Chianti Classico Collection - Day 1: Chianti Classico
Gran Selezione
s'nIt’s day one of the Chianti Classico Collection tasting and I am faced with over 400 wines to try over 3 days. Some do it it in two. I will not taste all the wines. To even attempt to is a silly exercise in futility if you ask me. So what’s the plan?
In situations like this I like to start off with the most intense, biggest wines on day one. If palate fatigue sets in it will be less noticeable with easy styled wines with a lower tannic load, so this is my approach.
I will have about 8 hours of tasting this day and try and spend about 5 minute with each wine so my plan is to try roughly 80 wines. Over the course of 8 hours a lot can change with these wines. I can be tasting a different bottle than people before or after me will be. I can also be tasting the same bottle, that has been already poured a dozen or two dozen times. Wines that are delivered in the morning at cellar temperature are mostly at ambient temperature by the time I am poured my sample. There are lots of variables, so I would take my notes with a grain of salt.
How I taste.
Knowing I have time to tate about 80 wines I set up a plan the night before with the tasting catalogue. I create a list of the reference numbers for the wines I want to try and group them by sixes. In this tasting we are served by sommeliers, 6 wines at a time. I have worked out the timing fairly well so that I place my order via app when i stat tasting the fifth wine in my line-up and that usually leaves me a short break between me finishing the last 6 and being poured the next six. While the bottles poured are not concealed this is very close to a blind tasting format for me. I just confirm the wines’ reference numbers upon pouring, write my note and then add the detailed information for each wine at the end of the day.
I want to be perfectly transparent regarding my techniques because, as there often are, when blind tasting there are some real surprises! On the upside and the downside of course. If I have not scored your favorite wines well don’t worry. You should still like it. There are some objective measures to be communicated while critiquing wine, but personal preferences will always be the final arbiter of a qualitative opinion. And besides, if I can reduce the market for your favorite wines there’s more for you!
What follows is a top list in order of the score I awarded each wine followed by the raw scores and tasting notes in the order I tasted the wines. The order within the following list is simply the order in which I tasted the wines. As you can see I tested from youngest to oldest.
Have to give props to Castello di Meleto, their Vigna Poggiarso was amazing! I am surprised to see them, as well as Ricasoli’s Castello di Brolio finishing at the top of my list as I have not thought of these as top wines int he past. Lets hope this indicates a real change has happened and is not just some anomaly!
The rest of the list is really just mostly well known top producers, which should come as little surprise. Reading through the tasting notes I am struck my how many wines were simply delicious, but not up to the level of Gran Selezione. And about that.
I have never been a real fan of the new Gran Selezione category. It was kind of meaningless, though recent changes, the elimination of foreign grapes and the increase to 90% minimum for Sangiovese, definitely are moving the category in the right direction. For the first several years of the category the distinction in practice between Gran Selezione and the previous “top” wine, Chianti Classico Riserva was effectively nothing but labeling. Yes the criteria for the wines were somewhat different but all the Chianti Classico Riservas that made the switch over were obviously already satisfying the somewhat stricter criteria for CCGS. The only real effect the new label had was to help return some super Tuscans to the Chianti Classico fold.
Now that we are several years into this project I do see that there is a difference emerging between Chianti Classico Riserva and the Gran Selezione. In many, if not most cases I am not convinced that the difference is sufficient to justify the creation of a whole new category of wines, and a new pricing paradigm! But here is where we are, and the wines speak for themselves. I love the wines of Chianti Classico. I drink More Chianti Classico, of all stripes, than any other single type of wine. I am very strategic about budgeting, as I find so many great examples that remain priced well, which for me is under $50 a bottle with many still in the high twenties. I don’t “need” the more expensive wines, as much as I want them, so I forgo them and yet I am still left with an abundance of riches!
The joys of Chianti Classico!
96
2021 Castello di Meleto Vigna Poggiarso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
95
2022 Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna La Fornace Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Castello di Ama Vigneto Bellavista Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
94
2022 Castello di Querceto Il Picchio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna Contessa Luisa Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Isola delle Falcole Le Falcole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Le Filigare Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Le Cinciole Aluigi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Podere Castellinuzza Vecchie Vigne Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Vecchie Terre di Montefili Vigna nel Bosco Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Vecchie Terre di Montefili Vigna Vecchia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2019 Rocca di Montegrossi Vigneto San Marcellino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
93
2021 Castello di Cacchiano Millennio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna Bastignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Le Fonti - Panzano Le Fonti Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Nittardi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Querceto di Castellina Sei Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Castello di Monsanto Vigna Il Poggio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Querciabella Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2019 Bindi Sergardi Mocenni 89 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2019 Castellinuzza - Claudia Cinuzzi Castellinuzza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
92
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Badiola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Riecine Vigna Gittori Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Fontodi Terrazze San Leolino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Istine Vigna Istine Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Castellinuzza e Piuca Vigna Piuca Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Le Miccine Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2019 Cinciano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2018 Castello di Verrazzano "Sassello" Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2018 Fattoria di Petroio Poggio ai Grilli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
91
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Castello La Leccia Bruciagna Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Cafaggio Solatìo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Lamole di Lamole Vigneto di Campolungo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 San Felice Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2018 Podere Lecci e Brocchi MCMLXVII Celerarium Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Tasting notes in order of wines tasted.
2022 Antinori Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite perfumed, bright fruit, a subtle underlay ok oak lending base notes, a bit of a lactic quality, a touch of smokiness. Stick and showing some aggressive wood tannin early on the palate, there is a decent level of fruit here, but the wine is bitter and tannic, especially on the finish. A lot is obscured here at the moment but there is also some heat on the modest finish. 83pts
2022 Brancaia Brancaia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Oaky on the nose but in a fine shaved pencil way that is not offensive, but this could almost be Bordeaux. Shows some nice herbal character but little in the way of fruit. Smooth and silky in the mouth, definitely has an appealing texture and is relatively weightless on the palate. Tannins are abundant and fine, acidity offers good support to the subtle flavors of wild berry fruit and leather with a clay soil backdrop. Sour cherry fruit. Racy long, and fine if sleek and modern. 88pts
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Badiola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Soil driven aromas are framed with hints of dried citrus, green herbs and black fruits. A larger scaled wine, quite bright and juicy on the palate, offers good tension, richness and transparency, There’s lots of succulent, juicy fruit here, rather dark cherry and wild berry toned with great persistence on the palate. Tannins are well polished but this retains a wildness and exuberance of Sangiovese, just a lovely expression of fruit, almost flamboyant, and long with just the slightest degree of stickiness on the finish which is quite citrussy and full of red berry, slightly candied cherry/ blood orange fruit. Delicious, if not terribly complex. 92pts
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Castello Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Reticent on the nose and rather gamy and leathery, dry, stony soil aromas, brown galestro, and dried herbs complete the bouquet. Bright and vibrant in the mouth, quite electric with just a bit too much zestiness perhaps, but pair it at the table and that will tame this. Tannins are modest, natural feeling and in need of only a year or two. Modest finish turns more structural, with slightly plummy fruit, very dusty and soil driven. Quite classic wine 89pts
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rather reticent nose, Warm, dark, slightly jammy berry fruits are topped with a faint dark earthy mocha note and a mineral grace note. Well balanced, fine balance in fact, more mineral driven in the mouth, a bit compact with a touch of density on the palate. The flavors are on the darker side, dark berries and plum notes. Some blueberry even. Good length, a bit chunky, tannins are firm, dusty, yet well covered by the fruit. The fruit in that dark/blue vein shows fine persistence. 91pts
2022 Castello di Querceto Il Picchio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Exotic, pomegranate, stone, tobacco, orange marmalade, raspberry, great aromatics. Rich but elegant on entry, fine grained tannins, good succulent acidity, tension and transparency in the mouth, the nose is more interesting than the palate at present but the fruit and minerality ooze out on the moderately long finish. Really fine example of a powerful wine showing great restraint. Just so refined yet with the wild spirit of sangiovese intact. 94pts
2021 Capraia Effe 55 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Woody and balsamic on the nose, it’s not terribly oaky but distinctively so, it’s very crude wood smells, Rich, plump and bright in the mouth, though anchored with some wood tannins that reach to the back of the mouth. Has a nice richness to the fruit, and the oak is not terribly aggressive, though the wine feels like it was made with minimal fruit tannins so the wood tannins do stick out here and this shows a touch of heat on the modest finish. Jammy, kind of easy going, frooty style. 85pts
2022 Castello di Querceto La Corte Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite precise dark cherry fruit on the nose is framed with basaltic soil aromas, black sooty and dark, along with some emerging sottobosco and a fine thread of wood spice. A bit lean on entry, while showing a slight hint of over extraction, but this is rather sleek and finely balanced, delivering plenty of dark berry/cherry fruit, with tons of dusty, but rather supple tannins and enough acidity to keep this fresh, if not exciting. Has the finest edge of rusticity to it. Pleasant wine. 88pts
2022 Famiglia Zingarelli Tenuta Fizzano, Il Crocino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Smells rusty, wiry, balsamic, dried herbal, fresh leather, and cool alpine florals. Light on entry, rather zippy in the mouth, theres some fruit on the palate, but this is a savory wine, Not unpleasant, a bit coarse with some rambunctious tannins, and a moderately long finish that features dusty soil tones and hints of dried herbs. An archetype old school CCR. 87pts
2022 Fèlsina Rancia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Slightly volatile, varnish, very darkly spiced, coal camphor, toasted anise seed, atypical. Smooth and supple in the mouth, it is better in the mouth, a bit attenuated, and flat with dusty tannins that clip the finish. Feels like it’s trying too hard, there are some decent fruit, herb, and soil flavors here but this is over extracted. 82pts
2022 Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Balsamic, dark fruit, fresh cut oily herbs, beautiful nose of a warm climate, rich soil Chianti Classico. With just a hint of green citrus peel. Supple, exemplary balance with rich fruit and herbal flavors on the palate, tending towards the darker end of the spectrum. The acidity is really juicy but so well woven into the wine and there is more than enough covering mass to conceal the significant if pleasantly ripe tannins, but the wine retains finesse, with a long and detailed finish that turns more soil driven. A top wine, and one that should age well for 8-12 years. 95pts
