Castellare

Brand Description

The Castellare estate is one of the best examples of tradition in the area. The winery’s owner, Paolo Panerai, has closely studied the world’s best wineries and applied this understanding and experience to viticulture in Italy.

Location of Vineyard

The Castellare property, located in Tuscany’s Castellina in Chianti, has become a virtual refuge for wildlife, including many of the birds pictured on their labels. With each vintage, the Castellare label shows a different bird, symbolizing the estate’s commitment to environmentally sound cultivation. The birds selected for the labels are among the rarest creatures in Chianti, and represent birds threatened by extinction, mostly due to synthetic chemical products and hunting, both of which are forbidden on this property.

Winemaking Philosophy

In the town of Castellina, one of Chianti’s best locales, Castellare’s vineyards are at 1200 feet elevation – only a few Chianti Classico vineyards are higher. The vineyards of this 46-acre property are found in a natural amphitheater in the heart of the Classico region. At Castellare, the yield-per-acre is very low, far lower than the maximum level allowed by Chianti Classico DOCG rules, which enhances the concentration of aromas and flavors.

Owner: Paolo Panerai
Winemaker: Alessandro Cellai
Total acreage under vine: 68
Founded: 1977
Production: 200000

“Mid to deep, youthful ruby. Camphor, eucalyptus and shoe polish over cherry fruit. Supple palate with eucalyptus hints and striking, tangy acidity. The whole is, however, a little unbalanced and the fruit rather too light of touch to fit the rich tannins on the finish.” – 16/20 — acclaim for 2021 Castellare Chianti Classico from Jancis Robinson, Mar 2024

“Complex and deeply embedded aromas of ripe blackberries, spices and aromatic bark. Full-bodied and very firm for now, with impressive concentration of fruit and tannin. Very long, balanced finish. Great to taste now, but this is one for the cellar. Patience will be rewarded. Sangiovese and malvasia nera/ This has always been a top Tuscan red.” — acclaim for 2019 Castellare I Sodi di S. Niccolò from James Suckling, Dec 2023

“An intense, vibrant red marked by haunting scents of violet, black cherry, blackberry, wild rosemary, eucalyptus and iron. Supple and open, yet with solid structure underneath. This wine's precision balance renders it approachable now, yet this will be better in two to three years. Spicy aftertaste.”
— acclaim for 2019 Castellare I Sodi di S. Niccolò from Wine Spectator, Oct 2023

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