The colour is medium straw. On the nose strong notes of butter and vanilla. For my taste a bit too similar to a Californian Chardonnay. In the mouth very fresh. The aftertaste is short. This is a wine that promises a lot on the nose but delivers little in the mouth.
I bought this bottle in San Giminiano, at the same shop where last year I purchased the bottle of Carato 2016 produced by Montenidoli that exited me (www.thelovedwine.com/carato-2016). The price was the same, 27 EUR for both bottles, but the quality very different.
The wine of Montenidoli reminded me of a very good and elegant French Chardonnay. This wine produced by Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara reminds me of an overdone and bold Californian Chardonnay.
Fortunately, while in San Giminiano I was able to get 2 bottles of Carato 2016 shipped home, along with 3 other Vernaccia di San Giminiano based wines and the varietal Sangiovese made by Montenidoli: “Sono Montenidoli 2013”, for which I paid 45 EUR.
The night I tasted this bottle I was very disappointed and did not finish it. I left it in the fridge open all night. In the morning I poured the leftover in a plastic bottle and mistreated it in my backpack along the 31km I walked from San Giminiano to Monteriggioni. Once at the hotel, I put it back in the fridge and later drunk it. What a surprise to see that the wine improved… a lot!
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Grapes: Vernaccia di San Giminiano
Type: White
Vintage: 2017
Producer: Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5