2021 Chiara Condello Sangiovese di Prediappo
A Clear New Voice in Sangiovese
June 3, 2024
Predappio is a small medieval village in Romagna that has the distinction of being the ancestral home of Sangiovese, with wine laws remarkably dating back to 1383. Chiara Condello is its most outstanding ambassador. In recent years, her wines have become one of our customers’ favorite Sangioveses - we’re excited to offer her most recent vintage today.
Although raised in a winemaking family, young Chiara was set for a white-collar career. Conflicted, she changed course and moved home to focus on wine, in 2015 purchasing her vineyards that a neighbor had planned to be ripped out. Inspired by her grandfather’s garagiste wines of her grandfather, and profound bottles of Sangiovese di Predappio from the 1930’ s, Chiara decided to resurrect the area’s “ ancient” style of winemaking in the area.
The “ ancient method” includes native yeast fermentation in open-topped wooden or concrete vats, with long skin maceration and a portion of whole cluster (depending on the wine). No process is forced, ever. Aging occurs in old Slavonian oak tonneau; wines are bottled without fining or filtering. Farming has always been organic, with a conversion to biodynamics within the last few years.
Support was sparse when she began. She was told that modernization was needed to re-elevate Predappio’s reputation. Fortunately, Chiara is a leader with the pride and conviction to carve her path. Today, Chiara has risen to become one of Italy’s most important young winemakers in recent years. From winning numerous awards, such as Best Italian Winemaker Under 35, to being invited to Vinous Icons in 2024, Chiara has built a formidable reputation as an ambassador for Predappio.
2021 Chiara Condello Sangiovese di Prediappo Organic: A wine of elegance and charm for a terroir known for powerful expression. It is structured, with rounder and more velvety tannins than Tuscan Sangiovese, and offers lots of dark fruit (not from ripeness), truffle, damp earth, spice, and violet florals. It’s a wine of immediate pleasure and gravitas and a slow burn with an intellectual side. Most certainly age-worthy. $26.99, Case, $275.88 (22.99)
A few magnums are available at $59 Net
Arrives later this week
FREE DELIVERY!
downtown on orders more than $75;
in Greater Boston on orders more than $199
