Linchetto (2024) - Azienda Agricola Valle del Sole

The name “Linchetto” refers to a sprite from the folklore of Lucca. It includes traditional local grapes that are hardly ever used, such as the Moscato Rosso della Versilia brought in by Napoleon

The appellation: Toscana IGT Rosso

Toscana IGT Rosso is one of the most widespread and versatile labels of winegrowing Tuscany, an emblem of the creative freedom producers have to make quality red wines outside the strict framework of the DOC and DOCG. This category takes in both everyday reds and internationally famous Super Tuscans, capable of combining a sense of place with innovation, tradition with experimentation. The Indicazione Geografica Tipica Toscana allows the use of both indigenous and international varieties, with wide freedom in the blends, the winemaking methods and the ageing.

What to eat with Linchetto

Who makes it: Azienda Agricola Valle del Sole

Set in the Cappella micro-zone, on the Lucca hills between Lucca and Monte Magno, the estate was founded with the aim of bringing out an area marked by wide temperature swings and constant ventilation, ideal for quality winegrowing.Over about 10 ha of vineyard and olive grove, the estate practises organic and biodynamic farming, with sustainable methods aimed at the vitality of the soil and at natural pest control.

The vine of Linchetto

Sangiovese

Sangiovese is one of the most important and widely planted black grape varieties in Italy, and it is the undisputed protagonist of some of the greatest Italian red wines. Grown mainly in Tuscany, but also found in other regions such as Emilia-Romagna, Umbria and the Marche, Sangiovese gives wines of great elegance, freshness and longevity.

Moscato Rosso d’Amburgo

Moscato Rosso d’Amburgo (known internationally as Muscat of Hamburg) is a red grape variety belonging to the great Muscat family. Of uncertain origin but probably a crossing of Moscato d’Alessandria and Schiava Grossa, it is known for its floral aromatic intensity and its versatility, both as a table grape and for winemaking. Although little used for bottled wines, it is employed in the production of sweet wines, sparkling rosés and light reds, particularly in Sicily, Puglia, Spain and parts of Greece.

Aleatico

Aleatico is an aromatic black grape variety, most probably originating in central Italy, with close genetic links to Moscato Bianco. It is one of the very few aromatic red varieties in the world, and stands out for its intense scents of rose, sweet spices and ripe red fruits. It is grown above all in Tuscany (Isola d’Elba), Lazio, Puglia and in some parts of Corsica and eastern Europe. It is used both for sweet passito wines (among the finest in Italy) and, more rarely, for dry or fragrant rosé wines.

Colorino

Colorino is a black grape variety native to Tuscany, known for the high anthocyanin content of its skins, which gives the wines deep colour. Long used in blends with Sangiovese, above all in Chianti and in other Tuscan appellations, its role is mainly to enrich colour and structure without altering the wine's main aromatic profile. In recent decades some producers have begun to vinify it as a single variety too, revealing a variety with personality, spice and marked tannins.

Ciliegiolo

Ciliegiolo is a native black grape variety of central Italy, always bound to Tuscany, but grown in Umbria, Liguria and in some areas of Lazio and the Marche too. The name comes from the typical scent and taste of its grapes, which strongly recall ripe cherry. For decades used as a complementary variety to Sangiovese in numerous traditional blends, in recent years it has been re-evaluated as a single variety, capable of offering juicy, fresh, fruity reds and, in the more structured versions, deep and long-lived ones too.

Linchetto: the Colline Lucchesi area

Climate: Continental

Altitude: Low Altitude (0-200 m above sea level)

Soil: Clay

Geographical setting: Valley

Profile of Linchetto

Primary aromas: Cherry, Raspberry, Rose, Violet

Secondary aromas: mineral notes, Spices

Tasting notes: This wine stands out for its intense ruby red colour. On the nose it offers a bouquet rich in ripe red fruit, spice and a touch of vanilla. In the mouth the fullness of the fruit is perfectly balanced by a well-defined tannic structure, leading to a long, harmonious finish. The complexity and elegance of this wine make it perfect for special occasions, able to accompany a wide range of dishes. A wine to savour slowly, to appreciate every nuance.