Chianti Classico Riserva
2020
Region
Italy › Toscana › Chianti Classico DOCG
Type
red · still
Grapes
Field Blend, Sangiovese
Alcohol
13.5%
Volume
750 mL
Tasting Notes
Blind, I had no idea what this was. Beautiful, but clearly young. Good fruit core, red flowers, a delicate, perfumed nose with some barrel influence and a touch of pyrazine. Great acidity, but the tannin is quite firm - most likely due to age. There's juiciness underneath. Turned out to be a Chianti Classico Riserva 2020 from Radda - which makes sense. Needs time.
About
Val delle Corti is a small estate in Radda in Chianti - one of the highest and coolest sub-zones of Chianti Classico. The Riserva is only made in exceptional years from the estate's oldest Sangiovese vineyards. Vines 40-45 years old, east-facing at 450m on marly-limestone soils. Fermented 3 weeks in stainless steel or 2 weeks in open tonneaux, native yeasts, punchdowns by hand. 24 months in old barriques and tonneaux, 7 months bottle ageing. 13.5% alcohol. Bottled July 2023.
2020 vintage: climatically unstable - wonderful spring, cold May, fairly hot summer, cool rainy end of September forcing careful grape selection. The result is elegant, moderate, sweet in its fruit, with well-balanced tannin extraction.