Sometimes, all it takes is one detail to capture our attention. In my case, it was a turtle.
Not just any turtle, but a small, stylized totem—proud and silent—printed on the bottles of Castello Monterinaldi. That symbol, delicate yet strong, awakened something ancient in me, a deep connection to these animals I’ve loved since I was a child.
In our home garden, my mother always kept many of them, and growing up around turtles meant learning the art of patience. I’d watch them for hours: slow, solemn, never distracted, capable of turning every step into a measured gesture. I played with them as one plays with time—without forcing it. Those turtles were a silent refuge, a school of calm and listening.
Seeing them again—real, alive—in the garden of Castello Monterinaldi felt like coming full circle. A sudden plunge back into childhood, into summer afternoons, into warm earth beneath my fingers.
After a first encounter at Eccellenze di Toscana, I decided to step into their winery, diving into the beating heart of Chianti Classico. Here, between Panzano and Radda in Chianti, on a hill shaped like a turtle’s shell, lies Castello Monterinaldi—a centuries-old fortress guarding stories and secrets since 1010, when Count Gottifredo, a Lombard nobleman, established this place.
The castle is still there, imposing, a guardian of time that flows slowly. Just below it, La Pesanella—the estate’s operational villa—welcomes anyone who wants to explore this land where nature, history, and passion intertwine. Among the real turtles strolling peacefully through the garden like living symbols, I immediately felt at home.
“Slowly but surely”: this is the mantra of the Ciampi family, who have led the estate with care and determination since 1961. The turtle, a symbol of patience and perseverance, inspires every decision in the vineyard and winery, where 17 vineyards across 50 organically cultivated hectares reflect a sincere dialogue with the land. Here, Sangiovese—the undisputed protagonist—expresses itself with unique nuances, joined by a mosaic of native and international varieties: Canaiolo, Malvasia, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah.
Entering Monterinaldi’s tasting room feels like a warm embrace: every wine tells a story of the land, of silence, and ancient rhythms, shaped by a consistent and enveloping stylistic identity.
Arnaldo – Bianco di Toscana IGT 2020, made from 100% Malvasia Bianca Lunga, is the first encounter in the glass. It presents itself with a vibrant straw yellow color.
The bouquet opens with refined notes of citron and candied ginger, hints of honey, yellow rose, and a balsamic touch of calamint. On the palate, it begins with citrus, evolving into a soft, buttery texture and finishing with an elegant sapidity that extends the sip with echoes of hazelnut. The label, featuring a white boar—a symbol of strength and intuition—is a perfect match for this white wine, which shows great promise and character.
Chianti Classico DOCG “Vigneto Boscone” 2019 is a true expression of pure Sangiovese Grosso. Vinified and aged exclusively in cement tanks for 26 months, this single-vineyard wine is a clear and vibrant testament to tradition. In the glass, it shows a bright carmine red, signaling freshness and vitality. The nose reveals ferrovia cherries entwined with elegant rose, violet, and peony, while a subtle hint of white pepper introduces a saline, almost maritime note that deepens its complexity. On the palate, the wine is taut, with welcoming fruit-driven acidity and fine, powdery tannins that reflect perfect integration. Substantial and savory, it speaks with gentle authority, never needing to shout.
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Radda DOCG 2020 is more complex and refined, born from the same Boscone vineyards but aged for 24 months in 25-hectoliter French oak barrels. The color remains carmine, medium in intensity, vibrant and alive. The nose opens with unmatched floral elegance: tea rose, lavender, and violet dance with cherry and plum, while refined spices—nutmeg and coriander—merge with the balsamic depth of licorice root. On the palate, it’s round, with central, fruit-driven tannins and softer acidity, giving way to the wine’s tactile richness. Sapidity cuts through the finish, ending with a slightly bitter note at the closest encounter with the tannins. It’s an austere, persistent wine, whispering tales of nobility and deep roots.
In the spirit of tradition and elegance, Pesanella – Rosso di Toscana IGT stands out as the estate’s Supertuscan. A masterful blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Sangiovese, it’s vinified in cement tanks and aged for 18 months in barriques and tonneaux. In the glass, it’s a deep ruby red with carmine reflections. The nose is intense, revealing dark forest fruits—blackcurrant, blueberry, mulberry—and refined herbal notes of nettle leaf, white pepper, a floral bouquet, and subtle hints of coffee and clove. On the palate, it’s rich and enveloping, with soft, fruity tannins and a mouthwatering finish reminiscent of cherry-filled chocolate (like a “Boero”), elevated by a sapid touch that keeps the finish lively and persistent.
Finally, a journey into the deepest soul of tradition with Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC, made from Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes harvested in September and carefully dried for over three months. Fermentation takes place in small chestnut barrels (caratelli), where the wine ages for more than eight years, developing unmatched density and complexity. In the glass, the amber color is luminous and crystalline, while the nose bursts with walnut, dried fig, golden raisin, chestnut honey, date, and dried apricot. On the palate, it’s enveloping and rounded, supported by excellent acidity that balances the sweetness, making the wine lively and harmonious. The long finish offers lingering notes of dried fruit—a slow, silent hymn to patience and the memory of Radda’s land.
Leaving Castello Monterinaldi is a bittersweet act. That gate, guarded by the turtle—a symbol of time flowing to its own rhythm—reminds us of the value of waiting. In a world that rushes, where the frenzy of social media and instant gratification erase the meaning of time, this place is an oasis reminding us how precious it is to stop and listen to silence.
And with this gift—a vivid and lasting emotion—you return home, carrying with you the promise that true beauty endures, becomes eternal, and reveals itself only to those who know how to wait.
