Chianti Classico 1716 to 2016: Eight wines heading for greatness
Chianti Classico wine producers are marking 300 years since the first Chianti zone was drawn up. Richard Baudains chooses his top eight Chianti Classico wines from a new wave of winemakers to help you celebrate.
Chianti Classico 1716 to 2016
It’s three centuries since Cosimo III de’Medici, the grand duke of Tuscany, decided to regulate wines from a specific area that was to be the forerunner of Chianti Classico denomination.
Celebrations kicked off in February 2016 at the ‘antiprima’ tasting of the 2015, 2014 and 2013 vintages of Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, IGT, Vin Santo and the new premium category Gran Selezione, in the Stazione Leopolda in Florence.
There were more than 2,000 visitors at event, which had 164 stands of Chianti producers.
The Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III, set the original 70,000-hectare Chianti boundary between the cities of Florence and Siena in a legal document in 1716.
In the early 20th century Chianti Classico’s popularity soared. The original production area could not fulfil demand and cheap, imitation wine made outside of the Chianti Classico zone was flooding the marketing branded under the Chianti Classico name. In 1924, the ‘Consortium for the protection of Chianti wine and its trademark of origin’ was established to protect the Chianti Classico name, choosing the black rooster as its emblem which can be seen on the bottles today.
Chianti Classico received D.O.C.G. status just 32 years ago in 1984, the highest recognition in Italian wine.
To mark the 300th anniversary, Richard Baudains visited the region and discovered that young property owners are bringing new and exciting approaches to Chianti Classico, showing the region is not frightened of change. Here are eight of his highest rated picks:
Stephen Brook gives his thoughts on the Gran Selezione category
Florence and Chianti Classico travel guide
Val delle Corti, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2013
Pale, with bright reflections, delicate but beautifully defined on the nose with violets, red cherry and a hint of powder puff. Long, intense, tangy, pure Sangiovese palate with a lightly spiced-salty finish. Impeccable.
2013
Val delle CortiChianti Classico
Caparsa Caparsino, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, 2011
Mid-ruby shade, rich and plummy on the nose, with a background of pine, eucalyptus and iris. Great texture and balance on the palate, dense but super-fine tannins, deeply ingrained fruit. A touch austere now, but has a great future.
2011
Caparsa CaparsinoChianti
Le Miccine, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2013
Beautiful, bright mid-ruby robe and an elegant nose of red cherry and rose petals. Quiet on the palate, but the extraction is perfectly judged and the oak unobtrusive. Racy, vibrant expression of vintage from super, selected fruit.
2013
Le MiccineChianti Classico
Il Palagio, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2011
Complex, mature nose with sweet incense and very personal pomegranate fruit, a touch of moss and thyme, and some black pepper. Great impact on the palate with bags of ripe, concentrated fruit and satisfying length and freshness on the finish.
2011
Il PalagioChianti Classico
San Giusto a Rentennano, Le Baròncole, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, 2012
Earthy, herbaceous-borderstyle nose. Full-bodied, punchy and broad, with a first impression of pruney fruit on the palate, but also a fresher note of cassis on the long, dry finish. Needs time for the tannins to soften. No hurry to drink.
2012
San Giusto a RentennanoChianti
Villa Calcinaia, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, 2011
Bright, natural Sangiovese shade. Sweet rose petal and marjoram on the nose, with a touch of chestnut flour and a hint of nutmeg. Round, ripe tannins and precise fruit on the palate with great character. An annata wine on great form now.
2011
Villa CalcinaiaChianti
Lamole di Lamole, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, 2011
Open and ripe on the nose with notes of apple purée and pot pourri. Rich and dense on the palate, but not overpowering, with gritty tannins and a firm underlying acid structure. A treat for anyone who enjoys chunky-style Sangiovese.
2011
Lamole di LamoleChianti
Castello di Albola, Le Ellere, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, 2012
Sweet, floral nose with ripe, plummy fruit, bay leaf, candied peel and a touch of sweet leather coming through. Punchy opening on the palate and a soft, herby finish. A textbook interpretation of the hot 2012 vintage.
2012
Castello di AlbolaChianti
