Máté Winery

The family-owned and organically farmed Máté estate is in the south-west of Montalcino, in the commune of Santa Restituta. This highly desirable area is well known for producing terroir-driven wines of distinct expression. Their next-door neighbours are none other than Angelo Gaja and Gianfranco Soldera – two titans of the industry, whose wines typically command prices that soar into the hundreds of pounds per bottle.

Situated at 320-420 metres’ altitude, the 6.5 hectares of vines here are surrounded by forest, Etruscan ruins and scrubland thick with wildflowers and herbs. The soil is composed of marl, tuffo limestone and calcareous sandstone filled with marine fossils. This gives unique character and mineral poise to the wines. The calibre of the terroir is only matched by the expertise behind the wines: working with owners Candace and Ferenc Máté is chief winemaker Carlo Ferrini – a man responsible for many of Italy’s most iconic bottles, including many of Montalcino’s 100-point wines. The vineyards were planted by Gaja’s legendary agronomist Fabrizio Moltard.