2021 Riecine Vigna Gittori Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rather high toned and herb stem and wood pile driven aromas frame a core of modest red fruit. All backed with a drop of wood spice. Racy, has a sinewy elegance to it, retains a lovely core of light red fruit, wrapped in dusty tannins gaining leathery and dried herb, juniper nuance in the mouth. Really very long and elegant wine, one that may not win a big line-up but is undeniably seductive, I’m not sure this is really GS level, but it epitomizes the soulfulness and ease of the top CC. Juicy wild berry fruit, Love this though it does shows just a hint of warmth on the finish. 92pts
2021 Castello di Albola Il Solatio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Mysterious on the nose, rich, earthy with lots of dried herb and a slightly walnutty character. With a smoky, almost peaty accent note. Juicy and medium rich in style. Lovely brightness and transparency to the fruit on the palate which is well framed with savory elements but retains a bright, juicy, red currant, lingonberry fruitiness. A wine that is quite approachable, and classic in style. 88pts
2021 Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite ripe on the nose with lots of plummy, dark fruity character as well as subtle accents of VA, and wood spice, vanillin. Broad on entry, weighty and important in style, chewy and fairly rich in the mouth with lots of sweet, plummy and almost pruny, very ripe fruit. The wine is bright and fresh with a slight excess of wood tannin, but nothing that obscures the fruit, dried herb, and heathery floral nature of this. Finishes with decent length and that super ripe fruity sweetness before the tannins clamp down, notably on the cheeks. Not my style but well done. 91pts
2021 Castello di Cacchiano Millennio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Woodsy and balsamic on the nose, intense with notes of older and/or large format wood lending complexity, slightly exotic, blackberry, boysenberry and marionberry fruits. Rich on entry, firm, slightly austere, slightly older styled though with plenty of balsamic character, quite strong actually, with bitter cherry fruit. Distinctive and very long on the palate. Noble tannins, elegance in a slightly rustic register, I like this more than most will. Needs food. 93pts
2021 Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit lactic and volatile on the nose, with black berries, pencil lead, and black currant fruits. Super silky, if slightly matte on entry, then wood tannins and slight bitterness emerge on the palate obscuring black cherry and black plummy fruitiness, Seems very serious and stern, like it wants to hurt you. The finish is rather surprisingly long considering the importance of the tannins, indicating that there is probably sufficient substance here to age well, but a feel like this will just slowly fade away. Not for me 84pts
2021 Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Slightly smoky on the nose with lots of jammy dark, frutti del bosco notes along with some lovely citrussy top notes. Rich, fairly powerful in style but also quite fresh with lots of red fruit showing good detail on the palate. The tannins clamp down, pinching the cheeks, but remain rather sweet and not unpleasant. The finish is sour cherried, tart raspberry fruits, moderately long and turning dusty on the finale. A bit on the young side but entirely pleasant if not distinctive. 91pts
2021 Castello di Meleto Vigna Poggiarso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Showing oaky, toasted nutty, and salted plum aromas, dried meat, with balsamic top notes. Smooth and rich in the mouth, yet retaining a racy feel. Very lively on the palate, with lots of ripe, slightly exotic red fruits, sour cherry, pomegranate, wow, great lift on the back end with fantastic succulence to the finish where the tannins show their ripeness and polish. It’s a tannic wine, but with outstanding harmony already. The nose and palate are not aligned though, the nose showing much more crudely, still this is superb in the mouth, so much energy, cut and delineation. A joy to drink. 96pts
2021 Castello di Volpaia Il Puro - Casanova Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit mocha and decidedly herbal on the nose with a touch of black olive to the rather dark fruit tones. Rich, slightly chewy and perhaps a bit heavy in style. A powerhouse, with enough acidity to keeps this balanced but it lacks liveliness in the mouth. Broad, and deep, with a hint of old vininess to it, it has plenty of dark fruit, and fairly good balance though it drops of quickly on the finish where it leaves the mouth with slightly grittiness and a hint of coffee grounds. Foursquare middle of the road quality, nice but not distinctive with too much weight and a hint of heat. 87pts
2021 Castello La Leccia Bruciagna Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark and bit nutty on the nose, black fruit, slight VA, black plum, summer truffle, and pomegranate. Sleek, silky on the palate, matte and slightly impenetrable as well. It’s very well balanced, has a sinewiness to it as it glides across the palate, but the core is so tightly bound that it reveals just some ripe plumminess on the palate. Long, again the balance is impressive, lovely with real elegance on the finale, but this is not ready for prime time. Give it 2-4 years before yout try it. It should prove very popular as it is traditional but in rather refined style. My score may prove to be too conservative. 91pts
2021 Castello Vicchiomaggio Le Bolle Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
High toned, spicy cherry pie tones, a bit of toasty pasrty as well, very patisserie, some fenugreek and fresh leafy herb notes lend some complexity. On the lighter end of the spectrum in the mouth though with a core of rather weighty tannins. More than slightly rustic, but with a kernal of pleasant red fruits, leading to a modest, dusty, mineral and leathery finish. There is a pleasant sweetness to the fruit here, but the tannins are rather outsized and definitely dominate the finish here. Rustic and in need of food, 86pts
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna Bastignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
An intense herbal tincture, extract of flowers and roots, witches brew nose here. Intense, slightly candied violet tones, Slightly smoky, great start. The palate is tight, but well balanced, showing a certain weightiness but remaining elegant and finely balanced. Turning fairly tannic and austere on the long finish with light fruitiness that manages to match the tannins through the finale. Theres a lovely wild fruitiness here as well. A wine for the cellar in need of 3-5 years and will improve for the following decade. Definitely on the wild, savory side of things. 93pts
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna Contessa Luisa Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Earthy, warm, mocha tinged plummy fruit, with plenty of briary complexity., and a hint of blanched almond. Tight and elegant in the mouth, an early note of mushroominess lends complexity to the white cherry, austere and refined fruit. Elegant and trim, with pleasant lift on the palate and an airy, long, yet firm finish. Captures some alpine floral, meadow notes in the mouth, and ends with fine, dusty, mineral tannins and succulence. Power, elegance, and finesse. 94pts
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna La Fornace Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Camphor, cool and compact on the nose with minty, wild herb, and polleny aromas. A bit compressed in the mouth, rich with ripe tannins, dusty soil tones, and great transparency, Gorgeous wine in the mouth, very complex and nuanced, shows light but clear wild berry, white raspberry fruit, with great mineral and dried herb inflections. The tannins are gorgeous, firm, ever so slightly austere, but not detracting in anyway from the wine as a whole. Features a long, sinewy and feathering finish. A racy wine of elegance and finesse with real depth of flavor. Gorgeous, give it a year or three then enjoy it for the following decade. 95pts
2021 Dievole Vigna Sessina Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rich and sweet with pudding like tones on the nose, topped with lots of green herbal attributes and polleny florality. Rich, yet lively in the mouth, rather playful even, tannins are definitely well moderated and the acidity is juicy and well integrated lending the whole package a juicy, citrussy tone alongside the light but pure cherry/strawberry fruits. A ready to drink wine, fine, fairly traditional and easy going if still firmly youthful. A safe choice. 89pts
2021 Famiglia Zingarelli Sergio Zingarelli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite extract of roots and leafy greens, Very complex, very savory aromas, lots of juniper and minerality with just a hint of ripe, dark, chocolatey fruit. A bit plump in the palate, though with some cut, theres a lot of the same savory notes here with tannins that feel a bit extracted, showing some bitterness and clipping the finish which shows some nice chalky, clay tones. Chewy and dry. 87pts
2021 Fèlsina Colonia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Plenty of oak here, pencil lead, some leafiness, lots of tobacco, Does not smell like CC. Sleek if slightly compressed on the palate, but racy and fine if chewy with tannins. Theres something to be said for this, it’s a style that has broad appeal, and is well done in a rather anonymous, international way. It feels familiar, and the Sangiovese is trying to assert itself, but in the end it’s just to tannic and dry from the wood. 85pts
2021 Fontodi Pastrolo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dirty old wood aromas greet the nose, along with hints of briar, dry clay earth, and sour plums. Smooth and fairly rich in the mouth, theres a plumpness here that makes this slightly clumsy along with an extraction of tannins that contributes to that clumsiness, the flavors of sour plum and cherry try to seep out on the palate, but are constrained by the tannins, which shorten the finish a bit as well. The finish does show some hints of nice fruitiness in an earthy register but this just isn’t well knit. 83pts
2021 Fontodi Terrazze San Leolino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit tight on the nose with gentle hints of tobacco, briar, cedar, and spiced dark berry fruit. Rather elegant and refined in the mouth, this is tannic but the tannins are ripe and well managed, with enough acidity to keep this lively on the tongue, but in a slightly richer, if firm style. The finish is quite long and shows off the great refinement of the tannins, with a pleasant juiciness highlighting the subtle spiced cherry fruit with hints of anise seed, juniper, and plum skin joining in on the finale. Not the most complex, but I do like this for it’s firm decisiveness on the palate. 92pts
2021 Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Earthy clay, dry mediterranean herbal notes grace the nose along with cherries jubilee, Supple if firmly tannic with tannins that are generally well covered by the weight here. This is a bit soft, and languid in the mouth, tannic and sticky across the palate, A moderately big but chewy wine, full of bright berry fruit, minerality and hints of dry herbs, but it is a chore to drink. Clumsy. 84pts
Second bottle tasted later that day:
Reticent and stony on the nose, crushed berries, asphalt, and stone. Very tense in the mouth, not showing much at this stage, full of ripe tannins, and great depth on the palate, theres a depth here that is impressive, the fruit is rather monumental, if slightly monotone at the same time, deep, brambly blackberry black cherry fruit shows all power and purity with really modest complexity in the mouth, more on the nose, it’s quite firm if well unbalanced but needs 3-5 years of cellaring to blossom. 91pts
2021 Gagliole Gallule Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Warm cherry pie and drying herb aromas greet the nose followed by a slight balsamic inflection and older wood tones. A bit in a happy, fruity style, juicy enough, slightly plump. Has some fruit weight to it, but remains rather playful and bright in the mouth with tannins that pop across the palate, slightly dry but well balanced. Decent length with some bitter cherry notes layering over the red fruit on the finish. A pleasant blend of slight rusticity and playful fruit. 88pts
2021 Il Molino di Grace Il Margone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit volatile, black fruited, caraway, black spiced, and aggressive smelling wine. Rich and polished in the mouth, a touch languid but not unpleasantly so as the fruit here is sour toned, lending the moderate acidity some pronounced character, blackberry and black cherry flavors linger on the long finish. This is rathe focused and long but not particularly complex. 88pts
2021 Il Poggiolino Le Balze Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit toasty on the nose, A touch of volatility, latex paint, dark frutti del bosco, iron rich leafy greens. A bit clenched on entry, quite transparent and lively in the mouth, tannins are rather well polished if slightly dry still lending a firmness to the palate, where light red fruit reveals itself leading to a modest though fresh finish with hints of sandy soil, light red fruit and fresh herbs. Better than the sum of its parts, really quite pleasant and attractive. 89pts
2021 Isola delle Falcole Le Falcole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark and earthy, show's some herbal extract along with aromas of wild blueberry, cigar tobacco, blue floral notes and some inkiness. Rich and polished in the mouth, blueberry upfront, a powerful style of wine though not weighty, Very ripe fruit but still fresh with power and purity covering a core of impressive minerality, great length here with strawberry seeds, and slight jammy strawberry fruit tones through the power. Tannins are firm but ripe, really gorgeous, firm, compact but refined style. 94pts
2021 Istine Vigna Istine Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Lovely nose, slightly high toned, but all mediterranean herbs, loose, dry, chalky soil, polleny flowers, and yellow fruits. Very natural smelling. Shows some intensity and glycerine richness early on the palate followed by flavors that mirror the nose. Amarena cherry, lovely wine, unfettered, long open and detailed, atypical as it’s not trying to be all red fruited, but boy is this fun to drink and offers zesty mouth cleansing flavors, finishes a bit short but still noteworthy. 92pts
