Vineyards and winemaking
Carla 6 comes exclusively from vineyard number 6, a 1.5-hectare parcel in Panzano's Conca d'Oro with grey schist and sand. The site was selected for the mineral, graphite-edged expression it gives to Sangiovese and for its ability to balance ripeness with acidity.
The 100% Sangiovese fruit was hand-sorted and moved by gravity into temperature-controlled vessels for spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wine was vinified and matured separately in French oak tonneaux before a further period in concrete. Production totalled approximately 3,500 bottles.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep garnet-ruby with clear, mature reflections.
Nose
Dried sour cherry and wild strawberry are layered with violet, cedar, leather and graphite.
Palate
Structured and energetic, with mature red fruit, fine-grained tannins and the vibrant acidity of Sangiovese. Earth, spice and mineral notes build towards a long, savoury finish.
Food pairing
Serve with roast saddle of hare, grilled veal chop, pappardelle with wild mushrooms, or a chestnut and cavolo nero pie. Its acidity also makes it an excellent partner for aged Parmesan.
Background story
Giampaolo Motta acquired Fattoria La Massa at Panzano in 1992 after moving from Naples to Tuscany and gaining experience in both Bordeaux and Chianti. The estate occupies the Conca d'Oro, or Golden Basin, with Stéphane Derenoncourt advising on vineyard and cellar work since 2008.
The wine is named both for the parcel and for Giampaolo's daughter Carla. It was conceived with Derenoncourt as a pure, site-specific challenge to Sangiovese and received 93 points from Falstaff and 92 from Wine Spectator. At this age, stand upright before opening and decant carefully for sediment.
