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TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO

VENETO

TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO

VENETO



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ABOUT THE WINERY

Most of the historic producers of Valpolicella are located on the western side of the denomination, but the Valpolicella district stretches east across several hills and valleys almost to Soave, and it is in this eastern zone that some new, exciting, and innovative wineries have been established in recent decades. The soils in the eastern Valpolicella have a higher component of calcium carbonate, which imparts a higher acidity and bolder cherry fruit character to the wines. 

Antonio Castagnedi was a winegrower in the Illasi Valley of eastern Valpolicella in the late 20th century who left 50 acres of vineyards to his four sons. The brothers Armando, Tiziano, Paolo, and Massimo worked as consultants for other wine estates in Italy and continued to grow grapes on their inherited land in Colognola ai Colli, but had bigger dreams. In 1989, they took the next step, buying another 75 acres of top-quality vineyard land on the high terrain of Monti Garbi (also in eastern Valpolicella) and making the leap into wine production as a family. The first vintage of Tenuta Sant’Antonio came in 1995. 

Tenuta Sant’Antonio Valpolicellas are made from 100% estate-grown fruit from the Illasi Valley and Monti Garbi. With their considerable combined winegrowing experience, the Castagnedi brothers devote meticulous attention to their high-density, low-yield vineyards to provide grapes of such exceptional quality that they require minimal intervention during winemaking. At harvest time, the grapes for Amarone are harvested on a first pass through the vineyards, and those for the regular Valpolicella are harvested on the second pass. In this way, the basic Valpolicella gets a portion of the best grapes and is an exceptional value for the price. Also, because the Amarone is harvested earlier, the grapes’ sugar level is lower, so the alcohol level of the Amarone is not excessive. This strategy also dictates that Tenuta Sant’Antonio makes Amarone only in years when the overall harvest quality is high enough to support making the full Valpolicella lineup.

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WINERY LOCATION: Lavagno (Verona province), Veneto
REGION: Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG, Recioto della Valpolicella DOCG, Valpolicella DOC, Valpolicella Ripasso DOC
VINEYARD LAND: 247 acres (100 ha)
FARMING PRACTICES: Sustainable
GRAPE VARIETIES: Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella with small amounts of Croatina and Oseleta
WINE STYLES: Dry red; sweet dessert
TOTAL WINE PRODUCTION: 700,000 bottles (525,000 liters)
YEAR FOUNDED: 1995
OWNER(S): Armando, Tiziano, Paolo, and Massimo Castagnedi
WINEMAKER(S): Paolo Castagnedi

WINES

TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO “NANFRÈ” VALPOLICELLA DOC

Nanfrè is Tenuta Sant'Antonio's young Valpolicella wine. It incorporates no dried grapes and uses no oak.  The winery's recent decision to stop producing the Nanfrè as s Valpolicella Superiore allows them to maintain lower alcohol levels, more vibrant fruit and lively freshness.  Nanfrè is the name of a hamlet in the commune of Illasi, the name of a vineyard and also the nickname of the previous owner of that vineyard (short for Gianfranco).

TENUTA SANT'ANTONIO “MONTI GARBI” VALPOLICELLA RIPASSO SUPERIORE DOC

Tenuta Sant'Antonio's Monti Garbi is a versatile wine that falls in between the winery’s Nanfrè Valpolicella and its Amarones in style. Ripasso is a traditional and fairly unique style of wine in which standard Valpolicella wine has undergone a second fermentation in the presence of pressed Amarone grape skins, which adds body and complexity. Monti Garbi starts with superiore-level grapes, which results in an even more robust wine. The name Monti Garbi comes from a vineyard in Mezzane di Sotto in the eastern part of Valpolicella. Monti means "hills," and Garbi is Venetian dialect for "rugged, arid, and poor," which describes the poor calcareous and chalky soil of the vineyard.

TENUTA SANT’ANTONIO “ANTONIO CASTAGNEDI” AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOCG

Amarone della Valpolicella is the most prestigious red wine of Veneto, and the four brothers who started Tenuta Sant'Antonio dedicate their primary Amarone to their father, Antonio Castagnedi. The best grapes from different vineyards are selected for this wine and are brought to the winery's drying room to undergo the appassimento process. After at least 3 months of drying, the grapes have shriveled and lost much of their water, while retaining their sugar, flavor, and other components. Once fermented and aged in new barrels, the Amarone is a powerful wine, yet fruity, fresh, and clean.

TENUTA SANT’ANTONIO "CAMPO DEI GIGLI" AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOCG

Campo dei Gigli is Tenuta Sant'Antonio's most important vineyard, the source of the winery's flagship Amarone della Valpolicella wine. In the traditional fashion, the grapes from this vineyard are taken to the winery's drying room for at least 3 months to allow water to evaporate. The raisinated grapes have a high ratio of solids to water and create an Amarone with a classic style, concentrated and with balsamic notes. The vineyard name means "field of lilies," the flower symbol of the winery.

