In our previous exploration, Never Miss the Black Rooster’s Amazing Backstory we delved into the rich history behind the emblem of Chianti Classico and the dedicated efforts to preserve its renowned quality. Today, we shift our focus to the sensory delights of this Italian wine itself. We’ll uncover the distinct characteristics that make this wine a staple on tables around the world and introduce ten Chianti Classico wines that every wine lover should experience. Join me as we continue to journey through the captivating world of Chianti Classico, discovering the flavors and aromas that make each bottle unique.
As of July 1, 2023, the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium officially approved new regulations for Chianti Classico DOCG, ensuring even higher standards of quality. Amidst the vast selection of Italian wines, Chianti Classico stands out as an exceptional choice. If you’re exploring the rich world of Italian wines, I highly recommend opting for Chianti Classico wines for a truly authentic experience.
Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Chianti has long served as a vital corridor from Florence to Rome, linking central and northern Europe since Roman times. This strategic position has naturally encouraged the growth of both cities and vineyards. The name ‘Chianti’ is believed to derive from ‘Clan,’ an Etruscan word meaning ‘a place of frequent flooding.’ Today, Chianti Classico goes beyond mere geography; it represents a flowing cultural, historical, and emotional stream through its wine, becoming a beloved staple on the global market.
Table of Contents
1. Why You Should Experience Chianti Classico
Chianti Classico isn’t just a wine; it’s a journey into the heart of Tuscan wine heritage, offering a multitude of reasons for wine lovers to explore its depths. Here’s why:
- Unique Identity: Standing distinct from its Chianti counterparts, Chianti Classico has long been celebrated for its rich taste that echoes the Tuscan tradition. Efforts to delineate its production zone and combat forgery have only accentuated its unique character.
- Diverse Expressions: Although Sangiovese grapes flourish across Italy, Chianti Classico captivates with an unparalleled range of expressions and flavors, showcasing the grape’s versatility within its own microcosm.
- Versatile Pairing: This wine’s remarkable acidity, balance, and structure make it a perfect companion to a wide array of cuisines, transcending borders from traditional Italian dishes to global gastronomies.
- Aging Potential: Its exceptional aging capability invites connoisseurs to witness its graceful evolution, offering new dimensions of taste over time.
- An Escape to Tuscany: The allure of visiting a rustic winery in the Chianti Classico region offers a welcome respite from the ordinary, enriching your wine journey with vivid experiences and stories.
2. Exploring Taste of Chianti Classico
Wondering about the Chianti Classico’s tast of this Italian wine? While personal tastes may vary, here’s a vivid snapshot of this celebrated wine’s profile:
- Color and Evolution: Fresh from the bottle, it dazzles with a brilliant ruby hue, showcasing exceptional clarity. Over time, it gracefully matures into garnet or brick-red shades, a testament to its aging potential.
- Aroma: The first encounter reveals a bouquet of ripe cherries🍒 and strawberries🍓, accented with hints of violet or iris, hinting at its inherent elegance. Dive deeper to discover earthy notes reminiscent of a damp forest floor🌳, leather, or tobacco, adding layers of complexity. Warm vintages might bring forth a nostalgic, dusty scent, akin to childhood memories on a sunbaked playground. A swirl of the glass uncovers subtle herbal and spicy whispers of licorice, oregano, thyme,🌿 and white pepper, enriching the aromatic tapestry.
- Flavor: On the palate, this wine bursts with vivid cherry, raspberry, and red plum flavors, supported by a backbone of lively acidity that invigorates the taste buds. Smooth, well-integrated tannins lend structure and texture, balancing the wine’s fresh juiciness with a meaty depth that invites contemplation.
In essence, this wine is a harmonious symphony of flavors and aromas, dancing together to create a lively yet elegantly structured wine experience.
If you’re drawn to wines that embody freshness, vibrancy, and elegance, this Italian wine is an essential addition to your wine journey. Having delved into the essence of this Italian wine, the next step is to experience its allure firsthand. But which wines should grace your table for a genuine Chianti Classico experience? Let’s discover the bottles that will unlock the true spirit of this iconic wine.
