Borgo Salcetino Lucarello Chianti Classico Riserva 2017

Cellar for up to 8 years. No need to decant before serving.

The Livon family have been making excellent white wines in Italy’s northeastern Collio region since the 1960s, but in 1996 Valneo and Tonino Livon decided to embark on a new adventure by acquiring the Borgo Salcetino estate in Radda in Chianti. In total they have 30 hectares, half of which are planted with native Sangiovese and Canaiolo grapes as well as some experimental Merlot plots.

This classic Chianti Classico Riserva is made from Sangiovese along with a small dash of Canaiolo grown on a mixture of sandy and clay soils in the village of Lucarelli. The fruit is carefully harvested by hand to maintain quality and then fermented in wooden barrels. The young wine ages in wooden barrels in their cellar for 24 months before bottling.

Bright red cherry, dried herbs and crushed wild berries dominate on the nose, while the first sip reveals an elegant medium body, refined tannins, and smooth texture. The finish is long with a refreshing streak of acidity and gentle notes of baked earth, leather, and pine that linger on the tongue. A great match for tomato-based pasta dishes, charcuterie, or mature cheeses.