Coevo, Cecchi Family's iconic wine, celebrates a new chapter

Presented at Enoteca Pinchiorri, the new Coevo celebrating the balance between tradition and innovation

In the refined setting of Enoteca Pinchiorri, Andrea Cecchi unveiled Coevo 2021, the latest evolution of a winemaking project that has been narrating the richness and modernity of the Tuscan terroir for nearly twenty years.

Coevo, the iconic wine of this historic winery, embodies the perfect balance between tradition and innovation, maintaining strong ties to the two most significant production areas for the family: Chianti Classico and Maremma. With a limited production of around 3,000 bottles, including 300 in magnum format, this special edition marks yet another step in the pursuit of an increasingly precise and distinctive identity.

The event was an opportunity to appreciate a “vertical” tasting that traced Coevo’s evolution through some of its most representative vintages: 2006, 2013, 2015, and the newly released 2021. This oenological journey was accompanied by an exceptional menu designed to enhance the nuances and complexity of each vintage. Guests had the chance to savor risotto with pigeon ragù, bitter cocoa, and grilled spinach leaves, followed by a tartare of aged Podolica beef with spiced pork muzzle sauce, prized black truffle, and roasted chicken mayonnaise. The tasting continued with almond-crusted veal fillet, served with roasted Jerusalem artichoke purée, radicchio, and foie gras cream, concluding with an original hot alpine cheese doughnut.

The story of Coevo, a timeless icon

Born in 2006 as a tribute to Luigi Cecchi, a key figure in the company’s expansion, Coevo initially featured a blend of grapes that included international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. With the 2021 vintage, the wine's vision evolves towards a more essential synthesis, composed exclusively of Sangiovese from the Villa Rosa Estate in Castellina in Chianti and Merlot from the Val delle Rose Estate in Maremma.

"This is a wine that marked my enological turning point," says Andrea Cecchi, "inspiring me to approach the vineyard and winemaking with renewed dedication and the precise intention of interpreting each vintage to its fullest expression."The year 2021 proved to be particularly favorable for winemaking. A mild and rainy winter ensured a good water reserve, while the cool spring facilitated regular flowering of the vines. A dry summer, followed by late August rains, allowed for optimal grape ripening, culminating in a harvest carried out on the sunny days of September and October.

"Coevo 2021 is the product of a season that seems to have unfolded with ancient rhythms—slow and patient—expressing a vintage that we could consider among the best ever," comments Miria Bracali, Head Winemaker and Production Director of Famiglia Cecchi.Coevo is more than just a wine; it is a statement of intent. It embodies the genius loci of two exceptional territories and represents a dialogue between ancient soils and unique microclimates. The Sangiovese from Chianti Classico merges with the Merlot from Maremma, creating a balance that gives the wine finesse, depth, and intensity. Aging for 18 months in French oak tonneaux, followed by an additional 10 months in the bottle, imparts structure and complexity to this new vintage.Coevo 2021 will be distributed in key international markets, including Italy, the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Japan, reaching the finest tables worldwide.

"Coevo represents our flagship, our calling card for all those who appreciate wines with great expressive potential. Since its first vintage in 2006, Coevo has served as the link between our winery and top-tier international gastronomy," says Luca Stortolani, Italy Sales Director of Famiglia Cecchi.

Coevo vintage 2006

The harvest at Villa Cerna in Chianti Classico began early thanks to favorable weather, raising high expectations for the quality of the crop. Sunny days, cool nights and a wide temperature range favored optimal ripening of the grapes, preserving their aromas. The Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon from Castellina in Chianti proved particularly promising, with bunches rich in sugar and well ripened. This is a result not only of the climate, but also of the meticulous care of the vineyards. In Maremma, at the Val delle Rose Estate, the season was characterized by rains concentrated in May and a sunny summer. Here, too, the early harvest resulted in Merlot and Petit Verdot grapes with a good balance of acidity and ripeness, promising wines of great character.

Coevo vintage 2013

The 2013 harvest was marked by careful vineyard management, with manual defoliation and selection of the grapes, followed by rigorous double-checking in the winery to ensure maximum quality. After a maceration of about 20 days, with gentle extractions to preserve the elegance of the tannins, malolactic fermentation took place in steel. The wines of the different Coevo varieties aged separately for a year in barriques and tonneaux, before being blended and stored in wood for an additional 6 months. After bottling, the wine rests another year before release, achieving a perfect balance of structure and finesse.

Coevo vintage 2015

The grapes, harvested in a perfect state of ripeness, were selected both in the vineyard and in the winery to ensure maximum quality. Fermentation of the different varieties took place separately in steel, with maceration designed to extract balanced tannins while preserving sweetness and elegance. After racking, malolactic fermentation enhanced aromatic complexity, before the different plots aged for 12 months in French oak barriques and tonneaux. After blending, the wine rested another 6 months in wood and over a year in bottle, achieving perfect harmony between Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

Coevo vintage 2021

Winter 2021 was mild and punctuated with rainfall until at least the end of March, with the soil's water reserves being replenished. Sprouting occurred in the first weeks of April, with the growing cycle subsequently slowing down due to the generally cool weather. May and June saw frequent rains that accompanied regular flowering and fruit set. June opened the door to the summer season, which was essentially dry at least until the end of August, when some rains initiated excellent, slow ripening of the grapes. September and October, when the harvest of the two varieties took place, were sunny and warm with cool nights: ideal days to be able to plan a “tailor-made” harvest for Coevo's grapes.