Podere La Villa | Giacomo 2015

Podere La Villa

"Towards the end of his illustrious career, devoted principally to the wines of Tuscany, Giacomo Tachis (1944-2016)  the Decanter Man of the Year 2011 and creator of Tignanello, Solaia and many other iconic wines  purchased a small Chianti Classico vineyard at San Casciano in Val di Pesa, southwest of Florence.

His daughter Ilaria, aided by her husband Raffaele dAmico in the vineyard and Alessandro Cellai, her fathers closest student, in the cellar, now manages 6ha planted with 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot. It is from the northwest-facing Merlot vineyard that she reserves the best grapes to produce the cuvée Giacomo in memory of her father.

The Pargolo, Chianti Classico 2013, reflecting the 80/20 vineyard plantings, shows elegant flavours, lovely texture and a lifted firm finish.

Yet the Giacomo 2015 (94) moves into another league: rich, vibrant and vigorous black fruits on the nose, marvellous depth on the palate with no heaviness, a touch of green spice to add freshness, and natural tannins to keep it improving in the bottle past 2025.

Says Ilaria: The complex structure, the suppleness and the elegant tannic note is precisely what my father would have loved. "