3. Ten Chianti Classico Wines Highly Recommended
1. Banfi, Chianti Classico Riserva 2018
Founded by the Italian-American Mariani family, who entered the wine import and distribution business in 1919, Banfi is a renowned winery with a rich heritage. The estate, Castello Banfi, spans vast lands in Europe, dedicating equal parts to grapevines, olive groves, other crops, and forests. The Mariani family has revitalized the historic Poggio alle Mura, transforming it into a welcoming restaurant and hotel.
Deeply invested in viticultural research, especially concerning Sangiovese clones, Banfi aims to enhance local winemaking practices and community welfare. Their wine is crafted from Sangiovese grapes cultivated in limestone-rich soils, undergoing fermentation with skin contact for 8-10 days, followed by a brief aging period in French oak barrels. This process yields a wine with vivid aromas of cherry, plum, and violet, complemented by flavors of cherry and leather, characterized by soft tannins and lively acidity. Not only versatile in pairings, but the 2020 vintage of this wine also earned the 24th spot in Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines of 2022.
2. Carpinetto, Chianti Classico Riserva 2018
Carpinetto, founded in 1967 by the Sacchet and Dal Cin families, has become a staple in Tuscan winemaking. Their vineyards, strategically located across Tuscany, contribute 90% of the grapes for their wine production, embracing sustainable agriculture to ensure quality and environmental care.
The Chianti Classico Riserva from Carpinetto is crafted from a blend of Sangiovese and Canaiolo grapes, nurtured in the distinct galestro and alberese soils of the region. This wine undergoes a meticulous aging process, spending over a year in both Slavonian and French oak barrels, then an additional 10 months in the bottle to refine its profile.
Characterized by the quintessential notes of tobacco, wet leaves, licorice, red cherries, dried plums, and orange peel, this wine offers a rich tapestry of flavors balanced with excellent structure and smooth tannins. Notably, its inviting aroma lingers in the glass, enhancing the tasting experience long after the wine has been enjoyed.
3. Castello di Ama, Ama Chianti Classico 2018
Located in the heart of Chianti on the Gaiole hill, Castello di Ama marries its vineyards with the natural beauty of forests and olive groves. Records of Chianti wines in this area date back to AD 998, but a wave of modernization swept through when Marco Pallanti took charge in 1982.
Under his guidance, approximately 50,000 vines were replanted by 1987, based on thorough geology, topography, and microclimate research. Serving as the president of the Chianti Classico wine consortium, Pallanti played a pivotal role in the region’s development.
Today, Castello di Ama is celebrated globally for its quality wines. Their wine boasts a vivid ruby color, with layered aromas of violet, red currant, cherry, strawberry, and sandalwood. On the palate, it presents fresh acidity, smooth tannins, and a distinctive citrus peel finish, embodying elegance and harmony.
4. Dievole, Novecento Chianti Classico Riserva 2018
Dievole, nestled 7.5 mines (12 km) north of Siena, carries a name that echoes its divine legacy, “Dio Vuole” or “God Wills,” a homage to its sacred vineyard roots dating back to 1090. The winery underwent significant transformations in 1980 and 2012, heralding new eras of wine production. The Novecento Chianti Classico Riserva is crafted from grapes cultivated in soils rich in galestro, alberese, and sandstone.
The winemaking process includes fermentation with wild yeast in concrete vats, malolactic conversion, and aging in French oak barrels, followed by an additional 3 months of bottle aging. This wine is distinguished by its floral and ripe red fruit, tobacco, and leather aromas, with a palate featuring black cherry, licorice, and white pepper, balanced by subtle tannins and acidity.
5. Fontodi, Chianti Classico 2020
Owned by the Manetti family since 1968, Fontodi stands as a distinguished producer in the Chianti region, boasting a long-standing popularity in Korea. Practicing organic viticulture across vineyards with a density of 6,000 vines per hectare, Fontodi exemplifies the purest expression of Sangiovese from Panzano.
