Chianti Classico’s ‘intermediate’ category, Riserva is as rich in interpretations as it is weighted with opinions.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Chianti Classico Riserva 2019 & late releases
Following the letter of the law, minimum ageing is double that of annata – 24 months. Despite no stipulations about the type of ageing vessel, most Chianti Classico Riserva typically matures in oak barrels of one kind or another.
Given Chianti Classico Riserva’s two-year ageing requirements, this March’s tasting was the first official showing of the 2019 vintage – though there are still many yet to be bottled.
{"content":"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"}
Michaela’s top Chianti Classico Riserva 2019 & late release picks:
See all 100 of Michaela’s Chianti Classico tasting notes & scores from her reports
{}
{"wineId":"58686","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58687","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58688","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58700","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58701","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58702","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58689","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58690","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58691","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58703","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58704","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58692","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58693","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58705","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58694","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58695","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58696","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58697","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58698","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58699","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"58706","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
Related content