At the beginning of March, Musings conducted a pair of tastings to focus on one of our favorite wine regions – Chianti Classico. Our followers gathered at two venues, about a week apart, to taste two flights of Chianti Classico and then, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione wines. All the wines were magical and truly showcased the commitment to quality and fine wine making now occurring in Chianti Classico.
Before we dive into the two flights, let’s talk about Tuscany and Chianti Classico.
Tuscany
Located in the northwest-central part of Italy and cut into thirds by the Arno and Ombrone rivers.
- Region with the second most DOC (20+) and DOCG (6) wines
- 25% of production is DOC class wine (11 million cases) – Tied with Piedmont
- Italy’s most significant region in terms of quality improvement and winemaking experimentation.
| Tuscany – Grapes | |
| White | Red |
| Malvasia | Sangiovese (Brunello,Sangioveto, Prugnolo Gentile) |
| Trebbiano | Canaiolo Nero |
| Vernaccia | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Cabernet Franc | |
| Tuscany – DOCG Wines | |
| Brunello | Suvereto |
| Carmignano | Val di Cornia |
| Chianti | Vino Nobile di Montepulciano |
| Chianti Classico | Vernaccia di San Gimignano (White) |
| Montecucco | |
| Morellino di Scansano | |
Chianti
- Blend of 75%-100% Sangiovese; 10% Canaiolo; 6% Trebbiano; 10% Non-traditional (Cabernet Sauvignon)
- Little to no aging
Chianti Classico
Achieved DOC status: 1967; Achieved DOCG status: 1984
Overall Acreage: 74,455 HA (183,982 Acres); Vines Overall: 9.800 HA (24,216 Acres)
Chianti Classico Only: 6,800 HA (16,803 Acres)
Classifications:
Gran Selezione 13% ABV 30 Months Aging 5% Production
Riserva 12.5% ABV 24 Months Aging 35% Production
Classico 12% ABV 12 Months Aging 60% Production
Gran Selezione 90% Sangiovese 10% Local Only
Riserva/Classico 80% Sangiovese 20% Local or 20% Other
Establishment of Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive (Additional Geographical Unit) to further recognize the importance of soil, elevation, and micro-climate on quality and vinous characteristics. Eleven (11) UGA’s established:
- San Casciano
- San Donato in Poggio
- Castellina
- Vagliagli
- Castelnuovo Berardenga
- Gaiole
- Radda
- Lamole
- Panzano
- Monte Fioralle
- Greve
Chianti – Other Sub-regions
Seven sub-regions within the Chianti zone, but NOT considered Classico: They are DOCG;
| Colli Arentini | Colli Fiorentini |
| Colli Senesi | Colli Pisane |
| Montalbano | Rufina |
| Montispertoli |
Chianti Classico the First Flight
2018 Castell ’In Villa’
Sour cherry nose. Earthy with cedar and anise hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with firm tannins. Long finish. Peppery with black cherry and cedar on the aftertaste.
2019 Piemaggio Le Fioraie
Fruity nose with plum, black cherry and truffle hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with moderate tannins. Moderate length. Gamey with crushed rose petals on the aftertaste.
2021 Fontodi
Fruity nose. Big and juicy with black cherry and black currant hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with silky tannins. Long finish. More cherry fruit and anise on the aftertaste. Great aging potential.
2022 Castellare di Castelina
Jammy nose, with bright cherry and rosemary hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with silky tannins. Long finish. Easy drinking with black cherry and black licorice on the aftertaste. Charming, everyday bottle. Never disappoints.
2018 Castello di Radda, Riserva
Grassy and earthy nose. Dried cherry with forest floor and dried violet hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with moderate tannins. Long finish. Dark and brooding on the aftertaste. Almost Bordeaux-like.
2019 Marchesi Antinori Tignanello, Riserva
Big, jammy nose. Black cherry and black licorice hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with moderate, well-integrated tannins. Long finish. Dark fruit and rich cacao on the aftertaste. Stunning.
2020 Castello di Monsanto, Riserva
Fruity nose. Bright cherry fruit, with mineral, spicy, dried herb hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with moderate tannins. Long finish – Elegant. Sour cherry and cedar on the aftertaste. Deligthful.
Chianti Classico The Second Flight – Gran Selezione
2009 Castello di Monsanto Il Poggio
Vibrant nose. Earthy with dried cherry hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with firm tannins. Very long finish – seemingly endless. Complex, layered aftertaste. Spectacular.
2012 Rocca Delle Macie Riserva di Fizzano
Earthy nose with dried cherry and dried herb hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with firm tannins. Moderate length. Light finish.
2016 Villa Rosa
Fruity nose, rustic with dried cherry hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with firm tannins. Moderate length. Some anise and dried rosemary on the aftertaste.
2017 San Felice Il Grigio da San Felice
Bold nose, with bright cherry hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with firm tannins. Long finish. Black licorice and crushed violet petals on the aftertaste.
2017 Castello di Monsanto Il Poggio
Vibrant nose. Fruity and spicy with peppery and floral hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with moderate tannins. Long finish. Dark and brooding on the aftertaste.
