Castelnuovo Berardenga’s Dievole: Another Successful Bulgheroni and Antonini Collaboration
Argentine businessman Alejandro Pedro Bulgheroni purchased the 11th century Dievole estate in 2013 and engaged enologist Alberto Antonini to lead the charge to make Dievole one of Chianti Classico’s most modern wineries. One of the first things he did was to replace oak fermenters with cement vats that look similar to those we saw at Bodega Garzón in Uruguay, another Bulgheroni-Antonini collaboration. We recently tasted the results of their efforts and report our reviews below.
The 500 ha Dievole estate is located in Vagliagli, a 450m high medieval hamlet in Castelnuovo Berardenga that dates from 1090. Vagliagli is also one of Chianti Classico’s new UGAs that we’ve discussed elsewhere. An ancient parchment in the State Archives of Siena reports that in 1090 the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Sant’Eugenio leased a vineyard in Dievole, the divine valley. Today, Dievole has 158 ha of organically certified (since 2017) vineyards divided into 16 plots with altitudes ranging from 270-420m and calcareous soils of clay, sand and marl.
Bulgheroni has also invested in other Italian wine estates: Poggio Landi and Podere Brizio in Montalcino and Tenuta Le Colonne and Tenuta Meraviglia in Bolgheri. See map below.
US Importer: USA Wine West
The Wines
Dievole 2021 Petrignano Chianti Classico 93 Sourced from a single vineyard at 330m above sea level, the Petrignano Chianti Classico shows juicy cherry fruit with exotic hints of raspberry and spice. Full with a fine-grained texture, it shows excellent persistence with mounting tannins on the finish. 100% Sangiovese fermented in cement tanks and aged in large oak casks over 12 months. 14.5% alc.
Dievole 2021 Casanova Chianti Classico 93 This is one of Dievole’s new, single vineyard Chianti Classicos sourced from a 400m altitude vineyard with southerly exposure and macigno sandstone soils. Distinctly youthful and vibrant in character showing red berries and cherries, lavender, and spice on a medium weight palate. Finishes long, fine and grippingly fresh. All Sangiovese matured 13 months in large oak barrels. 14.5% alc.
Dievole 2021 Catignano Chianti Classico 91 Opening with a lively, red fruited nose, the single vineyard Catignano Chianti Classico offers freshness, harmonious acids, and fine grained texture on a medium weight, nicely balanced palate. Finishes long with an attractive floral note. The Catignano vineyard is at 370m with high albarese content. Matured 13 months in large oak barrels. 14.5% alc.
Dievole 2020 Novecento Chianti Classico Riserva 94 Medium dark red. The refined Novecento Riserva is an outstanding example of modern Chianti Classico. Fermented in the cement vats shown here, it’s a polished wine of significant inner mouth energy revealing fresh dark cherry with spice and floral notes finishing with suave tannins. 95% Sangiovese, 3% Canaiolo, and 2% Colorino sourced from Dievole’s highest vineyards, matured 24 months in large oak casks. Excellent aging potential. 14.5% alc.
Dievole 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Sessina Vagliagli 95 Opens with aromas of red berries, dried cherries and a hint of sage. Plum, herbs and darker fruit shows on a juicy, polished palate notable for its freshness and elegance. Finishes long with rich extract. 100% Sangiovese, Sessina is a 5.5 ha, south-facing vineyard on Macigno (sandstone soil) with a limestone vein running through it. Matured 17 months in large oak barrels. 14% alc.
