Black goes well with everything, says a famous phrase.
''When I find a color darker than black, I will wear it. But until then, I will wear black!'' Coco Chanel loved to repeat.
It is said that it is not a color, as it is the absence of light, yet it has its own poetry, its own magic, and in fashion as in other sectors it has established itself as a symbol of power, luxury and maximum elegance.
And the step from fashion to oenology is immediate: we too are lovers of black.
Our Canaiolo Nero , with its nuances of the grape before and of the wine after, has within itself the richness and complexity of this color - not colour, it has the depth, thickness and elegance that recalls black. It is a black to be observed carefully, a vibrant black, which then grants emotions to the nose and palate.
THE VINE
The origins of Canaiolo Nero are not well defined. Legend has it that this vine was introduced by the Etruscans and that the ancient origins must be located in ancient Etruria (the area between the Arno and Tiber rivers including upper Lazio, lower Tuscany and part of Umbria).
That it is an ancient vine is confirmed by the Bolognese naturalist De' Crescenzi who already mentions it in 1309 in the Liber ruralum commodorum (1309) as Canajuola . The Tuscan agronomist Giovan Vettorio Soderini writes about Canaivola (1600). Cosimo Villifranchi, in 1773, described it as the basis of Chianti which from white wine (well yes, the famous Tuscan wine was originally a white wine!) had become vermilion, specifying that this wine was mainly produced with Canaiolo Nero to which he added a small quantity of Sangiovese , Mammolo and Marzemino.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Canaiolo was therefore the main component of all Chianti blends, while Sangiovese was relegated to the supporting role.
Today it is exactly the opposite. Canaiolo's journey from king to courtier is a fascinating one, involving a play of politics, viticulture and fashion. But this is a completely different story.
The origin of the name seems to derive from the Latin dies caniculares , i.e. the dog days , when, during the period from the end of July to the middle of August, the grapes turn dark.
The term Canicola derives from the Latin Canicula ("little dog"), and was used to indicate Sirius, the brightest star in the constellation of Canis Major as well as in the firmament, after the Sun, which rises and sets almost with the Sun from 24 July to 26 August.
An alternative hypothesis has it that some of its synonyms, such as Canina, Canino, Uva canina derive from the name of the dog rose or dog grass, just to justify the characteristic bitter note of the aged wine, just as the synonyms Uva canaiola, Uva dei cani have the same origin from the Latin canis, given that ripe grapes would attract dogs (Vannuccini, 1901).
THESAN
Whatever its origins, what is certain is that Canaiolo Nero is a powerful and extraordinary vine that gives life to our great red THESAN (the name is a tribute to the goddess of Dawn of the Etruscan Pantheon).
Thesan is made with 100% Canaiolo grapes.
Even today, as in the past, Canaiolo Nero grapes are rarely vinified in purity. In the vast majority of cases they are part of blend or grapes with grapes from other vines. Above all, it is perfect with Sangiovese.
Moreover, as Bettino Ricasoli wrote in 1872, regarding the Chianti formula (70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia):
“the wine receives the main dose of its aroma from Sangioveto (which I particularly aim for) and a certain vigor of sensation; from the Canajuolo the amiability that tempers the harshness of the first, without taking away any of its scent because it is also endowed with it ; the Malvagia tends to dilute the product of the first two grapes, increases its flavor and makes it lighter and more readily usable for everyday use [...]”.Therefore always a little undervalued and always relegated to minor roles, we wanted to give back to our local Canaiolo vine the value it so deserves.
The first edition of our Thesan was released in 2014: Thesan 2009.
It took 5 years to produce what we call a Great Wine.
Because a great wine is never born by chance. It is the result of particular combinations of environmental factors and ''wise'' workmanship.
A great wine is born first and foremost from a great grape. And to produce great grapes, the skill, commitment and dedication of the men in the vineyard are essential.
To produce a great wine it takes time.
Calm and patience. You have to know how to wait. Beautiful things have a slow pace.
And behind a great wine there is always man. More precisely, we have a man and a woman: Gianluca and Marta. They already think about the wine in the vineyard, they study it, analyze it, they constantly take care of it to bring it to higher levels.
THESAN is a great wine because it is a ''team'' wine; created by nature, shaped by time, perfected by our winemakers.
Almost impenetrable dark ruby red. On the nose it expresses deep and engaging hints of red fruit jam, cherry, liquorice, cocoa and vanilla. In the mouth it is structured and very pleasant, characterized by a soft and enveloping tannic texture. Warm, balanced, fleshy, it closes with a finish of great tasting persistence.
THESAN36
Perhaps our best wine, the historic and iconic one, produced only in the best years and with the best grapes, THESAN36 represents our maximum expression of Canaiolo Nero.
They say about Him:
'A wine of substance that takes us back to the essence of a territory. Seductive drink, with harmonious and peremptory notes''.''Immense olfactory notes of dark fruit and potpourri of roses and violets mix with balsamic sensations of eucalyptus, undergrowth and autumnal spices. On the palate it is warm and sumptuous, with a defined tannin that denotes great evolutionary potential''.
Produced in a very limited number of bottles and only in the best vintages (currently 2016 and 2018) from a strict selection of over-ripened bunches on the vine. It then matures and evolves patiently in 2nd passage French oak barriques for 36 months and then refines in the bottle for a minimum of 6 months before being put on the market.
It's a long wait, but we know - we've already said it before - good things take a slow pace. As for Thesan, also for Thesan36, the passing of time plays a fundamental role.
Black lovers , report! So why do we like this color so much? Especially to us women. Black addicts are fascinated by dark, deep, nocturnal colors because they always have something elegant, mysterious and undoubtedly intriguing. Some associate it with sad events; it is no coincidence, in fact, that it is especially suitable for funerals . Yet wearing black makes us feel powerful, invincible and safer, more self-confident . Black hides defects, slims the figure, in essence: slims . And even if it doesn't really make us models, black, come on, makes us feel beautiful and perfect, more confident and at peace with ourselves. And let's face it: IT GOES WITH EVERYTHING! It goes well with white, yellow and red. With black you can create beautiful, refined and always current looks suitable for every occasion. Even those who are not very good at creating perfect combinations feel safe with black, because it manages to be "the best friend" of all colors , even blue.
Still on the subject of pairing, this time food-wine however, our Canaiolo Total Black doesn't go beautifully with everything.
Given its body, powerful structure and high alcohol content (15% vol), it prefers dishes with strong and decisive flavours. It is enhanced with roasted red meat, suckling pig, braised meat, game and game.
A wine of great intensity and olfactory breadth , it is perfect when paired with truffle dishes and long-matured cheeses. Lastly, it is suitable for tasting without pairing with food, as a meditation wine .