Deep ruby color; plum, black cherry, blackberry, redcurrant, licorice, chocolate, spice, light toasted oak on the nose and palate.
Dry (0.5 g/L); dusty tannins; good balancing acidity (3.4 pH; 6.5 g/L TA). Full, rich body; consider decanting. Blend of 95% merlot, 5% cabernet sauvignon; merlot from the oldest parcels in San Felice’s Le Sondraie in Bolgheri. Maceration for 25 days. Aged 18 months in French oak barriques. 14% ABV
San Felice includes four famous Tuscany estates after the addition of Bolgheri in 2016, a renowned region some two miles from the Tyrrhenian Sea. With the addition, overall San Felice production reaches more than 1.2 million bottles—more than one million of Chianti, 80,000 of Brunello, 40,000 of Rosso de Montalcino, and 55,000 in Bolgheri. There are 20 labels, including this one. All San Felice wines are made using estate-owned grapes.
San Felice winery is located in the heart of Tuscany and has a history dating back centuries. The estate is named for an early Christian saint and originally was owned by the Grisaldi del Taja family. That family was important in the formation of the Chianti Classico consortium, a key group in the history of Italian wine.
Enzo Morganti, a visionary winemaker who spent two decades researching sangiovese clones, purchased the estate in 1968. Morganti focused on high-quality winemaking and re-structuring the estate. In addition to refining sangiovese, he also help resurrect pugnitello, a forgotten grape, that became an iconic element in the estates wines.
San Felice is a leader in sustainable viticulture, moving toward regenerative and organic agriculture. The winery is self-sufficient in energy with solar panels and has reduced the weight of its bottles to minimize carbon emissions. Today, the estate includes a 1,853-acre resort that includes 445 acres of vineyards and a 44-acre parcel dedicated to experimental viticulture. It is a key winery in the Chianti Classico region.
San Felice’s Bell’Aja expansion represents a strategic vision to “make a leap in size, but also and especially in quality” in the Bolgheri region. The operation plans a new winery infrastructure and hospitality facilities. While the Bell’Aja estate operates independently in Bolgheri, it is managed under the San Felice umbrella.
Bell’Aja Bolgheri Superiore 2022 is concentrated, polished, and plush after air exposure (strongly consider decanting). Assertive merlot with dusty-chalky tannins that persist through the mid-palate and finish. Built for food rather than solo slurping. A classy, sophisticated presentation of Bolgheri red wine; best appreciated by those with experienced palates. $77
Pairing—Grilled lamb chops, roasted pork, duck à l’Orange, ravioli with duck ragù, pasta with wild boar ragù; grilled steaks, ribeye, flank steak, beef Wellington; braised red meats; barbecue and smoked meats. Cheese—Young pecorino toscano, aged pecorino toascano; parmigiano-reggiano, gorgonzola; brie, camembert, taleggio; gruyère, aged cheddar, gouda.
