Dark Knight
I.G.T. Toscana
“It pays homage to the Castello’s kindred spirits, the standard bearers for a noble cause, the dark knights of the hills of Tuscany ”
A red blend, with a predominance of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sangiovese, this wine appeals to and conquers all palates.
Vintage conditions
A vintage marked by a very rainy spring, which increased water reserves but also required careful management of downy mildew, although without causing any significant damage to the vineyards. Summer then continued with warm, dry, and stable weather, free from extreme conditions, allowing for a slow and even ripening of the grapes. At the end of August, shortly before ripening was complete, abundant rainfall led to an increase in berry size, enhancing the grapes’ aromatic characteristics more than their polyphenolic and structural components. The result is wines that are fresh, vibrant, and highly drinkable.
After a relatively mild winter and a wet spring that brought significant downy mildew pressure across Europe, the season was marked by reduced yields. Record temperatures in July were successfully managed through careful vineyard work, protecting the vines from drought stress. A warm, dry harvest period allowed the production of wines with medium structure and good aromatic expression.
An unusual year marked by early, regular vine development and a warm, dry spring that led to excellent flowering. Summer brought intense heat and drought, accelerating ripening. In August, hailstorms severely impacted most vineyards. Despite the challenges, careful vineyard management and the vine’s resilience ensured good to excellent fruit quality in the surviving plots.
Despite low yields across Italy, the 2021 vintage delivered healthy, well-balanced grapes thanks to its resilience to climatic extremes. In Tuscany, April frost and summer drought reduced quantity, especially in young vines. However, ideal September conditions allowed for a late harvest of exceptional Sangiovese from older vineyards—limited in volume but outstanding in complexity and elegance, surpassing expectations.
The vintage was challenging in the region, with late September and October rainfalls but the location and exposure of each vineyard helped maintain elegance and overall quality. Lower yield with lighter tannic density for some vineyards coupled by very good grapes with excellent character and spice.
Eccellent vintage either by volume and quality. Very balanced, healthy, perfectly ripe grapes, by all vineyards – different zones, for altitudes, exposure and microclimate it has been uniform, everywhere. We had peaks of unbelievable excellence, the structure of the grapes has also allowed us to macerate for a long time, and therefore we expect red wines that will express themselves well in the long term, the Sangiovese has given great results.
