heart, the Cepetto vineyards where the vines are planted in soils of medium-texture clay with plenty of stones about 300 meters above sea level. These are some of the best possible conditions for the Sangiovese, guaranteeing high-quality grapes. The wine is part of the prestigious Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) club.
The estate traces its lineage to the 18th century, with the Droandi Mannucci family. Today Maria Grazia Mammuccini runs the estate. Committed to the traditions of her family, and to innovation, she carries forward what previous generations built. Working with Maria in the vines is Roberto Droandi, dubbed “Lord of the Vines” by Italia A Tavolamagazine.
Long before it was de rigor, the estate earned organic certification in 2000. Sustainability, responsible viticulture, and environmental protection are paramount for the vineyards that are planted mostly with Chianti’s calling card, Sangiovese. The cellar is run by winemaker Gianfrancesco Paoletti who takes centuries of Tuscan winemaking tradition and marries it with state-of-the-art enological equipment.
The combination of top-quality grapes, traditional winemaking, and modern equipment creates a Chianti Classico that is “open and dynamic,” according to WineCritics.com and its 91-point review. Falstaff raves it “Powerfully builds up on the palate, shows good grip and a firm structure, compact core, goes into the final with a pull, and stays for a long time.” And James Suckling raves that it’s “fruity but savory, medium body with fine, firm tannins.”
This wine is made all the better by the great 2018 vintage in Chianti. Vinous Media awarded this vintage with a 94-point review, saying "these wines are gracious wines of immense pleasure, the 2018s are incredibly delicious." This is not your typical, basic Chianti. This is a seriously delicious wine that punches well above its weight.
Ceppetto Alto is exclusive to Big Hammer Wines. Because of our exclusive arrangement with the winery, we can offer this powerful Chianti Classico for over 25% off! It’s the Lowest Price Anywhere, and it’s highly allocated so don’t expect this wine to be around long before it sells out. Snooze on this one and you may end up very disappointed.