2021 Le Filigare Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit of oak greets the nose, followed by green herbal, fennel seed notes a hint of meatiness, and black fruitiness. Oh this is rich, and opulent in the mouth, lots of black fruity tones are well framed by earthy notes, finely managed tannins, great integrated acidity. A bit plummy in tone, but with terrific drive and focus this is juicy and with just enough polish to lend it a hint of modernism, but it retains the wild nature of Sangiovese. Very vibrant finish, real power here, a great candidate for the cellar. 94pts
2021 Le Fonti - Panzano Le Fonti Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Nicely floral with a core of wild berry fruit, wild plums, and a gentle oaky backbone. Juicy on entry, supple tannins, easy going, if sinewy and long, with some energy in the mouth. There's good transparency here, revealing lots of wild flower and loose dry soil tones. Loving this, it’s not that powerful, relays more on savory complexity for interest,. Easy to drink with great inner mouth perfumes on the long, nuanced finish. A light touch, give me more of this. 93pts
2021 Luiano Ottantuno Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Gamy, leathery, and intense, dark and mysterious, a touch of reduction, dark fruit streaked with black olive tones and incipient mushroominess. Compact in the mouth, short, feels closed but also a bit lifeless. I’ll try this again but it has an extracted, inky feel to it that is not promising. JR
Second bottle tasted later that day:
Very fragrant, lots of florality and citrussy aromas along with, wild middle eastern spice notes. Coriander and even some cumin. Larger scaled but well balanced and its pulling it off nicely. Deep and vinous on the palate, has as lightly old viney feel, good minerality, ripe tannins, integrated acidity, all come together nicely ont eh modest finish. Theres good complexity here, and it does deliver a certain degree of power, but it’s on the clumsy side with little elegance or finesse. 87pts
2021 Nardi Viticoltori Vigna del Pino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Wild berry fruit, roasting chestnuts, moist earth, and minty herbal notes greet the nose. Smooth and supple in the mouth, with nice acidity, but this is dark, earthy, finishes a bit short, Theres pleasant fruit here, but it’s a bit simple, and too dusty on the palate.Rustic and a touch coarse. 84pts
2021 Nittardi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Fine berry fruit here with attractive mineral back notes, a bit of pencil lead and black olive perhaps but also porcini, and dried oily herbs. Lively in the mouth, firmly midweight and elegant with some nuanced power here. Theres good transparency here, a tannin that is firm, yet not quite dry, Lovely elegant, and refined wine that has a core of pure, transparent, cherry and wild berry fruit with good persistence. Lively, youthful wine, should age well, Has great energy and drive, finishes with firm minerality and dried herbs. So Succulent. 93pts
2021 Pomona L'Omino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Aromas of oily herbs, briar, and black fruit greet the nose. Wild berry fruit with salted plum accents. A more austere and stern style, firm and poised on the palate with black fruit and tannins that are a bit on the dry side lending this an austere feel. Dry on the finish where the tannins dominate even if they are not super aggressive, There seems to be a core of fruit here, but it’s all wrapped up in tannins, could surprise on the upside but I’m not convinced. 90pts
2021 Querceto di Castellina Sei Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Lots of chestnuty old wood aromas, mushroomy, cellar floor, and sour dark fruit tones. A bit of an old school nose. Rich on entry, offering great cut while at the same time delivering plenty of dark, rich fruitiness. There’s a fine mineral edge that leads from the midpalate through the long, lithe finish, juicy, great tannins are supportive of the fruit but well concealed, Subtle power with great depth of fruit and an old vine feel. Needs another 2-3 years in the cellar but should have along life after, has plenty of fruit but with great freshness. 93pts
2020 Altiero Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Warm and slightly vegetal on the nose with a strawberry/rhubarb pie kind of tone to it. Fairly complex with a medicinal cast to the vegetal tones. A bit soft in the mouth, but retaining tension on the palate and offering a rather transparent, and certainly tense impression with small, precise black berry fruits on the palate leading to a more medicinal, and again slightly vegetal finish. The tannins here are slightly cutting and aggressive, but they do not impinge on the fruits across the palate. Though this does end up being slightly on the dry and austere end of the spectrum. And a bit chewy through the finish. 90pts
2020 Cafaggio Solatìo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Lightly fragrant on the nose with subtle wafts of dried flower, iris, honeycomb, and butchers wax supporting delicate astringent red fruits with hints of smokiness wrapping it all up. A moderately rich entry is surprising after the nose, plenty of glycerine here to lend this roundness, though the flavors remain distinctly on the delicate, floral, and natural end of the spectrum. There is something vaguely medicinal about this, lovely crisp tannins, good supporting acidity, fruit that shows delicacy in the light red and yellow end of the spectrum. Eminently drinkable, a nuanced and unfettered wine. 91pts
2020 Carpineta Fontalpino Vigna Dofana Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit of older wood greets the nose followed by some high toned minerality, pencil lead, black fruits, and a subtle balsamic extract. Supple in the mouth with a slightly weighty feel to it, this is a little chewy and extracted in the mouth. It’s a dark, dense, extracted tasting wine, with firm, if ripe tannins and finely integrated acidity. Perhaps a vin de garde, it certainly feels like a wine for the cellar, though is is a bit to chewy even at this point for my preference, and finishes a little on the short side with those extracted flavors. A bit overdone. 87pts
2020 Carpineta Fontalpino Vigna Montaperto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Smells slightly old woody and decidedly leathery with some spicy dark berry plummy fruit tones. Rich and rather polished on entry, though retaining good transparency on the palate. Theres a bit of austerity here, but the palate reveals fine layers of minerality, herbal, and floral notes. There’s a fair bit of tannin here, not outsized but important, while this has rather delicate fruit, and is more of a savory wine, where it has plenty of nuance and interest. Could call this a cerebral wine, not a crowd pleaser. 89pts
2020 Castagnoli Salita Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Showing an almondy oxidative note, with a deep herbal extract aroma and cooked fruit. A bit soft on entry, oxidized in the mouth as well, with terribly extracted tannins, extremely chewy, palate staining herbal and cooked fruit flavors. Unacceptable
Notes on a second bottles tried later that day.
A bit caramelly with a hint of oxidation. A bit tired in the mouth as well, and dried out. Theres lots of fruit here, but it’s a bit hot and has cooked fruit and caramelly flavors. Not good.
2020 Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rather taut smelling, dried herbs, powdery minerality, some white floral notes. A rather relaxed example, open and fluid in the mouth, delicate with gently astringent red fruits, some polleny elements, an emerging suppleness on the long finish, Tannic but with a ripeness to the tannins, lacks a bit of freshness of flavor but is rather pleasant 87pts
2020 Castellinuzza e Piuca Vigna Piuca Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Richly perfumed with plenty of plump , dark, wild berry fruit but also a real intensity of chestnut, anise seed, dried herbs and some fresher sage notes. Bright and vibrant on entry, zesty with tannins that seem just a bit too aggressive, but the fruit on the palate manages to keep up with the tannins, and offers of the great intensity of savory characteristics found on the nose. A deep, savory and richly flavored wine of medium full proportions with good length, this is not a beginners CC, but should be quite interesting to a more terroir driven audience. Could be a bit longer 92pts
2020 Castello di Ama Vigneto Bellavista Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark, rich with herbal extract aromas but also shows fine mineral notes and black fruitiness. Smells well balanced! Quite a wine, lots of dry extract, but the tannins are well moderated, lending this a powerful but not weighty feel. It’s slightly dark and mysterious, very slightly chewy today, but with impressive depth of flavor on the palate revealing dark cherry, herbal, earthy, leather and dried floral notes. A rare wine that melds power and elegance, this is very attractive and should only become better with an addition 2-5 years of bottle age. Lovely and very complex with a fine blend of savory and fruity characteristics. 95pts
2020 Castello di Monsanto Vigna Il Poggio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Smells quite of potpourri, dried balsamic notes, floral, wild berries, cherries, iris, and sage. Juicy on entry, lithe in the mouth, supple yet abundant tannins support a finely rendered core of willowy yellow and light red fruits along with gentle floral notes and a fine savory soil element. This is very well balanced, with real verve in the mouth, love drinking this. Finishes with a slight excess of tannin, but the delicate fruit ultimately wins out on the finale. Needs food today but a fine rendition of a unfettered expression of site. With lovely nuanced flavors and real succulence. 93pts
2020 Fattoria Santo Stefano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A little wood mars the nose which shows off aromas of dark, slightly cooked plummy fruit with licorice and beefy framing notes. Rather large scaled on entry, though not terribly weighty, this is very vertical in the mouth but oddly slender. The flavors offer a rather one-two step of riper fruit and soil tones which linger through the moderately long finish. An off wine, not unpleasant but ultimately too dry, and narrow on the palate. Time could provide an upside surprise. 84pts
2020 I Fabbri - Susanna Grassi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rather fruity on the nose with strong aromas of wild cherries, a little heathery dried herb base note and some cedary framing notes. Focused and taut on the palate, showing some age to it with flavors that are a bit bronzy. Tannins are still firm, the wine exhibits a certain delicacy that the tannins detract from, The flavors of bitter cherry, wild flower, and dried citrus zest are decidedly appealing, but the tannins are just a bit outsized, while the acidity keeps this lively and fresh in the mouth, Needs food, a bit of a tough slog, but I do like the general profile here. 88pts
2020 Lamole di Lamole Vigna Grospoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Fairly dusty and mineral toned on the nose with a nice undertone of dark frutti di bosco, a shaving of dark chocolate, and dried floral notes. Transparent and rather tense in the mouth. Lovely medium bodied feel, tannins are ripe and in proportion, acidity is well integrated, this is juicy and lively on the palate with a delicate red fruitiness that grows across the palate and drives through the finish. The tannins are so well judged and ripe here that there fall into the background. All in all a delicate rendition of CCGS, nuanced and seductive with a fine soil note filling out the long, detailed finish. 92pts
2020 Lamole di Lamole Vigneto di Campolungo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Deep, slightly plummy, slight cooked fruit but with a lemon peel twist, baked poppy seeds, caraway, Lovely aromatic complexity. A bit tannic in the mouth, firm, with good tension, but the wine is rather stern, if not without some elegance. The flavors are all wrapped up in the tannins. There’s decent length to the finish, but this is not revealing that much. It’s an ambitious wine, shows a touch of heat on the finish, but should resolve well with an additional 2-3 years in the bottle. 91pts
2020 Lanciola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Herbal, savory, tobacco rich aromatics with great intensity. Smoooth, rather supple example, has a touch of density to it, and deep flavors that mirror the nose with all the herbal extract, and floral notes one could wish for along with faint cinnamony baking spice notes. Well balanced, decent length, lovely complexity and nuance in a lovely, elegant, midweight package. 90pts
2020 Le Cinciole Aluigi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Darkly fruited but still in the berry register with great tobacco nuances and dried mediterranean herbal accent notes. Powerful, yet transparent and with real depth on the palate. This has tension and cut, with an old viney feel. Delivers excellent, precise flavors with power and elegance. Fine length as well where the suppleness of the abundant tannins becomes evident. This can already be enjoyed but should improve over the medium term, Just love the blend of power, finesse and detail here. 94pts
2020 Le Miccine Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Tobacco and candied berry fruit aromas join together here along with a dusty, white chalkiness. A bit soft and indistinct in the mouth, with fine tannins, and good acidity helping to drive the moderately long finish, this lacks a little life on the palate, and comes off as a little simple at first, but really opens, slowly, unfurling more detailed red fruit flavors, nuanced soil notes, and a fine vegetal cast with some air. A sneaky wine, easy to dismiss at first glance this rewards attention. Nuanced, and subtle with persistence to the subtle fruits on the finale. 92pts