The winemaking process includes fermentation with wild yeast and a two-week maceration in steel tanks, followed by 18 months of aging in Tronçais and Allier oak barrels. The resulting Chianti Classico shines with a bright ruby color, emitting aromas of violets, spices, red currants, and cherries. The palate enjoys a balsamic hint, crisp acidity, pronounced minerality, and a lengthy finish, pairing superbly with roasted pork, beef, gnocchi, and salami.
6. Lornano, Chianti Classico 2019
As a founding member of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium, Lornano is a boutique winery that has been nurtured by the Buti family since 1904. Located in the southwest hills of Castellina, Lornano stands at an elevation of approximately 1,148 feet (350 meters), where 70 hectares of vineyards benefit from sustainable certification.
After a comprehensive renovation in 2010 aimed at vineyard restructuring and boosting exports, Lornano’s Sangiovese wines display an intense ruby hue, ripe red fruit, spice, and floral aromas. The palate is graced with delicate tannins, balanced acidity, and a polished finish, appealing especially to aficionados of New World wines.
7. Antinori, Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2019
The Antinori family, presiding over one of the world’s oldest wine dynasties, has led the Italian wine industry for six centuries. With estates across Tuscany, Umbria, and Piedmont, they produce esteemed wines that truly reflect their region’s terroir.
Embracing both tradition and innovation, Antinori wines resonate with a wide range of wine enthusiasts. Since 2011, the Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva is crafted exclusively from grapes of the Tenuta Tignanello estate, unveiling an intense ruby color alongside aromas of vanilla, spices, ripe red fruits, and cherries. On the palate, it captivates with richness, smooth tannins, balanced harmony, and an animated finish.
8. Ricasoli, Brolio Chianti Classico
Barone Ricasoli stands as the fourth oldest family-owned winery in the world, with roots stretching back to 1141. Occupying Chianti Classico’s largest estate, the Brolio vineyard spans about 250 hectares (618 acres), showcasing a variety of soils and Sangiovese clones. Their Chianti Classico blend includes Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 9-11 months in French oak barrels, then 3-6 months in the bottle. It presents a ruby-red color with garnet hints, and a bouquet of cherries, blackberries, spices, and tobacco, paired with a balanced structure, velvety tannins, and a lasting finish.
9. San Felice, Chianti Classico 2020
Located in Castelnuovo Berardenga at the Chianti Classico region’s southern edge, San Felice has been a pivotal figure in this prestigious wine’s evolution for over half a century. As a founding member of the Chianti Classico consortium, it boasts 140 hectares (346 acres) dedicated to vineyards, with a strong focus on championing native grape varieties such as Sangiovese, despite the rising popularity of international varieties. Their commitment to scientific research and high-quality winemaking has consistently highlighted Sangiovese’s versatility and potential.
San Felice was at the vanguard of the super Tuscan wine movement with its early introduction of Vigorello. In the 1970s, they broke new ground with Pozzo di Lupo, their take on the Cru concept, and later became pioneers once again by releasing the first Gran Selezione wine. Their Chianti Classico is celebrated for its rich aromas of cranberry, juniper, and spices, offering a refreshingly harmonious sensation. The palate is graced with flavors of red cherries and delicate, ripe tannins leading to a long, nuanced finish. These wines shine alongside Pecorino cheese, tortellini, risotto, and a variety of other dishes.
10. Tenuta di Arceno, Chianti Classico Riserva 2019
Mentioned in documents dating back to 1000, Arceno, acquired by the Jackson family in 1994, spans about 2,500 acres (1,012 hectares) with 13 soil types. Their 100% Sangiovese wine offers deep, powerful, and concentrated qualities, with aromas of red fruits, violets, cypress, and earth. The palate enjoys cherry, mineral, and spice flavors, complemented by fresh acidity, soft tannins, and a smooth finish. It’s perfect with Margherita pizza, Bolognese spaghetti, and eggplant dishes.