M�rke: Castello Monaci

CHARA’ CHARDONNAY
SALENTO IGT

Not far from the town of Lecce and from the sea, on the road to Taranto, at the gates of Salice Salentino, centuries-old olive trees and luxuriant vineyards surround Castello Monaci.
The long corridor which links the main road to the castle is a line which goes through the estate, a meridian which divides the vineyards and opens the gates to the modern cellar. Here spreads the sun which floods the land with light and creates unique shapes, like the fruits to which it gives birth. Castello Monaci. Crafted by the sun.
Charà, the Salentino word for "joy": the joy of encountering two different souls merging and completing one another in a single wine.
Charà is a Chardonnay with a "French character" that springs from the woods it ages in, but it has a "tropical humour" because of the perfumes it releases. It is a Chardonnay where the role played by the harvesting decisions combines with the skill of the oenologist who knows how to respect and exalt the fruit.

The grapes: 100% Chardonnay

The vineyard: vines cultivated on spurred cordons on deep dry clay soil with the presence of tuffaceous limestone; the average yield per hectare is 9 tonnes.

Vinification: the harvest takes place in two different stages. 70% of the grapes are picked around the second decade of August and the remaining 30% in the second decade of September in order to lock freshness and flavour into the wine along with warmth and smoothness.
After soft pressing, the first selection of grapes ferments at low temperature in steel vats while the second ferments in barriques. Blending takes place in February and the wine is then allowed to age in the bottle for about 2 months.

The wine: the colour is an intense straw yellow; there is an ample aroma of tropical fruit (banana, pineapple) and almond paste; the taste is warm, smooth and enveloping, with an attractive swathing vanilla note.

Analytical data: alcohol 13.50 %; total acidity 5.50 g/l; pH 3.40; sugars 3.5; extract 25 g/l.

Ideal conservation: 2 years in bottles on their sides in a cool dark environment. Food pairings: hors d'oeuvres, seafood salads, risotto, crustaceans and grilled fish. Also excellent with traditional Salento dishes.

Serving temperature: 10-12°C.