2020 Ormanni Etichetta Storica Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark, slightly oaky, and decidedly mineral on the nose, turns oakier with air. Soft, almost opulent with olive tones to the dark fruit on the palate. It’s a fairly big wine, but has a suppleness to it, that should prove widely appealing. The tannins are a little coarse, and this is simple and slightly chewy, though easy to drink, and obvious in its presentation of red fruit, herbs, and tobacco, nutty notes. A bit of a crowd pleaser. A touch rustic. 89pts
2020 Podere Castellinuzza Vecchie Vigne Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Lovely florality greets the nose followed by fine, dark berry fruit, shaved dark chocolate, a hint of pomegranate and some cured meat tones. Delicate on entry, this is a lithe example, that rather floats across the palate, its a bit on the tannic, dry austere end of the spectrum but delivers plenty of intense wild berry, herbal, and bitter soil tones that linger on the rather long finish. Very juicy and fresh, the tannins are notable but natural feeling and with rounding edges. Nuanced and complex, a lovely blend of elegance with a hint of rusticity and a super subtle biter tone that I find very appealing. Captivating. 94pts
2020 Podere Il Palazzino Argenina Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Sweetly fruited, lots of dark berry and slightly plummy fruit that is fresh and sweet, dried porcini, leather, toasted pignoli, with a slight beet top note. Lots of sweet fruit in the mouth as well, a bit darker and more extracted than the nose suggests, it’s a slightly muscular style, deep with palate staining intensity of slightly bitter, herbal and fruity notes. Definitely an ambitious wine, but it’s just a little too forced and shows some heat on the finish. Has potential. 89pts
2020 Querciabella Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Floral, fresh and fragrant on the nose, quite complex and nuanced, with a lovely, gently spicy complexion. Opulent on entry, underpinned by firm tannins but this is really quite generous while retaining a freshness of character, not too fruity, well balanced by dusty minerality, yellow flowers, and a hint of honeycomb that leans toward incense. Easy to drink, firm but not dry, long and lithe, So perfumed in the nose, love this style. 93pts
2020 Renzo Marinai Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark fruit, rich earth, slightly caramelly tone on the nose with some candied herb and cured meat aromas. Moderately powerful, shows a whisper of oxidation in the mouth, mocha tones and sightly sweet seeming. The tannins here are dry and have a coffee quality to them, and while the fruit tries to hang on through the finish this turns a bit bitter and distinctly dry on the finale. A bit clumsy. 82pts
2020 Rocca di Castagnoli Stielle Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Leathery and meaty on the nose with framing notes of fresh green herbs and lime and orange citrus zest. Rich and smooth in the mouth with a real sense of polish. There’s an underlying note of evolution here, which seems a bit at odds with the decidedly tannic nature of this wine. Rather classic with more fragrance than flavor and more tannin than fruit, but not at all atypical for an old school CCR. Tannins are dry. 89pts
2020 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Delicately fragrant on the nose with aromas of wild cherry, tea, light brown soil tones, dried herbs and a citrus zest note. A slightly smaller scaled wine, yet one that is rich and slightly chewy, has some weight to it, Classic almost mature CCR, dark fruit notes, incipient leather tones, emerging clarity on the finish, Some herbal accents, tannic and slightly rustic but with a sense of refinement. I would use this to teach a class on CC. Just classic wine. 91pts
2020 San Felice Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
This smells of capers. An odd nose, savory and very gastronomic. Sundried tomatoes, green olive, like a smorgasbord for the nose. A touch flat on the palate, supple with a sense of richness and much more fruity in the mouth where a nice layer of the berry fruit joins the savory aspects. Long finish shows the firmness of the polished tannins and the acidity which offers fine brightness here. A bit wild toned, sauvage, with maybe a hint of gaminess on the palate, it’s certainly complex and interesting. 91pts
2020 Savignola Paolina 360° Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Really inviting nose, like a bowl of warm berries with briary accents and a generally brambly tone, supported by a gentle sweetness of wood spice. A touch loose in the mouth, quite lovey and giving though this lacks some tension. It’s not at all overdone so it feels fine, but I wish it were a bit livelier. The flavors are terrific, lots of wild berry fruits,a touch of salinity, minerality, fine brambly fruit, The wood treatment is slightly obvious but really offers contrast to the fruit and contributes some spicy complexity to the moderately long finish. 90pts
2020 Tenuta Perano - Frescobaldi Rialzi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit of a sharpened pencil woodiness here on the nose. Smells flashy and modern with jellied dark berry fruit tones gaining sweetness from the wood treatment, with some nice leathery undertones. Smooth, polished and refined in the mouth, a bit better in the mouth than the nose suggests, certain has lovely fruit intact, but the wood tannin intrudes on the palate, dry and austere, dominating the finish as well, though some juicy bright red fruit does slip out. It’s probably a very popular wine, certainly a popular style, but just doesn't do it for me. 87pts
2020 Vecchie Terre di Montefili Vigna nel Bosco Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite fragrant, shows a slightly oaky covering note over the core of woodsy fruit with balsamic and floral aspects. Powdery tannins on the palate, this is moderately large scaled, big but with real depth on the palate, lots of mineral notes, chewy and deep, with plenty of tannins that are rather sweet. The acidity lends lift to what could be a heavy wine, theres some salinity here, limestone nerviness emerging on the palate, This is a vin de garde, powerful but well balanced and with tannins that will soften in sync with the fruit. 94pts
2020 Vecchie Terre di Montefili Vigna Vecchia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Gorgeous nose, so fragrant and full of dark wild berries, leather, dried flowers, and balsamic undertones. A bit softer on entry than the nose would suggest, rather full and weighty even, but with lively tannins and integrated acidity that keeps this lively in the mouth. This is packed with rich flavors, dried berry fruit, balsamic tones, leather notes, deep and long with a growing herbal extract note on the finish. One of the more powerful wines of the day. Fresh and pure but a wine for the cellar. Very slightly chewy, the weight gives the impression of a more chewy wine but this has innate harmony helping it pull it off. 94pts
2020 Villa Rosa e Villa Cerna Villa Rosa Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Here’s a wine that is talking about it’s place. Great salty, mineral notes, paired with lingonberry toned red fruit, very heathery, feels windy and barren where this was grown. Lighter styled, lively on the palate, tannins are well rounded, an easygoing style of classical proportions. I would not call this GS, but it’s very pleasant, taut, lean, slightly austere, a solid old school CCR 88pts
2020 Viticcio Prunaio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Slightly jammy and sweet on the nose with pencil lead, licorice, and bay leaf aromas. A bit loose on the palate, pleasant, and fresh enough with tannins that are pliant if slightly dry. A nicely austere, example that shows plenty of bitter berry fruit, good length, a bit wild berry, slightly chewy, a touch on the lean side with anice finish that is rather dusty and shows tight wild berry fruit notes a bit of an extract berry tone. 90pts
2019 Bindi Sergardi Mocenni 89 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A beautiful mature Chianti nose, complex and nuanced, retaining fruit but rather wide open in its expression of camphor, tobacco, earth, and toasted nuts. Lovely bottle sweetness on entry, rainier cherry and lingonberry fruit, delicate yet with almost a sense of flamboyance. Juicy and pure and wide open. Tannins are still present, though the fade through the finish, leaving the palate with a succulent, if savory array of flavors fanning out on the finale. Lovely and at peak, a refined wine. 93pts
2019 Castellinuzza - Claudia Cinuzzi Castellinuzza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Smells a bit of concrete and clay, briar and dark berry fruit, anise seed, caraway, rosemary. Strict on entry, rather unforgiving but exhibiting excellent balance, rapier like as it cuts across the palate. Lovely detail and tension here. This is close to peak, maybe needs another year or two, yet retains real depth of fruit, and is developing tertiary characteristics slowly on the palate, still rather fruit driven. Leans a bit towards the modernist side of things perhaps, has some juniper and growing balsamic tones in the mouth, but overall is rather sleek and elegant, like a tight black leather glove. 93pts
2019 Castello di Radda Vigna il Corno Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit nutty, quite blue floral, blue fruited, quite fresh and lively on the nose. A bit easy going, rich but not weighty, firm but not tannic, Near peak with pleasant flavors of moderate depth and a light, dusty finish. This will not offend anyone, it’s got some fruit, a little complexity, just a little of everything but nothing truly distinctive or outstanding. It’s still kind of delicious and a pleasure to drink. Very safe bet. 88pts
2019 Cinciano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A nutty and slightly tarry nose, shows some cooked fruitiness, along with lots of dusty soil, polleny floral notes. Smoot in the mouth, supple yet with good tension across the palate, Resolving nicely and revealing tons of nuanced soil amd floral notes laid under the core of tart berry fruit which has great resonance on the long, savory, focused finish. A bit smaller scaled, but this is in my wheelhouse, offering great balance between the fruit, savory, terroir driven notes, ripe tannins and juicy acidity. May lack fruit for some palates but just needs the right food to shine. 92pts
2019 Podere Il Palazzino Grosso Sanese Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Darkly fruited with some preserved lime notes and sagey framing notes along with a dollop of cigar ash. A bit extracted with the tannins, has a nice midbodied feel, but the tannins are outsized and aggressive. This is just too tannic, very aggressive and drying with a finish that is dominated by tannins. Chewy and dense if not that heavy. Might resolve but I wouldn’t count on it. 80pts
2019 Rocca di Montegrossi Vigneto San Marcellino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Cigar wrapper and mocha notes greet the nose followed by some black olive streaks through black fruit with a pencil lead top note. Shows good tension in the mouth and a fine edge to the abundant tannins. The fruit is quite clear at its core, wild red berry and slightly plummy toned. This is surprisingly firm, and yet retains good transparency on the palate and through the long finish where the tannins begin to recede allowing the fruit to emerge with good precision and freshness. Theres a disconnect between the nose and the palate which comes off as more typical and traditional, but this is really quite good, young and on the cusp of maturity, complex, nuanced, and with a certain elegance. 94pts
2018 Castello di Verrazzano "Sassello" Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Deep, with moist soil driven aromas and black spice notes, poppy seeds and caraway, has lots of plummy black fruit, A bit loose on entry, but this is deep and powerful rich with flavors that follow the nose, black spicy fruit, an extract of herbs, lots of ripe and fine grained tannins, lots, with acidity that arrives later on the palate. This is powerful and deep, not an easy wine and still in need of 2-5 years in the cellar, but it should emerge as a refined, if tertiary example of CC. Not for everyone. 92pts
2018 Fattoria di Petroio Poggio ai Grilli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
High toned and beautifully rendered fruit on the nose, theres an aromatic precision here, and detail that is very attractive, salted plums, pencil lead, a touch of sour lactic, and some sun dried tomato. Rather resolved in the mouth, juicy with modest tannins left to support the clear, dark fruit, earthy, leathery, sundried tomatoey, Long, turning slightly chewy on the backend, with clarity and definition, and a hint of heat on the finale. Gains lots of tobacco nuance with air, A bit on the strict side, but one that will age well for another 12-15 years. 92pts
2018 Podere Lecci e Brocchi MCMLXVII Celerarium Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
High toned, red berry fruited, floral in an iris kind of way, rather salty and mineral tinged. Lighter styled wine, lithe and fresh on the palate, opening with a floral extract note, this fairly floats across the palate, tannins are ripe and resolving, acidity enough to lend juiciness but well integrated. Good length, quite open on the finish revealing fine mineral notes layered over ripe, small berried red fruits. And that floral extract note. Very well balanced and distinctive wine, leans more toward the savory soil driven end of the spectrum. 91pts
In situations like this I like to start off with the most intense, biggest wines on day one. If palate fatigue sets in it will be less noticeable with easy styled wines with a lower tannic load, so this is my approach.
