2016 Chianti Classico Riserva
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Tasting notes
The same blend, but aged 24 months in French and Austrian casks, the smaller production 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva offers a ruby/plum color as well as lots of baked cherry and redcurrant fruit interwoven with spice box, licorice, and sandalwood nuances. Medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, and balanced on the palate, it has more concentration as well as length and should benefit from a year or three of bottle age. It should keep for over a decade.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Gaiole in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo and Colorino. Lustrous mid ruby. Lifted cherry with minerally, saline notes and hints of crushed shells. Transparent, medium-bodied palate with fine yet gripping tannins. Fluid, sour-cherry fruit on the finish. Still embryonic, and with lots of potential. (WS)
Showing beautiful results in an excellent vintage, the 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva is a graceful and elegantly tempered red wine. It makes good on all the basic promises of traditional Sangiovese: the complexity and elegance of the grape and that fresh acidity. It opens to a mid-weight style, making this a perfect wine for roast chicken and roast potatoes. Pretty mineral notes appear on the close, and the tannin is beautifully integrated. Some 22,000 bottles were made.
This is firmly placed in red-fruit territory with frozen strawberries, dried red cherries and fresh herbs. Round and juicy on the medium-to full-bodied palate and succulent on the finish. Drink now.