Medium straw color; pear, banana, pineapple, citrus, yellow apple, white peach on the nose and palate.
Dry; opulent, full body, creamy chardonnay. Good balancing acidity. Well-integrated oak. Smooth and rich. Nicely balanced, elegant Italian chardonnay. Interesting bitterness on the long finish adds depth and complexity. Impressive expressive of Tuscan chardonnay reflects the terroir of the Pomino estates. 13.5% ABV
Frescobaldi relies on fruit, good acidity from an early harvest, and an impressive oak program to make its statement. Grapes from the Benefizio vineyard—altitude 2,300 feet, southern exposure, predominantly sandy soil. Grapes are gently hand-harvested and gently pressed. The must was placed in barriques, 50% new, 50% first fill. Alcoholic fermentation followed, then partial malolactic fermentation. Wine aged on the lees with bâtonnage. Bottle aging followed.
Chardonnay was first planted in Castello di Pomino’s vineyards in 1855, so they have plenty of experience with Tuscan chard. Pomino was the first winery in Italy to be ferment their chardonnay in barriques (smaller oak barrels). With the 2005 vitage, Benefizio earned right to be labeled riserva.
Members of the Frescobaldi family have been prestigious players in Florence and Tuscany for more than 700 years. They began producing wine in Tuscany in 1308; some of their customers included Michelangelo and Henry VIII. At the high point of medieval Florence, the Frescobaldi family spread its influence as bankers, earning the title of treasurer to the English crown. Later, with the flowering of the Renaissance, they became patrons of major works in Florence, including construction of the Santa Trinita bridge and the Basilica of Santo Spirito. In a foreshadowing of the Super Tuscan revolution, they began planting chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot vines in the region in 1855.
In 2007, Lamberto Frescobaldi, the 30th generation of the family, became vice president and oversaw the renewal of the estates in the family’s extensive portfolio. In 2013, Lamberto became president of the company, taking over from his uncle Leonardo. Lamberto studied at UC-Davis and has worked to modernize the company and expand in the U.S. and other markets since the late 1980s. You have a good chance of finding this wine in better wine stores and online.
Frescobaldi Castello di Pomino Benefizio Riserva 2021 is rich, impressive Tuscan chardonnay from winery with more than a century and a half of experience with the grape variety and more than seven centuries on winemaking in the estate. This is Frescobaldi’s top chardonnay, and they are an important and skilled winery, so this is serious Italian chard. Pair with pasta dishes with white sauces, but also would work with tomato-based sauces thanks to its weight; vegetarian dishes; appetizers, snacks; charcuterie board and cured meats; lean fish; roasted and grilled chicken. Cheese—triple-cream: brie, brillat-savarin; aged cheddar; gouda; parmesan, grana padano; soft cheeses flavored with herbs. $45-55
Frescobaldi website, rich with photos and videos