I will have about 8 hours of tasting this day and try and spend about 5 minute with each wine so my plan is to try roughly 80 wines. Over the course of 8 hours a lot can change with these wines. I can be tasting a different bottle than people before or after me will be. I can also be tasting the same bottle, that has been already poured a dozen or two dozen times. Wines that are delivered in the morning at cellar temperature are mostly at ambient temperature by the time I am poured my sample. There are lots of variables, so I would take my notes with a grain of salt.
How I taste.
Knowing I have time to tate about 80 wines I set up a plan the night before with the tasting catalogue. I create a list of the reference numbers for the wines I want to try and group them by sixes. In this tasting we are served by sommeliers, 6 wines at a time. I have worked out the timing fairly well so that I place my order via app when i stat tasting the fifth wine in my line-up and that usually leaves me a short break between me finishing the last 6 and being poured the next six. While the bottles poured are not concealed this is very close to a blind tasting format for me. I just confirm the wines’ reference numbers upon pouring, write my note and then add the detailed information for each wine at the end of the day.
I want to be perfectly transparent regarding my techniques because, as there often are, when blind tasting there are some real surprises! On the upside and the downside of course. If I have not scored your favorite wines well don’t worry. You should still like it. There are some objective measures to be communicated while critiquing wine, but personal preferences will always be the final arbiter of a qualitative opinion. And besides, if I can reduce the market for your favorite wines there’s more for you!
What follows is a top list in order of the score I awarded each wine followed by the raw scores and tasting notes in the order I tasted the wines. The order within the following list is simply the order in which I tasted the wines. As you can see I tested from youngest to oldest.
Have to give props to Castello di Meleto, their Vigna Poggiarso was amazing! I am surprised to see them, as well as Ricasoli’s Castello di Brolio finishing at the top of my list as I have not thought of these as top wines int he past. Lets hope this indicates a real change has happened and is not just some anomaly!
The rest of the list is really just mostly well known top producers, which should come as little surprise. Reading through the tasting notes I am struck my how many wines were simply delicious, but not up to the level of Gran Selezione. And about that.
I have never been a real fan of the new Gran Selezione category. It was kind of meaningless, though recent changes, the elimination of foreign grapes and the increase to 90% minimum for Sangiovese, definitely are moving the category in the right direction. For the first several years of the category the distinction in practice between Gran Selezione and the previous “top” wine, Chianti Classico Riserva was effectively nothing but labeling. Yes the criteria for the wines were somewhat different but all the Chianti Classico Riservas that made the switch over were obviously already satisfying the somewhat stricter criteria for CCGS. The only real effect the new label had was to help return some super Tuscans to the Chianti Classico fold.
Now that we are several years into this project I do see that there is a difference emerging between Chianti Classico Riserva and the Gran Selezione. In many, if not most cases I am not convinced that the difference is sufficient to justify the creation of a whole new category of wines, and a new pricing paradigm! But here is where we are, and the wines speak for themselves. I love the wines of Chianti Classico. I drink More Chianti Classico, of all stripes, than any other single type of wine. I am very strategic about budgeting, as I find so many great examples that remain priced well, which for me is under $50 a bottle with many still in the high twenties. I don’t “need” the more expensive wines, as much as I want them, so I forgo them and yet I am still left with an abundance of riches!
The joys of Chianti Classico!
96
2021 Castello di Meleto Vigna Poggiarso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
95
2022 Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna La Fornace Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Castello di Ama Vigneto Bellavista Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
94
2022 Castello di Querceto Il Picchio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna Contessa Luisa Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Isola delle Falcole Le Falcole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Le Filigare Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Le Cinciole Aluigi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Podere Castellinuzza Vecchie Vigne Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Vecchie Terre di Montefili Vigna nel Bosco Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Vecchie Terre di Montefili Vigna Vecchia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2019 Rocca di Montegrossi Vigneto San Marcellino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
93
2021 Castello di Cacchiano Millennio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna Bastignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Le Fonti - Panzano Le Fonti Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Nittardi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Querceto di Castellina Sei Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Castello di Monsanto Vigna Il Poggio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Querciabella Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2019 Bindi Sergardi Mocenni 89 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2019 Castellinuzza - Claudia Cinuzzi Castellinuzza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
92
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Badiola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Riecine Vigna Gittori Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Fontodi Terrazze San Leolino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Istine Vigna Istine Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Castellinuzza e Piuca Vigna Piuca Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Le Miccine Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2019 Cinciano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2018 Castello di Verrazzano "Sassello" Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2018 Fattoria di Petroio Poggio ai Grilli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
91
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Castello La Leccia Bruciagna Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2021 Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Cafaggio Solatìo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Lamole di Lamole Vigneto di Campolungo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2020 San Felice Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
2018 Podere Lecci e Brocchi MCMLXVII Celerarium Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Tasting notes in order of wines tasted.
2022 Antinori Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite perfumed, bright fruit, a subtle underlay ok oak lending base notes, a bit of a lactic quality, a touch of smokiness. Stick and showing some aggressive wood tannin early on the palate, there is a decent level of fruit here, but the wine is bitter and tannic, especially on the finish. A lot is obscured here at the moment but there is also some heat on the modest finish. 83pts
2022 Brancaia Brancaia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Oaky on the nose but in a fine shaved pencil way that is not offensive, but this could almost be Bordeaux. Shows some nice herbal character but little in the way of fruit. Smooth and silky in the mouth, definitely has an appealing texture and is relatively weightless on the palate. Tannins are abundant and fine, acidity offers good support to the subtle flavors of wild berry fruit and leather with a clay soil backdrop. Sour cherry fruit. Racy long, and fine if sleek and modern. 88pts
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Badiola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Soil driven aromas are framed with hints of dried citrus, green herbs and black fruits. A larger scaled wine, quite bright and juicy on the palate, offers good tension, richness and transparency, There’s lots of succulent, juicy fruit here, rather dark cherry and wild berry toned with great persistence on the palate. Tannins are well polished but this retains a wildness and exuberance of Sangiovese, just a lovely expression of fruit, almost flamboyant, and long with just the slightest degree of stickiness on the finish which is quite citrussy and full of red berry, slightly candied cherry/ blood orange fruit. Delicious, if not terribly complex. 92pts
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Castello Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Reticent on the nose and rather gamy and leathery, dry, stony soil aromas, brown galestro, and dried herbs complete the bouquet. Bright and vibrant in the mouth, quite electric with just a bit too much zestiness perhaps, but pair it at the table and that will tame this. Tannins are modest, natural feeling and in need of only a year or two. Modest finish turns more structural, with slightly plummy fruit, very dusty and soil driven. Quite classic wine 89pts
2021 Castello di Fonterutoli Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rather reticent nose, Warm, dark, slightly jammy berry fruits are topped with a faint dark earthy mocha note and a mineral grace note. Well balanced, fine balance in fact, more mineral driven in the mouth, a bit compact with a touch of density on the palate. The flavors are on the darker side, dark berries and plum notes. Some blueberry even. Good length, a bit chunky, tannins are firm, dusty, yet well covered by the fruit. The fruit in that dark/blue vein shows fine persistence. 91pts
2022 Castello di Querceto Il Picchio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Exotic, pomegranate, stone, tobacco, orange marmalade, raspberry, great aromatics. Rich but elegant on entry, fine grained tannins, good succulent acidity, tension and transparency in the mouth, the nose is more interesting than the palate at present but the fruit and minerality ooze out on the moderately long finish. Really fine example of a powerful wine showing great restraint. Just so refined yet with the wild spirit of sangiovese intact. 94pts
2021 Capraia Effe 55 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Woody and balsamic on the nose, it’s not terribly oaky but distinctively so, it’s very crude wood smells, Rich, plump and bright in the mouth, though anchored with some wood tannins that reach to the back of the mouth. Has a nice richness to the fruit, and the oak is not terribly aggressive, though the wine feels like it was made with minimal fruit tannins so the wood tannins do stick out here and this shows a touch of heat on the modest finish. Jammy, kind of easy going, frooty style. 85pts
2022 Castello di Querceto La Corte Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite precise dark cherry fruit on the nose is framed with basaltic soil aromas, black sooty and dark, along with some emerging sottobosco and a fine thread of wood spice. A bit lean on entry, while showing a slight hint of over extraction, but this is rather sleek and finely balanced, delivering plenty of dark berry/cherry fruit, with tons of dusty, but rather supple tannins and enough acidity to keep this fresh, if not exciting. Has the finest edge of rusticity to it. Pleasant wine. 88pts
2022 Famiglia Zingarelli Tenuta Fizzano, Il Crocino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Smells rusty, wiry, balsamic, dried herbal, fresh leather, and cool alpine florals. Light on entry, rather zippy in the mouth, theres some fruit on the palate, but this is a savory wine, Not unpleasant, a bit coarse with some rambunctious tannins, and a moderately long finish that features dusty soil tones and hints of dried herbs. An archetype old school CCR. 87pts
2022 Fèlsina Rancia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Slightly volatile, varnish, very darkly spiced, coal camphor, toasted anise seed, atypical. Smooth and supple in the mouth, it is better in the mouth, a bit attenuated, and flat with dusty tannins that clip the finish. Feels like it’s trying too hard, there are some decent fruit, herb, and soil flavors here but this is over extracted. 82pts
2022 Ricasoli Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Balsamic, dark fruit, fresh cut oily herbs, beautiful nose of a warm climate, rich soil Chianti Classico. With just a hint of green citrus peel. Supple, exemplary balance with rich fruit and herbal flavors on the palate, tending towards the darker end of the spectrum. The acidity is really juicy but so well woven into the wine and there is more than enough covering mass to conceal the significant if pleasantly ripe tannins, but the wine retains finesse, with a long and detailed finish that turns more soil driven. A top wine, and one that should age well for 8-12 years. 95pts
2021 Riecine Vigna Gittori Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rather high toned and herb stem and wood pile driven aromas frame a core of modest red fruit. All backed with a drop of wood spice. Racy, has a sinewy elegance to it, retains a lovely core of light red fruit, wrapped in dusty tannins gaining leathery and dried herb, juniper nuance in the mouth. Really very long and elegant wine, one that may not win a big line-up but is undeniably seductive, I’m not sure this is really GS level, but it epitomizes the soulfulness and ease of the top CC. Juicy wild berry fruit, Love this though it does shows just a hint of warmth on the finish. 92pts