TENUTA SANT’ANTONIO “ARGILLE BIANCHE” RECIOTO DELLA VALPOLICELLA DOCG

Recioto della Valpolicella is one of the classic dessert wines of Italy. Tenuta Sant’Antonio Argille Bianche is produced with the same grapes and techniques of Amarone, except that the fermentation of the dried grapes is stopped while a large amount of sugar remains in the wine. The result is a wine that is very sweet and a bit tannic. It’s a “meditation wine” that Tenuta Sant’Antonio produces only in the top vintages. Argille bianche means “white clays,” referring to the soils in the vineyards here.

LOCATION


WINERY:
Lavagno (Verona province), Veneto

VINEYARD:
Eastern Valpolicella and Soave areas, Veneto

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NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY



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93
JUNE 2021
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2017

Intense dried cranberry and steely blackcurrant on the nose. Balsamic, dried-herb and licoricy oak, too. Full and very concentrated on the palate with a focused, flavorful drive of spicy fruit and well-integrated tannins that pushes on and on. Tempting now, but best from 2023.

93
MARCH 2023
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2018

The 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella Antonio Castagnedi opens with a dusty mix of black currants and lavender offset by clove and mocha hints. This shows the lift and finesse of the vintage while imparting undeniable elegance as depths of ripe red fruits are offset by a bitter tinge of dark chocolate. The 2018 finishes structured with fine-grained tannins, licorice and inner violet florals.

93
JANUARY 2021
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016

“Named for their father and made from 70 percent Corvina and Corvinone, 20 percent Rondinella, five percent Croatina, and five percent Oseleta.  It is a fresh wine with aromas of red cherry and blackberry, with floral notes and a touch of maple syrup and licorice.  It has rich flavors of dark cherry, black plums with whispers of violets and roses, rich and smooth in the mouth.  The goal of the Castagnedi brothers is to make an Amarone to serve wine with food.  They suggest that it’s not important to have a big elaborate dish for this wine.  The balance of ripe fruit flavors, lively acidity, ripe tannins and alcohol makes it a great partner for a simple steak.”      
 

94
FEBRUARY 2024
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2019

The 2019 Amarone della Valpolicella Antonio Castagnedi is darkly alluring, with a seductive blend of black cherries and crushed violet candies giving way to a dusting of cocoa. This is silky smooth, nearly creamy yet lifted in feel, with ripe red fruits contrasted by a tinge of bitter balsamic spice. This tapers off with youthful tension, leaving a coating of grippy tannins that are nicely offset by a bump of residual acidity. There’s lovely balance within the 2019 that makes this an excellent option for the dinner table but will also promote aging. It clocks in at just 15% alcohol as well. Gorgeous.

94+
DECEMBER 2021
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016

Packaged in a heavy glass bottle, the Tenuta Sant'Antonio 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Antonio Castagnedi is a beautifully full and generous wine. If offers a full load of fruit weight and manages to do so without losing freshness or crispness. The bouquet delivers elements of dark cherry, blackcurrant and blackberry preserves, and those dark tones transition to sweet tones of spice, licorice and tar. This is a full-bodied and thoroughly contemporary expression that translates to the palate with lively energy and lots of Amarone power. Fruit comes from a hillside vineyard with sandy limestone soils and white calcareous rocks at a breezy 300 meters in elevation. The traditional blend used by this estate is 70% Corvina and Corvinone, 20% Rondinella, 5% Croatina and 5% Oseleta. The wine ages in oak for two long years.

91
APRIL 2024
Tenuta Sant’Antonio “Antonio Castagnedi” Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2020

A producer that is riding high, crafting a line of intriguing wines across colors. This is full-weighted and a bit drying, et not without verve, lift and detail, despite the challenging nature of the very warm year. Reveling in a shroud of dark fruit, camphor, licorice root and bergamot, this is a powerful, smoky Amarone. The tannins are a bit blunt, but not necessarily because of the oak. Rather from a composite of heat and thick grape skins. Age may serve this well, but I’d drink this across the mid-term. Drink or hold.

95
FEBRUARY 2024
Tenuta Sant’Antonio "Campo dei Gigli" Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2018

Remarkably pretty, yet dark and intense, the 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella Campo dei Gigli bursts from the glass with dusty notes of dried roses, balsamic spice, tobacco, dark chocolate and dried black cherries. Seamless and elegant in style, this envelops the palate with ripe red and blue fruits, taking on a bitter tinge of mocha and espresso toward the close. It finishes long and staining, with a coating of fine-grained tannins that adds a classically dry impression while minty herbal tones maintain freshness. This transcends the 2018 vintage, yet patience will be required.

91
JANUARY 2021
Tenuta Sant’Antonio "Campo dei Gigli" Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2016

This wine offers a glimpse of dried cherry and plum flavors before the spectrum quickly shifts to notes of smoked bacon, fig and cardamom. The wine aged for three years in new French-oak tonneaux, developing a complex and decadent style that will appeal to the most ardent Amarone fans.