2018 Castello di Bossi Bacci
Vibrant nose. Fruity with black cherry and dark chocolate hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with moderate tannins. Long finish. Dark fruit and anise on the aftertaste.
2018 Fèlsina Colonia
Vibrant nose. Herbaceous with bright cherry fruit and spice box hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with moderate tannins. Long finish – Wow. Black cherry and tobacco on the aftertaste.
2019 Il Molino di Grace Il Margone
Vibrant nose. Bright cherry with floral and anise hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with moderate tannins. Long finish. Dark and brooding on the aftertaste. This wine will age forever.
2019 Antinori Badia a Passignano
Dark, brooding nose. Black cherry, black currant and crushed rose petal hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with firm tannins. Long finish. Tight. Youthful. Another long-aging wine.
2020 Tenuta di Arceno Strada Al Sasso
Funky nose. Earthy with dried cherry and anise hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with firm tannins. Long finish. Opened on two occasions and this time the wine tastes off – perhaps a bad bottle?
2020 Castello di Ama San Lorenzo
Dark fruit nose. Fresh herb, with black pepper and red currant hints. Medium-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with moderate tannins. Long finish. Lovely aftertaste. Classic. Layered.
2021 Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo
Massive nose. Fruity, with anise and black cherry hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity. Well-balanced with firm tannins. Long finish. Tight. Dark and brooding. Sour cherry and rosemary on the aftertaste. Another one for the cellar.
Chianti Classico – The First Flight – the Scoring
| 2019 Marchesi Antinori Tignanello, Riserva | 14 |
| 2021 Fontodi | 12 |
| 2018 Castello di Radda, Riserva | 10 |
| 2022 Castellare di Castelina | 9 |
| 2018 Castell ’In Villa’ | 8 |
| 2020 Castello di Monsanto, Riserva | 8 |
| 2019 Piemaggio Le Fioraie | 5 |
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione – The Second Flight – The Scoring
| 2009 Castello di Monsanto Il Poggio | 31 |
| 2018 Fèlsina Colonia | 27 |
| 2021 Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo | 20 |
| 2017 Castello di Monsanto Il Poggio | 13 |
| 2020 Castello di Ama San Lorenzo | 11 |
| 2016 Villa Rosa | 5 |
| 2019 Il Molino di Grace Il Margone | 5 |
| 2018 Castello di Bossi Bacci | 4 |
| 2019 Antinori Badia a Passignano | 3 |
| 2017 San Felice Il Grigio da San Felice | 2 |
| 2012 Rocca Delle Macie Riserva di Fizzano | 1 |
| 2020 Tenuta di Arceno Strada Al Sasso | 0 |
Chianti Classico – The First Flight -The Food
Antipasto: Soppressata, Salami, Pecorino Parmigiano, Roasted Red Peppers
Lumache Truffle Cacio e Pepe
San Marzano Braised Meatball with Creamy Polenta and Locatelli Pecorino
Red Wine Braised Australian Wagyu Beef with Carrot and Pearl Onion Salsify Puree
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione – The Second Flight -The Cheese
Salva Cremasco
Salva Cremasco is a rustic and earthy cube-shaped cow’s milk cheese from northern Italy and has a characteristic ridged and mottled rind. It is aromatic and intense with notes of damp earth, hazelnut, and mushroom. The cheese ages from the outside in, developing a rich creamlike and crumbly interior. Salva Cremasco was first created hundreds of years ago, as a way to preserve excess milk that became abundant in the spring, when the cows graze on aromatic herbs and young grasses in the pastures of Lombardia. The name Salva Cremasco comes from the Italian salvare, meaning “to save.” Hundreds of years later, the cheese received DOP status, protecting its production.
Country: Italy
Milk Type: Cow
Cheese Type: Firm
Pecorino Ginepro
Pecornio Ginepro is a semihard sheep’s milk cheese that is bathed in balsamic vinegar (a regional specialty) and juniper berries and then aged in oak barrels. The deep brown rind that develops encases a bone white paste that is slightly granular and flaky. Full of flavor, musty aromas yield to a lingering fruity, woodsy finish with hints of juniper.
Country: Italy
Milk Type: Sheep
Cheese Type: Hard
Nabbabbo
Nabbabbo is a washed-rind cheese that is slightly pink in color. The paste is bright white in color, characteristic of soft goat cheese, and has a creamy and supple texture that closely resembles other typical Lombard cheeses. It is aged for over 40 days, the result creating a mild, buttery and rich flavor that retains the distinctive aftertaste of goat’s milk with a hint of bitterness.
Country: Italy
Milk Type: Goat
Cheese Type: Washed-Rind
Gorgonzola di Capra
Gorgonzola di Capra is a creamy and sweet blue cheese from Lombardy made from goat milk and aged for at least 60 days. The ivory-colored paste is characterized by light blue noble molds. The cheese has a mild flavor, with a very creamy texture.
Country: Italy
Milk Type: Goat
Cheese Type: Blue-Veined