2021 Castello di Albola Il Solatio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Mysterious on the nose, rich, earthy with lots of dried herb and a slightly walnutty character. With a smoky, almost peaty accent note. Juicy and medium rich in style. Lovely brightness and transparency to the fruit on the palate which is well framed with savory elements but retains a bright, juicy, red currant, lingonberry fruitiness. A wine that is quite approachable, and classic in style. 88pts
2021 Castello di Ama San Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite ripe on the nose with lots of plummy, dark fruity character as well as subtle accents of VA, and wood spice, vanillin. Broad on entry, weighty and important in style, chewy and fairly rich in the mouth with lots of sweet, plummy and almost pruny, very ripe fruit. The wine is bright and fresh with a slight excess of wood tannin, but nothing that obscures the fruit, dried herb, and heathery floral nature of this. Finishes with decent length and that super ripe fruity sweetness before the tannins clamp down, notably on the cheeks. Not my style but well done. 91pts
2021 Castello di Cacchiano Millennio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Woodsy and balsamic on the nose, intense with notes of older and/or large format wood lending complexity, slightly exotic, blackberry, boysenberry and marionberry fruits. Rich on entry, firm, slightly austere, slightly older styled though with plenty of balsamic character, quite strong actually, with bitter cherry fruit. Distinctive and very long on the palate. Noble tannins, elegance in a slightly rustic register, I like this more than most will. Needs food. 93pts
2021 Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit lactic and volatile on the nose, with black berries, pencil lead, and black currant fruits. Super silky, if slightly matte on entry, then wood tannins and slight bitterness emerge on the palate obscuring black cherry and black plummy fruitiness, Seems very serious and stern, like it wants to hurt you. The finish is rather surprisingly long considering the importance of the tannins, indicating that there is probably sufficient substance here to age well, but a feel like this will just slowly fade away. Not for me 84pts
2021 Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Slightly smoky on the nose with lots of jammy dark, frutti del bosco notes along with some lovely citrussy top notes. Rich, fairly powerful in style but also quite fresh with lots of red fruit showing good detail on the palate. The tannins clamp down, pinching the cheeks, but remain rather sweet and not unpleasant. The finish is sour cherried, tart raspberry fruits, moderately long and turning dusty on the finale. A bit on the young side but entirely pleasant if not distinctive. 91pts
2021 Castello di Meleto Vigna Poggiarso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Showing oaky, toasted nutty, and salted plum aromas, dried meat, with balsamic top notes. Smooth and rich in the mouth, yet retaining a racy feel. Very lively on the palate, with lots of ripe, slightly exotic red fruits, sour cherry, pomegranate, wow, great lift on the back end with fantastic succulence to the finish where the tannins show their ripeness and polish. It’s a tannic wine, but with outstanding harmony already. The nose and palate are not aligned though, the nose showing much more crudely, still this is superb in the mouth, so much energy, cut and delineation. A joy to drink. 96pts
2021 Castello di Volpaia Il Puro - Casanova Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit mocha and decidedly herbal on the nose with a touch of black olive to the rather dark fruit tones. Rich, slightly chewy and perhaps a bit heavy in style. A powerhouse, with enough acidity to keeps this balanced but it lacks liveliness in the mouth. Broad, and deep, with a hint of old vininess to it, it has plenty of dark fruit, and fairly good balance though it drops of quickly on the finish where it leaves the mouth with slightly grittiness and a hint of coffee grounds. Foursquare middle of the road quality, nice but not distinctive with too much weight and a hint of heat. 87pts
2021 Castello La Leccia Bruciagna Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark and bit nutty on the nose, black fruit, slight VA, black plum, summer truffle, and pomegranate. Sleek, silky on the palate, matte and slightly impenetrable as well. It’s very well balanced, has a sinewiness to it as it glides across the palate, but the core is so tightly bound that it reveals just some ripe plumminess on the palate. Long, again the balance is impressive, lovely with real elegance on the finale, but this is not ready for prime time. Give it 2-4 years before yout try it. It should prove very popular as it is traditional but in rather refined style. My score may prove to be too conservative. 91pts
2021 Castello Vicchiomaggio Le Bolle Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
High toned, spicy cherry pie tones, a bit of toasty pasrty as well, very patisserie, some fenugreek and fresh leafy herb notes lend some complexity. On the lighter end of the spectrum in the mouth though with a core of rather weighty tannins. More than slightly rustic, but with a kernal of pleasant red fruits, leading to a modest, dusty, mineral and leathery finish. There is a pleasant sweetness to the fruit here, but the tannins are rather outsized and definitely dominate the finish here. Rustic and in need of food, 86pts
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna Bastignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
An intense herbal tincture, extract of flowers and roots, witches brew nose here. Intense, slightly candied violet tones, Slightly smoky, great start. The palate is tight, but well balanced, showing a certain weightiness but remaining elegant and finely balanced. Turning fairly tannic and austere on the long finish with light fruitiness that manages to match the tannins through the finale. Theres a lovely wild fruitiness here as well. A wine for the cellar in need of 3-5 years and will improve for the following decade. Definitely on the wild, savory side of things. 93pts
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna Contessa Luisa Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Earthy, warm, mocha tinged plummy fruit, with plenty of briary complexity., and a hint of blanched almond. Tight and elegant in the mouth, an early note of mushroominess lends complexity to the white cherry, austere and refined fruit. Elegant and trim, with pleasant lift on the palate and an airy, long, yet firm finish. Captures some alpine floral, meadow notes in the mouth, and ends with fine, dusty, mineral tannins and succulence. Power, elegance, and finesse. 94pts
2021 Conti Capponi - Villa Calcinaia Vigna La Fornace Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Camphor, cool and compact on the nose with minty, wild herb, and polleny aromas. A bit compressed in the mouth, rich with ripe tannins, dusty soil tones, and great transparency, Gorgeous wine in the mouth, very complex and nuanced, shows light but clear wild berry, white raspberry fruit, with great mineral and dried herb inflections. The tannins are gorgeous, firm, ever so slightly austere, but not detracting in anyway from the wine as a whole. Features a long, sinewy and feathering finish. A racy wine of elegance and finesse with real depth of flavor. Gorgeous, give it a year or three then enjoy it for the following decade. 95pts
2021 Dievole Vigna Sessina Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rich and sweet with pudding like tones on the nose, topped with lots of green herbal attributes and polleny florality. Rich, yet lively in the mouth, rather playful even, tannins are definitely well moderated and the acidity is juicy and well integrated lending the whole package a juicy, citrussy tone alongside the light but pure cherry/strawberry fruits. A ready to drink wine, fine, fairly traditional and easy going if still firmly youthful. A safe choice. 89pts
2021 Famiglia Zingarelli Sergio Zingarelli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite extract of roots and leafy greens, Very complex, very savory aromas, lots of juniper and minerality with just a hint of ripe, dark, chocolatey fruit. A bit plump in the palate, though with some cut, theres a lot of the same savory notes here with tannins that feel a bit extracted, showing some bitterness and clipping the finish which shows some nice chalky, clay tones. Chewy and dry. 87pts
2021 Fèlsina Colonia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Plenty of oak here, pencil lead, some leafiness, lots of tobacco, Does not smell like CC. Sleek if slightly compressed on the palate, but racy and fine if chewy with tannins. Theres something to be said for this, it’s a style that has broad appeal, and is well done in a rather anonymous, international way. It feels familiar, and the Sangiovese is trying to assert itself, but in the end it’s just to tannic and dry from the wood. 85pts
2021 Fontodi Pastrolo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dirty old wood aromas greet the nose, along with hints of briar, dry clay earth, and sour plums. Smooth and fairly rich in the mouth, theres a plumpness here that makes this slightly clumsy along with an extraction of tannins that contributes to that clumsiness, the flavors of sour plum and cherry try to seep out on the palate, but are constrained by the tannins, which shorten the finish a bit as well. The finish does show some hints of nice fruitiness in an earthy register but this just isn’t well knit. 83pts
2021 Fontodi Terrazze San Leolino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit tight on the nose with gentle hints of tobacco, briar, cedar, and spiced dark berry fruit. Rather elegant and refined in the mouth, this is tannic but the tannins are ripe and well managed, with enough acidity to keep this lively on the tongue, but in a slightly richer, if firm style. The finish is quite long and shows off the great refinement of the tannins, with a pleasant juiciness highlighting the subtle spiced cherry fruit with hints of anise seed, juniper, and plum skin joining in on the finale. Not the most complex, but I do like this for it’s firm decisiveness on the palate. 92pts
2021 Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Earthy clay, dry mediterranean herbal notes grace the nose along with cherries jubilee, Supple if firmly tannic with tannins that are generally well covered by the weight here. This is a bit soft, and languid in the mouth, tannic and sticky across the palate, A moderately big but chewy wine, full of bright berry fruit, minerality and hints of dry herbs, but it is a chore to drink. Clumsy. 84pts
Second bottle tasted later that day:
Reticent and stony on the nose, crushed berries, asphalt, and stone. Very tense in the mouth, not showing much at this stage, full of ripe tannins, and great depth on the palate, theres a depth here that is impressive, the fruit is rather monumental, if slightly monotone at the same time, deep, brambly blackberry black cherry fruit shows all power and purity with really modest complexity in the mouth, more on the nose, it’s quite firm if well unbalanced but needs 3-5 years of cellaring to blossom. 91pts
2021 Gagliole Gallule Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Warm cherry pie and drying herb aromas greet the nose followed by a slight balsamic inflection and older wood tones. A bit in a happy, fruity style, juicy enough, slightly plump. Has some fruit weight to it, but remains rather playful and bright in the mouth with tannins that pop across the palate, slightly dry but well balanced. Decent length with some bitter cherry notes layering over the red fruit on the finish. A pleasant blend of slight rusticity and playful fruit. 88pts
2021 Il Molino di Grace Il Margone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit volatile, black fruited, caraway, black spiced, and aggressive smelling wine. Rich and polished in the mouth, a touch languid but not unpleasantly so as the fruit here is sour toned, lending the moderate acidity some pronounced character, blackberry and black cherry flavors linger on the long finish. This is rathe focused and long but not particularly complex. 88pts
2021 Il Poggiolino Le Balze Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit toasty on the nose, A touch of volatility, latex paint, dark frutti del bosco, iron rich leafy greens. A bit clenched on entry, quite transparent and lively in the mouth, tannins are rather well polished if slightly dry still lending a firmness to the palate, where light red fruit reveals itself leading to a modest though fresh finish with hints of sandy soil, light red fruit and fresh herbs. Better than the sum of its parts, really quite pleasant and attractive. 89pts
2021 Isola delle Falcole Le Falcole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark and earthy, show's some herbal extract along with aromas of wild blueberry, cigar tobacco, blue floral notes and some inkiness. Rich and polished in the mouth, blueberry upfront, a powerful style of wine though not weighty, Very ripe fruit but still fresh with power and purity covering a core of impressive minerality, great length here with strawberry seeds, and slight jammy strawberry fruit tones through the power. Tannins are firm but ripe, really gorgeous, firm, compact but refined style. 94pts
2021 Istine Vigna Istine Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Lovely nose, slightly high toned, but all mediterranean herbs, loose, dry, chalky soil, polleny flowers, and yellow fruits. Very natural smelling. Shows some intensity and glycerine richness early on the palate followed by flavors that mirror the nose. Amarena cherry, lovely wine, unfettered, long open and detailed, atypical as it’s not trying to be all red fruited, but boy is this fun to drink and offers zesty mouth cleansing flavors, finishes a bit short but still noteworthy. 92pts
