Ultramarine blue, ultrawine red. A Chianti preview

The best wines we tasted at the Chianti Lovers event among the Chianti 2021 and 2020, Chianti Superiore 2020 and Chianti Riserva 2019 offered, including some wines from subzones.

Could there possibly be a more evocative color than ultramarine blue? Perhaps only an “ultrawine red”, the ruby red of a Chianti that transcends the cultural and geographic horizons of the region of Tuscany. A red that depicts a harlequin assortment of colors that embrace Tuscany’s leading cities and 15,500 hectares of its hills, with 105 million bottles produced a year. The harlequin aspect is represented by the subzones of Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Senese, Colline Pisane, Aretine, Montalbano, Montespertoli and Rufina.

Chianti can boast having been drunk by everyone at least once in their lifetime, with the word Chianti itself embodying the essence of Tuscany, its cultural, esthetic and human acceptation.

Romanticism aside, the truth is in the pudding and this year it was up to me to attend the Chianti Lovers preview event and select my favorites among the Chianti 2021, Chianti 2020. Chianti Superiore 2020 and Chianti Riserva 2019 wines offered.

The following were my favorites among the 114 wines I tasted. Fattoria del Selvapiani is notably absent.

Chianti 2021

Ruffino

89/100 - € 7

70% Sangiovese and the rest other Chianti varietals. Fermented in stainless steel and cement. A ruby color with purple reflections. The floral aroma has scents of violet and rose with hints of nutmeg and a touch of cinnamon. The balanced and fresh mouthfeel closes a bit dry due to the wine’s youth. Great experience offers absolute pleasure.

• Salcheto, Biskero - 88/100
• Tenuta Coeli, Aula - 88/100
• Fattoria Uccelliera - 88/100
• Poggio del Moro - 88/100
• Poggiotondo Cerreto Guidi - 88/100
• Casa di Monte - 87/100
• Castello di Gabbiano, Cavaliere d’Oro - 87/100
• Castello di Poppiano, Le Terre - 87/100
• Castelvecchio, Santa Caterina - 87/100
• Dianella - 87/100
   

Chianti Colli Senesi 2021

Villa Poggio Salvi

90/100 - € 10

90% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino and 5% Merlot. Matured in Slavonian oak barrels. A full, ruby color. The intense and broad bouquet offers notes of aromatic herbs and Mediterranean underbrush, strawflower and licorice root. The mouthfeel is juicy, relaxed and has great texture. A Sangiovese in formal attire.

Tenuta Casabianca

90/100 - € 9

80% Sangiovese and the remaining 20% a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo and Colorino. Matured in stainless steel and cement. A ruby color with a dominant aroma of black cherry wrapped in white spice with elegant notes of graphite. A juicy, full-bodied wine with a fruity aftertaste.
 

Chianti Montalbano 2021

Villa Bibbiani

90/100 - € 15

90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo Nero and Colorino. Matured in Slovenian oak barrels and barriques. An intense ruby color and bouquet of small red fruit, wild black cherry. A fresh and balanced mouthfeel. Pleasingly excellent.
 

Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2020

Torre a Cona, Crociferro

89/100 - € 13,50

Mostly Sangiovese with some Colorino. 30% of the wine matures in Slavonian oak barrels and 70% in stainless steel. A ruby color and intense bouquet with tertiary aromas of animal notes, lard, sweet pipe tobacco, dried prunes and a potpourri scents. The mouthfeel has a certain, classic austerity.
 

Chianti Superiore 2020

Colognole, Sinopie

88/100 - € 7,50

93% Sangiovese and 7% Merlot. Matured in stainless steel. A bold and intense aroma with crispy red fruit and notes of sweet spice. The mouthfeel is fresh and the tannins compact. Young.
 

Chianti Riserva 2019

Villa Poggio Salvi, Val di Merse

88/100 - € 24

90% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino and 5% Merlot. Matured in 30hl oak barrels. An intense ruby color, a bouquet that centers on small red fruit and a fresh and long mouthfeel.
 

Chianti Colli Fiorentini Riserva 2019

Torre a Cona, Badia a Corte

90/100 - € 20

100% Sangiovese matured in Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months. An intense and bright ruby color. Intense aromas of red fruit, currant along with exotic notes of lychees, orange peel and elderflower. A saline and full mouthfeel with a medium persistence.

Torre a Cona, Terre di Cino

94/100 - € 20

100% Sangiovese matured in different sizes of wood for 24 months. A ruby-red color. The bouquet is of wild black cherry, boxwood and orange peel and the mouthfeel elegant, fresh and quite persistent. Elegant overall.
 

Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva 2019

Tenuta Casabianca, Belsedere

90/100 - € 25

100% Sangiovese matured in French oak barriques for 24 months. A ruby-red color. The aroma is very intense and deep with scents of blood, blackberry and blueberry jam and notes of graphite. The mouthfeel has animal sensations and is full-bodied, juicy and has great texture.
 

Chianti Montespertoli Riserva 2019

Casa di Monte

89/100 - € 10