Our Rating
Tuscany
Chardonnay
Fèlsina began developing Chardonnay in the 1980s, first grafting French clones at the nearby Castello di Farnetella before establishing plantings on estate parcels better suited to the variety. The first vintage of I Sistri was 1987, and the wine has anchored the house’s small white-wine program ever since. The aim is modern technique applied with restraint to foreground fruit, texture, and site.
Based in Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena), Fèlsina is best known for Sangiovese benchmarks but pursues non-traditional grapes selectively where the terroir makes sense. Estate communications emphasize meticulous vineyard work and a terroir-first approach across the range, with I Sistri as the white counterpoint. Visitors can explore the Chardonnay parcels alongside Chianti Classico holdings via the estate’s download/tech area. (felsina.it)
Fruit for I Sistri comes from sand-leaning, freer-draining soils rising from the Ombrone River toward Podere Poggiolo, sites chosen to ripen Chardonnay with freshness and lift. The material traces to French selections trialed at Farnetella, then expanded at Fèlsina; vineyards are high-density (~5,400 vines/ha) and hand-picked. These specifics are laid out in the estate brochure and align with the cuvée’s mineral-edged profile.
Clusters are soft-pressed to about a 60% juice yield, and the must is cold-settled ~24 hours before transfer to 225-L French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine then matures on the lees with daily bâtonnage, is racked and assembled in Aug–Sept, and is bottle-aged at least three months before release. The process targets supple texture without overt wood, which matches the restrained oak signature in the glass.
The 2022 season in Tuscany was marked by extreme drought and irregular growth, with yields down across the region. Late-August and early-September rains were a turning point that helped preserve balance; many wines show slightly higher alcohol/pH yet remain fresh where canopy and timing were well managed. White wines from successful sites combine ripe texture with a defined, saline line. (Jancis Robinson)
Appearance. Clear and day-bright with a pale lemon hue and a steady medium rim—visually consistent with a full-bodied, high-acid white. The clarity and brightness underscore careful pressing and lees work.
Aromas. Pronounced notes of graphite and slate frame ripe melon and pear; a gentle alcohol lift reads medium(+). With air, the mineral edge remains present rather than merely floral or tropical.
Palate. Dry and full-bodied with high acidity; flavors track slate, wet gravel, melon, apple, lemon, and a light honeysuckle impression. Oak influence is textural, not dominant, supporting breadth through the mid-palate.
Finish. Long and mineral-lined, tapering cleanly on citrus and stone. The overall balance is poised, with freshness carrying the weight.
I Sistri 2022 threads ripe Tuscan fruit through a cool, stony frame and lets the finish do the talking. It reads quietly luxurious—satin from lees, precision from place, and value that feels a notch above its price.
Italy
Tuscany
Chardonnay
14%
Franco Bernabei
N/A
Now-2030
Felsina Winery
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