2021 Le Filigare Lorenzo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit of oak greets the nose, followed by green herbal, fennel seed notes a hint of meatiness, and black fruitiness. Oh this is rich, and opulent in the mouth, lots of black fruity tones are well framed by earthy notes, finely managed tannins, great integrated acidity. A bit plummy in tone, but with terrific drive and focus this is juicy and with just enough polish to lend it a hint of modernism, but it retains the wild nature of Sangiovese. Very vibrant finish, real power here, a great candidate for the cellar. 94pts
2021 Le Fonti - Panzano Le Fonti Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Nicely floral with a core of wild berry fruit, wild plums, and a gentle oaky backbone. Juicy on entry, supple tannins, easy going, if sinewy and long, with some energy in the mouth. There's good transparency here, revealing lots of wild flower and loose dry soil tones. Loving this, it’s not that powerful, relays more on savory complexity for interest,. Easy to drink with great inner mouth perfumes on the long, nuanced finish. A light touch, give me more of this. 93pts
2021 Luiano Ottantuno Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Gamy, leathery, and intense, dark and mysterious, a touch of reduction, dark fruit streaked with black olive tones and incipient mushroominess. Compact in the mouth, short, feels closed but also a bit lifeless. I’ll try this again but it has an extracted, inky feel to it that is not promising. JR
Second bottle tasted later that day:
Very fragrant, lots of florality and citrussy aromas along with, wild middle eastern spice notes. Coriander and even some cumin. Larger scaled but well balanced and its pulling it off nicely. Deep and vinous on the palate, has as lightly old viney feel, good minerality, ripe tannins, integrated acidity, all come together nicely ont eh modest finish. Theres good complexity here, and it does deliver a certain degree of power, but it’s on the clumsy side with little elegance or finesse. 87pts
2021 Nardi Viticoltori Vigna del Pino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Wild berry fruit, roasting chestnuts, moist earth, and minty herbal notes greet the nose. Smooth and supple in the mouth, with nice acidity, but this is dark, earthy, finishes a bit short, Theres pleasant fruit here, but it’s a bit simple, and too dusty on the palate.Rustic and a touch coarse. 84pts
2021 Nittardi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Fine berry fruit here with attractive mineral back notes, a bit of pencil lead and black olive perhaps but also porcini, and dried oily herbs. Lively in the mouth, firmly midweight and elegant with some nuanced power here. Theres good transparency here, a tannin that is firm, yet not quite dry, Lovely elegant, and refined wine that has a core of pure, transparent, cherry and wild berry fruit with good persistence. Lively, youthful wine, should age well, Has great energy and drive, finishes with firm minerality and dried herbs. So Succulent. 93pts
2021 Pomona L'Omino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Aromas of oily herbs, briar, and black fruit greet the nose. Wild berry fruit with salted plum accents. A more austere and stern style, firm and poised on the palate with black fruit and tannins that are a bit on the dry side lending this an austere feel. Dry on the finish where the tannins dominate even if they are not super aggressive, There seems to be a core of fruit here, but it’s all wrapped up in tannins, could surprise on the upside but I’m not convinced. 90pts
2021 Querceto di Castellina Sei Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Lots of chestnuty old wood aromas, mushroomy, cellar floor, and sour dark fruit tones. A bit of an old school nose. Rich on entry, offering great cut while at the same time delivering plenty of dark, rich fruitiness. There’s a fine mineral edge that leads from the midpalate through the long, lithe finish, juicy, great tannins are supportive of the fruit but well concealed, Subtle power with great depth of fruit and an old vine feel. Needs another 2-3 years in the cellar but should have along life after, has plenty of fruit but with great freshness. 93pts
2020 Altiero Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Warm and slightly vegetal on the nose with a strawberry/rhubarb pie kind of tone to it. Fairly complex with a medicinal cast to the vegetal tones. A bit soft in the mouth, but retaining tension on the palate and offering a rather transparent, and certainly tense impression with small, precise black berry fruits on the palate leading to a more medicinal, and again slightly vegetal finish. The tannins here are slightly cutting and aggressive, but they do not impinge on the fruits across the palate. Though this does end up being slightly on the dry and austere end of the spectrum. And a bit chewy through the finish. 90pts
2020 Cafaggio Solatìo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Lightly fragrant on the nose with subtle wafts of dried flower, iris, honeycomb, and butchers wax supporting delicate astringent red fruits with hints of smokiness wrapping it all up. A moderately rich entry is surprising after the nose, plenty of glycerine here to lend this roundness, though the flavors remain distinctly on the delicate, floral, and natural end of the spectrum. There is something vaguely medicinal about this, lovely crisp tannins, good supporting acidity, fruit that shows delicacy in the light red and yellow end of the spectrum. Eminently drinkable, a nuanced and unfettered wine. 91pts
2020 Carpineta Fontalpino Vigna Dofana Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit of older wood greets the nose followed by some high toned minerality, pencil lead, black fruits, and a subtle balsamic extract. Supple in the mouth with a slightly weighty feel to it, this is a little chewy and extracted in the mouth. It’s a dark, dense, extracted tasting wine, with firm, if ripe tannins and finely integrated acidity. Perhaps a vin de garde, it certainly feels like a wine for the cellar, though is is a bit to chewy even at this point for my preference, and finishes a little on the short side with those extracted flavors. A bit overdone. 87pts
2020 Carpineta Fontalpino Vigna Montaperto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Smells slightly old woody and decidedly leathery with some spicy dark berry plummy fruit tones. Rich and rather polished on entry, though retaining good transparency on the palate. Theres a bit of austerity here, but the palate reveals fine layers of minerality, herbal, and floral notes. There’s a fair bit of tannin here, not outsized but important, while this has rather delicate fruit, and is more of a savory wine, where it has plenty of nuance and interest. Could call this a cerebral wine, not a crowd pleaser. 89pts
2020 Castagnoli Salita Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Showing an almondy oxidative note, with a deep herbal extract aroma and cooked fruit. A bit soft on entry, oxidized in the mouth as well, with terribly extracted tannins, extremely chewy, palate staining herbal and cooked fruit flavors. Unacceptable
Notes on a second bottles tried later that day.
A bit caramelly with a hint of oxidation. A bit tired in the mouth as well, and dried out. Theres lots of fruit here, but it’s a bit hot and has cooked fruit and caramelly flavors. Not good.
2020 Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rather taut smelling, dried herbs, powdery minerality, some white floral notes. A rather relaxed example, open and fluid in the mouth, delicate with gently astringent red fruits, some polleny elements, an emerging suppleness on the long finish, Tannic but with a ripeness to the tannins, lacks a bit of freshness of flavor but is rather pleasant 87pts
2020 Castellinuzza e Piuca Vigna Piuca Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Richly perfumed with plenty of plump , dark, wild berry fruit but also a real intensity of chestnut, anise seed, dried herbs and some fresher sage notes. Bright and vibrant on entry, zesty with tannins that seem just a bit too aggressive, but the fruit on the palate manages to keep up with the tannins, and offers of the great intensity of savory characteristics found on the nose. A deep, savory and richly flavored wine of medium full proportions with good length, this is not a beginners CC, but should be quite interesting to a more terroir driven audience. Could be a bit longer 92pts
2020 Castello di Ama Vigneto Bellavista Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark, rich with herbal extract aromas but also shows fine mineral notes and black fruitiness. Smells well balanced! Quite a wine, lots of dry extract, but the tannins are well moderated, lending this a powerful but not weighty feel. It’s slightly dark and mysterious, very slightly chewy today, but with impressive depth of flavor on the palate revealing dark cherry, herbal, earthy, leather and dried floral notes. A rare wine that melds power and elegance, this is very attractive and should only become better with an addition 2-5 years of bottle age. Lovely and very complex with a fine blend of savory and fruity characteristics. 95pts
2020 Castello di Monsanto Vigna Il Poggio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Smells quite of potpourri, dried balsamic notes, floral, wild berries, cherries, iris, and sage. Juicy on entry, lithe in the mouth, supple yet abundant tannins support a finely rendered core of willowy yellow and light red fruits along with gentle floral notes and a fine savory soil element. This is very well balanced, with real verve in the mouth, love drinking this. Finishes with a slight excess of tannin, but the delicate fruit ultimately wins out on the finale. Needs food today but a fine rendition of a unfettered expression of site. With lovely nuanced flavors and real succulence. 93pts
2020 Fattoria Santo Stefano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A little wood mars the nose which shows off aromas of dark, slightly cooked plummy fruit with licorice and beefy framing notes. Rather large scaled on entry, though not terribly weighty, this is very vertical in the mouth but oddly slender. The flavors offer a rather one-two step of riper fruit and soil tones which linger through the moderately long finish. An off wine, not unpleasant but ultimately too dry, and narrow on the palate. Time could provide an upside surprise. 84pts
2020 I Fabbri - Susanna Grassi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Rather fruity on the nose with strong aromas of wild cherries, a little heathery dried herb base note and some cedary framing notes. Focused and taut on the palate, showing some age to it with flavors that are a bit bronzy. Tannins are still firm, the wine exhibits a certain delicacy that the tannins detract from, The flavors of bitter cherry, wild flower, and dried citrus zest are decidedly appealing, but the tannins are just a bit outsized, while the acidity keeps this lively and fresh in the mouth, Needs food, a bit of a tough slog, but I do like the general profile here. 88pts
2020 Lamole di Lamole Vigna Grospoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Fairly dusty and mineral toned on the nose with a nice undertone of dark frutti di bosco, a shaving of dark chocolate, and dried floral notes. Transparent and rather tense in the mouth. Lovely medium bodied feel, tannins are ripe and in proportion, acidity is well integrated, this is juicy and lively on the palate with a delicate red fruitiness that grows across the palate and drives through the finish. The tannins are so well judged and ripe here that there fall into the background. All in all a delicate rendition of CCGS, nuanced and seductive with a fine soil note filling out the long, detailed finish. 92pts
2020 Lamole di Lamole Vigneto di Campolungo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Deep, slightly plummy, slight cooked fruit but with a lemon peel twist, baked poppy seeds, caraway, Lovely aromatic complexity. A bit tannic in the mouth, firm, with good tension, but the wine is rather stern, if not without some elegance. The flavors are all wrapped up in the tannins. There’s decent length to the finish, but this is not revealing that much. It’s an ambitious wine, shows a touch of heat on the finish, but should resolve well with an additional 2-3 years in the bottle. 91pts
2020 Lanciola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Herbal, savory, tobacco rich aromatics with great intensity. Smoooth, rather supple example, has a touch of density to it, and deep flavors that mirror the nose with all the herbal extract, and floral notes one could wish for along with faint cinnamony baking spice notes. Well balanced, decent length, lovely complexity and nuance in a lovely, elegant, midweight package. 90pts
2020 Le Cinciole Aluigi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Darkly fruited but still in the berry register with great tobacco nuances and dried mediterranean herbal accent notes. Powerful, yet transparent and with real depth on the palate. This has tension and cut, with an old viney feel. Delivers excellent, precise flavors with power and elegance. Fine length as well where the suppleness of the abundant tannins becomes evident. This can already be enjoyed but should improve over the medium term, Just love the blend of power, finesse and detail here. 94pts
2020 Le Miccine Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Tobacco and candied berry fruit aromas join together here along with a dusty, white chalkiness. A bit soft and indistinct in the mouth, with fine tannins, and good acidity helping to drive the moderately long finish, this lacks a little life on the palate, and comes off as a little simple at first, but really opens, slowly, unfurling more detailed red fruit flavors, nuanced soil notes, and a fine vegetal cast with some air. A sneaky wine, easy to dismiss at first glance this rewards attention. Nuanced, and subtle with persistence to the subtle fruits on the finale. 92pts
