Ideally drink now through 2023. Decant for 30 minutes prior to serving

The Isole E Olena Chianti Classico is an intense, fresh, and delicious example of a refined Chianti Classico from a decidedly quality minded producer. Aromas of ripe red cherry, toast, exotic spice, and clove lead into a palate that is bright and juicy, with high toned flavors of bramble fruit, red cherry, coffee, and white pepper. Fresh acidity, fine grained ripe tannins, and a silky finish complete this balanced and complex Chianti.

Chianti’s are perfect table wines because they pair with a wide variety of dishes, especially those hailing from Tuscany, Chianti’s home. Artichoke salad, boar ragu, cacio e pepe, or Bisteca alla Fiorentina all would suit this style of wine.

Isola E Olena is the combination of two estates purchased by the De Marchi family in the 1950’s, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. After the family’s 4th generation winemaker, Paolo De Marchi, returned home from working harvests in California and France, he began a project of modernization to bring his family’s estate into the 21st century, extensively replanting vineyards and updating winery equipment. For this Chianti Classico, he combined 80% Sangiovese with 15% Canaiolo (a native Tuscan variety that gives a darker fruit character to wines), and finished the wine with 5% Syrah. This unique combination of grapes led to a more intense and complex Chianti Classico than many typical examples from the region.

Ideally drink till 2028. Decant 1 hour.

A vibrant ruby red in colour, the nose gives ripe red fruit, cocoa, vanilla, a delicate floral note and a little spice. On the palate, flavours of red currant, chocolate, vanilla and coffee burst onto the taste buds. The tannins are smooth and the acidity balances well with good alcohol levels. The finish is long and luxurious with a vanilla end.

Great match with red meats, stews, pate and cheese.

Capannelle believes in combining the traditional with cutting edge technology and forward thinking wine making techniques. For this Chianti Classico Riserva the grapes are fermented in steel vats for 18-20 days. Following a malolactic fermentation, the wine is fermented in French or Austrian oak vats for 18 months, with a further period of bottle maturation. The production volume is around the 13,000 bottle mark, making this wine a much sought after vintage.

Capannelle started life in 1974 when Raffaele Rossetti took over the property. The first wine was produced in 1975 which was a Chianti by the name of Casale. Over the next few years, the winery developed better working techniques and much better quality fruit and wine, transporting it into being recognised as one of the best manufacturers in quality terms. The vineyard is located in Radda in Chianti and has 16 hectares of mainly Sangiovese grapes but with a little Chardonnay, Malvasia Nera and Canaiolo mixed in. With a dedication to constantly improve their wines, they have now attained an almost cult status with some of their wines, resulting in demand always exceeding supply – a great position to be in!

Drink now through to 2044. No need to decant before serving.

Felsina’s Rancia Chianti Classico takes its name from the former Benedictine monastery which sits near the Rancia vineyard. The estate is widely regarded as one of the finest producers of Chianti Classico with this particular bottling lauded by wine critics all over the globe as a true Tuscan masterpiece.

The Rancia vineyard is located in in Castelnuovo Berardenga in the southeastern corner of the Chianti Classico appellation and is planted on southwesterly-facing slopes of 400 to 420 metres of altitude. The Sangiovese grapes are attentively harvested by hand each year and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then matured in oak barrels for up to 20 months before the composition of the blend is decided. The Rancia is then aged in the bottle for a further 6 to 8 months before it is released.

On the nose you’ll immediately notice the classic Chianti aromas of ripe cherry, dried flowers, leather and a distinctive earthy character. The first sip reveals a firm structure balanced by fresh acidity and vibrant red fruit, baking spice and herbal flavours which linger long on the tongue. The bold flavour profile of this wine make it an ideal contender for extended cellar ageing.

Drink now through 2028. No need to decant before serving.

This historic Chianti estate is set in the southern part of the region and has been in the Martini di Cigala family since 1914. Over the years the family have been guardians of the traditional Chianti Classico style even as other local wineries embraced more modern international winemaking approaches. Today their Chianti Classico is a regular favourite with wine critics and the 2016 vintage was ranked third in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2019.

In the vineyard the estate follows organic agricultural practices to produce top quality fruit and harvests by hand at optimum maturity. Their Chianti Classico is predominantly Sangiovese with a small amount of Canaiolo. The young wine ages in a combination of large oak casks and 500 litre tonneaux for 10-12 months before bottling and release.

The San Giusto a Rentennano style is refined and elegant with well-built structure and firm tannins held in place by a fresh acidity. On the nose red cherry and plum are complemented by dried herbs and licorice while the first sip reveals a medium body, smooth texture and long spiced finish. A great Chianti to add to the cellar or enjoy now with venison, roast beef or a hearty ragu served with fresh pasta.

Drink now through 2028. No need to decant before serving.

Located close to the village of Radda, the Monteraponi estate is set around a stunning 10th century villa which was once owned by the Marquis of Tuscany, Baron Ugo. In 2003 the current owner Michele Braganti began to bottle the estate’s own wines with fruit from family vineyards that had previously been sold to local wineries. Today the estate has around 10 hectares of vineyards which include some of the highest plots in Chianti planted at up to 570 metres above sea level on limestone soils.

Michele follows a traditional minimal intervention approach in the winery with hand harvesting and fermentation in cement vats. For the Chianti Classico maturation is carried out in large Slavonian and French oak casks for 16 months and the wine is bottled without fining or filtration to preserve the natural flavour profile. The result is a fresh and elegant Chianti with plenty of vibrancy that will age well over the next five or six years in the cellar.

On the nose there are classic Chianti notes of red cherry, plum and savoury herbal hints while the first sip reveals a medium body, refreshing acidity and a long, clean finish. This beautiful Chianti is a perfect match for tomato-based pasta dishes or hunter’s chicken thanks to the bright freshness on the palate.

Drink now through to 2036. No need to decant before serving.

The Fontodi estate is widely recognised as one of Chianti’s finest thanks to a combination of well-placed vineyards and incredible care and attention to detail in the vineyard and winery. The estate has been owned by the Fontodi family since 1968 with present owner Giovanni Manetti at the helm since 1980. The estate’s 90 hectares of vines are located in the so-called “conca d’oro” or “golden shell” close to the charming town of Panzano, a natural amphitheatre which is famed for producing powerful yet elegant wines.

Fontodi’s Chianti Classico is produced according to minimal interventionist principles in both the vineyard and winery. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks using wild yeasts which occur naturally in the winery and on the skins. The young wine is then transferred to French oak barrels for 18 months of maturation before bottling.

Plums, tart cherries, leather and tobacco characterise the nose while the first sip reveals ample juicy fruit flavours, fine tannins and a bright streak of acidity. The structure is well-defined with a smooth texture and generous, lightly spiced finish. A great Chianti to add to the cellar or enjoy now with game, roasted red meats or fresh pasta served with a tomato-based sauce.