Isole e Olena

Although this is the only product I have tried from the estate, Isole e Olena is a famous estate from the Chianti Classico area producing great Tuscany red wines and it is made up of two farms (Isole and Olena) were acquired by the de Marchi family in 1950 (hence the name). Although the current owner (fourth generation vigneron) Paolo was raised in Piedmont, he has always trasured his Tuscan roots. Initially disappointed with the requirements to add white grapes into the Chianti blend, he was intrigued by the possibility of adding grapes from outside Tuscany (especially international ones like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) to improve the blend. However he decided that clonal selection of the Sangiovese was the better answer and that Cabernet could overpower Sangiovese in the blend and would consider adding Syrah if the Sangiovese harvest requires some help. Apart from Chianti, Paolo produces IGT wines from his Cabernet and Syrah grapes, just as he also produces a pure Sangiovese (before the laws were changed to allow Chianti to be pure Sangio). Of course he also produces the delicious Vin Santo above.