Located high in the hills of Barberino Val d'Elsa in Chianti Classico, the splendid villa of Monsanto dominates the valley below.  Monsanto ("my saint") was named in honor of Saint Ruffiniano, who died here in 998 B.C., along with 150 other people involved in a battle. Castello di Monsanto is widely considered one of the top dozen Chianti Classico estates of today, especially if its top wine, the Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio, is mentioned