Dark fruit and savory aromas include scents of black cherry, persimmon, leather, orange zest and a hint of
mocha. On the palate, this silky Sangiovese delivers punchy red-fruit flavors on a medium-bodied palate
with terrific freshness and depth. Ripe fruit notes of cherry and blackberry mingle with citrus accents and a
hint of bay leaf, finishing with verve and impressive length.
Black Cherry, leather, orange zest, mocha.
Located north of Chianti Classico, around the town of Rufina, the appellation of Chianti Rufina sits at a
higher elevation than the surrounding hills, close to the Apennine Mountains. Temperature fluctuations
between night and day are greater here, which means the grapes develop thicker skins to preserve their
natural acidity. In the glass, this translates into wines with slightly firmer tannins, less up-front fruit and a
structure that develops with age. The estate of I Veroni was once part of the sprawling feudal domain of
the landwealthy counts of Guidi, who warred with the dukes of Florence on and off for much of the
Middle Ages until their defeat in the early 1400s. Having passed through a few other patrician families’
hands since then, today the estate is owned by the Malesci family, which has guided its restoration into a
top-flight Chianti estate. It now boasts close to 40 acres of vineyards, planted mostly to Sangiovese, and
even more land planted to olives, the source for the estate’s prized extra-virgin olive oil.
For a superb pairing with the I Veroni Chianti, create an antipasto platter with artisanal salumi and
marinated crudités. The wine’s acidity will cut nicely through roasted and preserved peppers and
mushrooms. Main dishes of veal, pork, game or beef will offset the I Veroni’s young tannins. Sangiovese is
one of the few red wines that carries enough natural acidity to pair well with tomatoes, so the flavors of
slow-cooked ragùs, braised meats with tomatoes and classic pasta Bolognese will all shine when paired with
this wine.
The estate offers what Italians call agriturismo, the trendy word for eco-tourism. The newly converted farm
buildings with spectacular views and a pool are summed up appropriately in the brochure as ‘Wine and
Hospitality’.
