The winery was founded in 1903 by Bartolomeo Baldi, great-great-uncle of the current owners, the brothers Guido and Gherardo Betti: the Betti family is in fact originally from Florence and in the past the cellar was the so-called country house. In 2003 Guido and Gherardo made a very important decision that would define their lives: that is, they decided to devote themselves totally to viticulture and therefore transformed what had always been the second family business into a modern winery, Guido, born in 1978, oversees the Italian Commercial and Export sectors while Gherardo, born in 1983, manages all the oenological and agronomic part
Guido and Gherardo Betti's work has always been oriented towards the highest quality, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The basic intention is to constantly enhance the innate characteristics of the wines of the territory - finesse and liveliness in the first place - without any forcing, but simply accompanying a soil that was already born perfect. The cultivation includes partial grassing and organic fertilizers (for example the plants of favette cut and buried at the time of flowering release nitrogen into the soil) and an attitude of interventionism only when it is really needed, without any forcing. Harvesting is partly manual and partly mechanical, depending on the plots.
Guido and Gherardo therefore consider themselves as custodians of a marvelous territory, which they have the duty to defend without distorting it: in their thinking, modern technologies and everything that involves innovation is absolutely looked upon with great favor, as long as it is aimed at guaranteeing a production in which every single bottle expresses personality and genuineness.
Farnio Chianti Montalbano Riserva is made from 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Colorino.
Brilliant ruby red with plain ruby shades, fairly clear. Blackberry and violet notes emerge on the nose with spiced and vegetal tones, leading to a leathery and pencil lead finish. Elegant, pleasant, pure and intense aromas but vigorous and round. Slightly tannic and fresh, balanced and full-bodied.
Wild boar in sauce, grilled meat, casseroles, game and mature pecorino cheese.
Farnio Chianti Montalbano Riserva is made from 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Colorino.
Brilliant ruby red with plain ruby shades, fairly clear. Blackberry and violet notes emerge on the nose with spiced and vegetal tones, leading to a leathery and pencil lead finish. Elegant, pleasant, pure and intense aromas but vigorous and round. Slightly tannic and fresh, balanced and full-bodied.
Wild boar in sauce, grilled meat, casseroles, game and mature pecorino cheese.
Luis Canas Rioja Crianza is made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha
A classic style Rioja from one of the regions most enduring family run wineries.. The hillside terraced vineyards are sheltered by the Sierra Cantabria Mountains to the north from harsh weather extremes. Small plot production is utilized in this region of infertile chalky clay soil to produce clusters of excellent quality. Almost 900 plots are needed to complete the approximately 400 hectares of estate-owned or cellar-controlled vineyards, some with vines more than 100 years in age.
Tasting notes
Made from 95% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha of 30 years of age, the wine shows a ruby red color, a clean nose with nuances of balsamic, plum and cedar. The palate is smooth and velvety, complex and structured, with fruit, spice flavors with toasted oak. A pleasant finish with red fruits and hints of eucalyptus.
The harvest
This year in Rioja Alavesa the weather has been especially cold, the summer short and dry, and there has been plenty of rain in early September. This has produced wines with great aromatic notes, particularly those coming from high altitude areas, very fragrant and with great structure.
Winemaking and aging
Upon entering the bodega and passing the selection table, the grapes are de-stemmed and crushed before undergoing fermentation and then maceration in stainless steel tanks for a total of 8 days, obtaining better color extraction as well as much more complex wines, suitable for prolonged aging. The wine is clarified with vegetable gelatines and follows anicrobic filtration.
It is ideal to pair with meats; red meat, poultry, small game, oily fish, semi-cured cheeses, spicy dishes and hot dishes such as beans or potatoes Rioja style.
After its primary fermentation, the wine is placed in barrels where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged for a minimum of 12 months. It is then bottled for at least another 12 months.
Review:
"Juicy Bing cherries, peppery herbs, leather, and cedarwood notes all emerge from the 2021 Rioja Crianza, a medium-bodied, concentrated, round, layered red that has supple tannins, beautiful fruit, and a great finish. This classic Rioja has tons to love."
- Jeb Dunnuck (Importer Highlight: Fran Kysela ; July 2024), 91 pts