Acclaim

Floral and fragrant on the nose, this enticing red shows a beam of plumped cherry, with hints sandalwood, anise and clove, plus notes of fresh earth and mineral. Framed by creamy tannins and racy acidity, this expands on the palate and lingers on the finish. Drink now through 2029. 100 cases made, 38 cases imported.

Pretty berry fruit like raspberries and hawthorn berries here, plus hazelnuts and orange rind. It’s bright and beautifully balanced with a medium to full body and an elegant frame of firm yet tight-knit tannins. Delicious finish. Best after 2027.

This is showing notes of walnut husk, dried oranges, sage, green strawberries and star anise. Some ground tea leaves. It’s full-bodied with tannins that are a little chalky in nature. Broad, muscular and firm finish. Try after 2027.

The 2021 Chianti Classico Fontalpino is lush and inviting with a saturated perfume of black cherry liqueur, sunny Mediterranean herbs, mossy earth, and mocha. Full-bodied with ripe, silky tannins, it retains good freshness while retaining a rounded profile and has a savory finish with notes of tea leaf. It’s a very attractive and ripe wine with lots of complexity and depth that’s going to do well over the coming 8-10 years.

The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Dofana is a spicy and layered wine with aromas unfolding to notes of red cherry liqueur as well as lifted notes of cranberry, fresh pine, crushed rosemary, and peppercorn. Medium to full-bodied, it offers a more structured side on the palate, with ripe but present tannins, vibrant acidity, a long, savory finish, and a saline and mineral-toned profile. Notes of orange zest come through on the palate as well, with herbs of amaro.

The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Montaperto offers an autumnal bouquet with layered aromas of chestnut, black cherry, cedar, wild herbs, and fresh leather. Medium to full-bodied, it brings wonderful purity on the palate, with a ripe but more focused and linear feel. It floats across the palate with fine tannins, and its more red-fruited profile shines all the way through the long finish, with hints of ripe orange citrus. It retains wonderful fresh acidity that never juts out of the refined and silky texture. It was my favorite in the lineup in Tuscany as well as on a second tasting at my home office.