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John Matta’s estate of 150 hectares covers thirty two under vine, mostly Sangiovese, with small quantities of Merlot, which grows so well on the unique soil of Vicchiomaggio. John also grows traditional Tuscan varieties, Canaiolo and Colorino together with a little Cabernet Sauvignon.
Littifredo da Vicchiomaggio, John's everyday red, is made from 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo. Well structured and attractive with a very clean nose and a touch of figs, it's a perfect simple wine for pasta, and is always served at the weddings held at Castello Vicchiomaggio.
San Jacopo da Vicchiomaggio is a well balanced Chianti Classico; 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Colorino. Immediately one is aware of its good structure. The six months it spends in traditional large oak barrels in the cellar really show with this wine. Yet it’s quite open, with very attractive fruits.
Next up in the ranking is the Chianti Classico Riserva Petri: 90% Sangiovese; 5% Canaiolo; 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Super rich wine redolent of dark chocolate and vanilla. If you like weighty Italian wines, this is the one for you. It won an Oscar at the Italian National Wine competition in 2002.
Riserva La Prima, not always available due to its very limited production, comes from a vineyard over 50 years old and is 100% Sangiovese. The only way of being sure to taste this wine is to visit the estate!
John produces two other very fine wines, under the new IGT classification, known in the trade as 'SuperTuscans'; Ripa delle Mandorle and Ripa delle More.
Ripa delle Mandorle is 75% Sangiovese and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a lovely wine. (The Cabernet spends its time before bottling in smaller barriques rather than the larger ones used for the Sangiovese.) It’s got the weight you’d expect but is very well rounded. A most interesting character with great richness and good length.
Ripa delle More, 60% Sangiovese, 30% cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, is John’s masterpiece. A top quality wine with big, long flavour, it’s not too heavy, though, and is well worth keeping in the cellar for it ages really well. This wine has won plaudits the world over. The Wine Spectator regularly gives the wine 90+ points and it comes out tops in most of the competitions for which it is entered.
