Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva possesses rich fruit aromas of ripe plum, floral notes of honeysuckle and earthy hints of forest floor. An incredibly silky palate carries through the beautiful balance of fruit and earth flavors - like eating wild
blueberries off the vine - with dominate notes of bright red cherries and dark chocolate. The finish is long and intriguing, showcasing classic notes of orange peel with undertones of cedar and tobacco. The vibrant acidity suggests the wine will age gracefully for years to come and that 2018 will be remembered as a great year.
Blend: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lots of blueberry and black-cherry aromas. Medium-bodied with round, ripe tannins that have a tight texture. Firm and intense. Drink or hold.
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Tasting Panel
Resounding notes of chocolate- Covered cherry layer atop tilled soil and minerals. The satin-lined palate is elegantly appointed with brown-sugared plum, bramble, and spicy herbs.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
One of the first wine regions anywhere to be officially recognized and delimited, Chianti Classico is today what was originally defined simply as Chianti. Already identified by the early 18th century as a superior zone, the official name of Chianti was proclaimed upon the area surrounding the townships of Castellina, Radda and Gaiole, just north of Siena, by Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany in an official decree in 1716.
However, by the 1930s the Italian government had appended this historic zone with additonal land in order to capitalize on the Chianti name. It wasn’t until 1996 that Chianti Classico became autonomous once again when the government granted a separate DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) to its borders. Ever since, Chianti Classico considers itself no longer a subzone of Chianti.
Many Classicos are today made of 100% Sangiovese but can include up to 20% of other approved varieties grown within the Classico borders. The best Classicos will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and be full-bodied with plenty of ripe fruit (plums, black cherry, blackberry). Also common among the best Classicos are expressive notes of cedar, dried herbs, fennel, balsamic or tobacco.