Castellare 'I Sodi di S. Niccolo' Sangiovese

Castellare ‘I Sodi di S. Niccolò’ - Toscana IGT, Italy

Producer's notes: 

Castellare’s top wine, ranked in the Wine Spectator Top 100 on multiple occasions and recognised with the prestigious Gambero Rosso’s Tre Bicchieri and Bidenda’s Cinque Grappoli ratings. The company takes great pride in demonstrating the greatness of the Sangioveto variety, paired with Malvasia Nera, achieving a worldwide position of sixth place.

Intense red with hints of garnet. Deeply sophisticated and showcasing its full pedigree in terms of both the bouquet and palate of the wine. The fruit quality is exceptional and each individual aroma can be distinguished with total clarity, from the cherry to the spices, whose focus and integration are exceptional.

What we say:

Powerful, elegant and unmistakably Tuscan, I Sodi di S. Niccolò is Castellare’s flagship wine and one of the great Super Tuscans. Remarkably, it achieves this status without relying on international varieties, instead showcasing the beauty of native Tuscan grapes. Aromas of black cherry, plum and wild berries are layered with violet, tobacco, cedar, dried herbs and subtle baking spice. The palate is full-bodied and beautifully structured, with concentrated fruit, refined tannins and vibrant acidity carrying the wine to a long, complex finish marked by savoury earth, leather and mineral nuance. Rich and expressive in its youth, it develops remarkable depth and elegance with time in the cellar.

Named after the stony vineyard soils (sodi) surrounding the ancient church of San Niccolò, the wine is produced primarily from Sangioveto (the local clone of Sangiovese) with a small proportion of Malvasia Nera. Since its first vintage in 1977, I Sodi di S. Niccolò has become one of Tuscany’s most respected wines, proving that indigenous varieties can achieve world-class stature without outside influence. Careful ageing in French oak adds polish and complexity while preserving the wine’s distinctly Tuscan identity.

Grape Variety: Sangioveto (Sangiovese), Malvasia Nera

Style: Red – Full-bodied, structured, age-worthy Tuscan red

Drink Window: Now – 2045+

Perfect For: Bistecca alla Fiorentina, roast lamb, wild boar ragù, truffle dishes, aged Pecorino

Critic Scores (recent top vintages):

James Suckling – up to 98 points
Wine Advocate – up to 97 points
Vinous – up to 96 points

A benchmark Tuscan masterpiece - deep, complex and profoundly expressive, demonstrating just how extraordinary Sangiovese can be in the right hands.