2020 Ormanni Etichetta Storica Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark, slightly oaky, and decidedly mineral on the nose, turns oakier with air. Soft, almost opulent with olive tones to the dark fruit on the palate. It’s a fairly big wine, but has a suppleness to it, that should prove widely appealing. The tannins are a little coarse, and this is simple and slightly chewy, though easy to drink, and obvious in its presentation of red fruit, herbs, and tobacco, nutty notes. A bit of a crowd pleaser. A touch rustic. 89pts
2020 Podere Castellinuzza Vecchie Vigne Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Lovely florality greets the nose followed by fine, dark berry fruit, shaved dark chocolate, a hint of pomegranate and some cured meat tones. Delicate on entry, this is a lithe example, that rather floats across the palate, its a bit on the tannic, dry austere end of the spectrum but delivers plenty of intense wild berry, herbal, and bitter soil tones that linger on the rather long finish. Very juicy and fresh, the tannins are notable but natural feeling and with rounding edges. Nuanced and complex, a lovely blend of elegance with a hint of rusticity and a super subtle biter tone that I find very appealing. Captivating. 94pts
2020 Podere Il Palazzino Argenina Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Sweetly fruited, lots of dark berry and slightly plummy fruit that is fresh and sweet, dried porcini, leather, toasted pignoli, with a slight beet top note. Lots of sweet fruit in the mouth as well, a bit darker and more extracted than the nose suggests, it’s a slightly muscular style, deep with palate staining intensity of slightly bitter, herbal and fruity notes. Definitely an ambitious wine, but it’s just a little too forced and shows some heat on the finish. Has potential. 89pts
2020 Querciabella Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Floral, fresh and fragrant on the nose, quite complex and nuanced, with a lovely, gently spicy complexion. Opulent on entry, underpinned by firm tannins but this is really quite generous while retaining a freshness of character, not too fruity, well balanced by dusty minerality, yellow flowers, and a hint of honeycomb that leans toward incense. Easy to drink, firm but not dry, long and lithe, So perfumed in the nose, love this style. 93pts
2020 Renzo Marinai Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark fruit, rich earth, slightly caramelly tone on the nose with some candied herb and cured meat aromas. Moderately powerful, shows a whisper of oxidation in the mouth, mocha tones and sightly sweet seeming. The tannins here are dry and have a coffee quality to them, and while the fruit tries to hang on through the finish this turns a bit bitter and distinctly dry on the finale. A bit clumsy. 82pts
2020 Rocca di Castagnoli Stielle Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Leathery and meaty on the nose with framing notes of fresh green herbs and lime and orange citrus zest. Rich and smooth in the mouth with a real sense of polish. There’s an underlying note of evolution here, which seems a bit at odds with the decidedly tannic nature of this wine. Rather classic with more fragrance than flavor and more tannin than fruit, but not at all atypical for an old school CCR. Tannins are dry. 89pts
2020 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Delicately fragrant on the nose with aromas of wild cherry, tea, light brown soil tones, dried herbs and a citrus zest note. A slightly smaller scaled wine, yet one that is rich and slightly chewy, has some weight to it, Classic almost mature CCR, dark fruit notes, incipient leather tones, emerging clarity on the finish, Some herbal accents, tannic and slightly rustic but with a sense of refinement. I would use this to teach a class on CC. Just classic wine. 91pts
2020 San Felice Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
This smells of capers. An odd nose, savory and very gastronomic. Sundried tomatoes, green olive, like a smorgasbord for the nose. A touch flat on the palate, supple with a sense of richness and much more fruity in the mouth where a nice layer of the berry fruit joins the savory aspects. Long finish shows the firmness of the polished tannins and the acidity which offers fine brightness here. A bit wild toned, sauvage, with maybe a hint of gaminess on the palate, it’s certainly complex and interesting. 91pts
2020 Savignola Paolina 360° Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Really inviting nose, like a bowl of warm berries with briary accents and a generally brambly tone, supported by a gentle sweetness of wood spice. A touch loose in the mouth, quite lovey and giving though this lacks some tension. It’s not at all overdone so it feels fine, but I wish it were a bit livelier. The flavors are terrific, lots of wild berry fruits,a touch of salinity, minerality, fine brambly fruit, The wood treatment is slightly obvious but really offers contrast to the fruit and contributes some spicy complexity to the moderately long finish. 90pts
2020 Tenuta Perano - Frescobaldi Rialzi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit of a sharpened pencil woodiness here on the nose. Smells flashy and modern with jellied dark berry fruit tones gaining sweetness from the wood treatment, with some nice leathery undertones. Smooth, polished and refined in the mouth, a bit better in the mouth than the nose suggests, certain has lovely fruit intact, but the wood tannin intrudes on the palate, dry and austere, dominating the finish as well, though some juicy bright red fruit does slip out. It’s probably a very popular wine, certainly a popular style, but just doesn't do it for me. 87pts
2020 Vecchie Terre di Montefili Vigna nel Bosco Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Quite fragrant, shows a slightly oaky covering note over the core of woodsy fruit with balsamic and floral aspects. Powdery tannins on the palate, this is moderately large scaled, big but with real depth on the palate, lots of mineral notes, chewy and deep, with plenty of tannins that are rather sweet. The acidity lends lift to what could be a heavy wine, theres some salinity here, limestone nerviness emerging on the palate, This is a vin de garde, powerful but well balanced and with tannins that will soften in sync with the fruit. 94pts
2020 Vecchie Terre di Montefili Vigna Vecchia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Gorgeous nose, so fragrant and full of dark wild berries, leather, dried flowers, and balsamic undertones. A bit softer on entry than the nose would suggest, rather full and weighty even, but with lively tannins and integrated acidity that keeps this lively in the mouth. This is packed with rich flavors, dried berry fruit, balsamic tones, leather notes, deep and long with a growing herbal extract note on the finish. One of the more powerful wines of the day. Fresh and pure but a wine for the cellar. Very slightly chewy, the weight gives the impression of a more chewy wine but this has innate harmony helping it pull it off. 94pts
2020 Villa Rosa e Villa Cerna Villa Rosa Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Here’s a wine that is talking about it’s place. Great salty, mineral notes, paired with lingonberry toned red fruit, very heathery, feels windy and barren where this was grown. Lighter styled, lively on the palate, tannins are well rounded, an easygoing style of classical proportions. I would not call this GS, but it’s very pleasant, taut, lean, slightly austere, a solid old school CCR 88pts
2020 Viticcio Prunaio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Slightly jammy and sweet on the nose with pencil lead, licorice, and bay leaf aromas. A bit loose on the palate, pleasant, and fresh enough with tannins that are pliant if slightly dry. A nicely austere, example that shows plenty of bitter berry fruit, good length, a bit wild berry, slightly chewy, a touch on the lean side with anice finish that is rather dusty and shows tight wild berry fruit notes a bit of an extract berry tone. 90pts
2019 Bindi Sergardi Mocenni 89 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A beautiful mature Chianti nose, complex and nuanced, retaining fruit but rather wide open in its expression of camphor, tobacco, earth, and toasted nuts. Lovely bottle sweetness on entry, rainier cherry and lingonberry fruit, delicate yet with almost a sense of flamboyance. Juicy and pure and wide open. Tannins are still present, though the fade through the finish, leaving the palate with a succulent, if savory array of flavors fanning out on the finale. Lovely and at peak, a refined wine. 93pts
2019 Castellinuzza - Claudia Cinuzzi Castellinuzza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Smells a bit of concrete and clay, briar and dark berry fruit, anise seed, caraway, rosemary. Strict on entry, rather unforgiving but exhibiting excellent balance, rapier like as it cuts across the palate. Lovely detail and tension here. This is close to peak, maybe needs another year or two, yet retains real depth of fruit, and is developing tertiary characteristics slowly on the palate, still rather fruit driven. Leans a bit towards the modernist side of things perhaps, has some juniper and growing balsamic tones in the mouth, but overall is rather sleek and elegant, like a tight black leather glove. 93pts
2019 Castello di Radda Vigna il Corno Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A bit nutty, quite blue floral, blue fruited, quite fresh and lively on the nose. A bit easy going, rich but not weighty, firm but not tannic, Near peak with pleasant flavors of moderate depth and a light, dusty finish. This will not offend anyone, it’s got some fruit, a little complexity, just a little of everything but nothing truly distinctive or outstanding. It’s still kind of delicious and a pleasure to drink. Very safe bet. 88pts
2019 Cinciano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
A nutty and slightly tarry nose, shows some cooked fruitiness, along with lots of dusty soil, polleny floral notes. Smoot in the mouth, supple yet with good tension across the palate, Resolving nicely and revealing tons of nuanced soil amd floral notes laid under the core of tart berry fruit which has great resonance on the long, savory, focused finish. A bit smaller scaled, but this is in my wheelhouse, offering great balance between the fruit, savory, terroir driven notes, ripe tannins and juicy acidity. May lack fruit for some palates but just needs the right food to shine. 92pts
2019 Podere Il Palazzino Grosso Sanese Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Darkly fruited with some preserved lime notes and sagey framing notes along with a dollop of cigar ash. A bit extracted with the tannins, has a nice midbodied feel, but the tannins are outsized and aggressive. This is just too tannic, very aggressive and drying with a finish that is dominated by tannins. Chewy and dense if not that heavy. Might resolve but I wouldn’t count on it. 80pts
2019 Rocca di Montegrossi Vigneto San Marcellino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Cigar wrapper and mocha notes greet the nose followed by some black olive streaks through black fruit with a pencil lead top note. Shows good tension in the mouth and a fine edge to the abundant tannins. The fruit is quite clear at its core, wild red berry and slightly plummy toned. This is surprisingly firm, and yet retains good transparency on the palate and through the long finish where the tannins begin to recede allowing the fruit to emerge with good precision and freshness. Theres a disconnect between the nose and the palate which comes off as more typical and traditional, but this is really quite good, young and on the cusp of maturity, complex, nuanced, and with a certain elegance. 94pts
2018 Castello di Verrazzano "Sassello" Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Deep, with moist soil driven aromas and black spice notes, poppy seeds and caraway, has lots of plummy black fruit, A bit loose on entry, but this is deep and powerful rich with flavors that follow the nose, black spicy fruit, an extract of herbs, lots of ripe and fine grained tannins, lots, with acidity that arrives later on the palate. This is powerful and deep, not an easy wine and still in need of 2-5 years in the cellar, but it should emerge as a refined, if tertiary example of CC. Not for everyone. 92pts
2018 Fattoria di Petroio Poggio ai Grilli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
High toned and beautifully rendered fruit on the nose, theres an aromatic precision here, and detail that is very attractive, salted plums, pencil lead, a touch of sour lactic, and some sun dried tomato. Rather resolved in the mouth, juicy with modest tannins left to support the clear, dark fruit, earthy, leathery, sundried tomatoey, Long, turning slightly chewy on the backend, with clarity and definition, and a hint of heat on the finale. Gains lots of tobacco nuance with air, A bit on the strict side, but one that will age well for another 12-15 years. 92pts
2018 Podere Lecci e Brocchi MCMLXVII Celerarium Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
High toned, red berry fruited, floral in an iris kind of way, rather salty and mineral tinged. Lighter styled wine, lithe and fresh on the palate, opening with a floral extract note, this fairly floats across the palate, tannins are ripe and resolving, acidity enough to lend juiciness but well integrated. Good length, quite open on the finish revealing fine mineral notes layered over ripe, small berried red fruits. And that floral extract note. Very well balanced and distinctive wine, leans more toward the savory soil driven end of the spectrum. 91pts