2019 Chianti Classico Rancia
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An icon wine of Tuscany, the Fèlsina 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia (with 48,000 bottles made) is distinguished by its special aromatic fingerprint that truly brings us to a sense of place. At its heart, the wine reveals dark fruit and plum. More interesting, however, are the dusty mineral sensations that give so much texture and depth to the Rancia. These aromas can only be found in Sangiovese from the galestro and alberese-rich soils of Chianti Classico. This vintage follows up with sweet tobacco, toasted chestnut and scorched earth. Give this wine more time to flesh out and evolve in the bottle.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Amplified even further is the 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia, which offers up a musky cologne of cedar, cherry licorice, cracked pepper, and menthol. It is medium to full bodied, with a rich tannin structure, a broad mid-palate, and a long, fragrant finish. This will certainly be a wine that needs time in cellar and will continue to improve over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2025-2040. Located in the southeast on the edge within the Chianti Classico delimited boundary, in Castelnuovo Berardenga, Felsina has 95 hectares under vine, with the estate owning a total of 600 hectares that include olive trees and an oil production facility.
The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a bit slender than some recent years, but makes up for that with its strong aromatic presence. In 2019, Rancia leans into the more vegetal side of the spectrum. That quality can work for Sangiovese, especially with age, but in a young wine it is also somewhat distracting.
Castelnuovo Berardenga. 100% Sangiovese. Mid ruby with orange tinges. Sour cherry over savoury-sweet oak. Pure sour-cherry palate of great depth and with lots of oak, but it works. Well-handled oak treatment and high-quality fruit makes this possible, but less oak might just deliver a more individual wine. (WS)