Capannelle Chianti Classico Riserva 2003

Capannelle was established in 1974 Raffaele Rossetti, who pioneered stainless steel in the winery, 1-kilo-per-vine crops, new French barriques and French oak fermentation vats when these were all highly futuristic concepts. For many years, the 17th-century estate and avant-garde winery remained an Italian secret: though discovered by young Neil Empson in 1976, Raffaele opted for focusing on the national market only, which the tiny (at the time) production barely covered. Then in 1997, the property was purchased by high-profile U.S. magnate James Sherwood, who maintained Rossetti as consultant but gradually paved the way towards increasing acreage, production and marketing goals.

No expense has been spared to outdo the most state-of-the-art criteria: from the underground winery itself (1,000 square meters - nearly 10,800 square feet - of shock-proof ceramic tiles, to the subterranean barrique cellar, built in the year 2000 - 40 meters long (over 130 feet), 3 meters (almost 10 feet) below ground level, dug into the natural rock.

Yet for all these futuristic aspects, the Capannelle building itself is a characteristic chiantigiana stonehouse villa on one of the appellation's gentle hilltops, overlooking Gaiole on one side, vines and woodland on the other. In other words: classic and timeless. The range itself, styled by oenologist Simone Monciatti, is fortunately as rooted in this 17th-century terrain and millenary tradition as in the most modern quality standards. Its hallmark is elegance: the concentration and extract of low-crop noble varieties are complemented by a nose of great finesse and complexity.