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
