Fonte Alla Selva
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Classic Tuscan wild boar ragu with pappardelle, grilled Bistecca alla Fiorentina, or aged Pecorino Toscano cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic Castellina in Chianti commune, Banfi's Fonte Alla Selva is a classic expression of Chianti Classico DOCG. The name, which translates to 'fountain in the forest,' pays homage to the natural springs and dense woodland canopy that frame this high-altitude estate. Crafted predominantly from Sangiovese, this red wine reflects the traditional galestro soils of the region. The grapes undergo temperature-controlled fermentation followed by aging in traditional Slavonian oak casks, a method that tempers Sangiovese's vibrant acidity and firm tannins while preserving its bright red cherry, violet, and earthy herbal notes. This wine captures the rustic elegance and historical soul of the Tuscan hills, bridging centuries of sharecropping heritage with modern winemaking precision.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1978 by Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani alongside consulting enologist Ezio Rivella, Banfi transformed the viticultural landscape of southern Tuscany. Centered around the medieval fortress of Castello di Poggio alle Mura in Montalcino, the estate spans over 2,800 hectares, with approximately one-third under vine. The soils present a complex mosaic of calcareous clay, sand, and marine deposits along the Orcia and Ombrone river valleys, exposed to warm Mediterranean breezes and balanced diurnal shifts. Pioneers of rigorous Sangiovese clonal zoning, Banfi has expanded beyond Montalcino into classic regions across Tuscany and Piedmont. Certified sustainable under the Equalitas standard, the producer combines technological precision with meticulous parcel selection. While renowned globally for benchmark Brunello di Montalcino, Banfi exhibits equal dexterity across diverse white and sparkling expressions, ranging from traditional-method Alta Langa and Cuvée Aurora sparkling cuvées to coastal Vermentino like La Pettegola and crisp, mineral-inflected Cortese from Piedmont.
🍇 Grapes
Sangiovese (min 80%), Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon