2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
100% Sangiovese from Kuntz vineyard. This failed the tasting commission initially because it was deemed too pale! But the values of the commission are changing. Harvest 12–26 September. Fewer than 5,000 bottles made. TA 5.28 g/l, pH 3.47. Mid garnet. Pungent nose. Very round and appealing. Deep flavoured. Long and resolved with no shortage of drive and energy. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Full bottle 1,524 g. Certified organic. Paler than the 2017. Mid garnet and a suggestion of oak on the nose. The particularly ripe fruit slightly disguises the ultra-digestible, appetising nature of the carefully selected Sangiovese parcel that informs this wine. Chestnut notes and still quite a bit of tannin. Much sweeter than the 2017 with lower acidity. Still a good drink but perhaps less obviously Sangiovese. Still impressively persistent though. (JR)
Greve. 100% Sangiovese. Certified organic. Deep ruby with orange tinges. Savoury iodine notes hovering over deep cherry fruit. Doesn’t give the impression of being tired. Hint of morocco leather. Supple and juicy and concentrated, but suave at the same time. Great precision for this vintage and with long, gravelly tannins. The finish is an impressive whole of tangy, succulent cherry fruit with long, gravelly tannins. Impressive for the vintage. Elegant. (WS)
This is my first sample of a Gran Selezione by Querciabella. Made with certified organic fruit (and sporting a hefty price tag), the 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Querciabella draws its fruit from the Ruffoli Vineyard in Greve in Chianti with vines planted in schistous galestro and sandstone soils at a cool 500 meters in elevation. This vintage comes off as open and accessible with warm-vintage fruit, tobacco, crushed stone and dried rose. There is a hint of soft cherry ripeness. The wine comes in a heavy glass bottle with 4,000 of them made.
About the producer
Literally translating as “beautiful oak”, Querciabella was created in 1974 by Giuseppe Castiglioni. A pioneer in Chianti, he started farming biodynamically and experimenting with both varieties and winemaking – one result of which was Camartina, the property’s flagship Super Tuscan.