CHIANTI CLASSICO
2020 Castagnoli
Grapes | Sangiovese |
Colour | Red |
Origin | Italy, Tuscany |
Other | Certified Organic |
District | Chianti |
Sub-district | Chianti Classico |
ABV | 14.5% |
Another sensational release from Castagnoli, with more muscle and power in 2020 than the more delicate elegance of 2019. The hallmark freshness of Castagnoli does still shine through wonderfully. Detail and finesse are matched by good power, and good drive. Winemaker Filippo says for him this is probably a better wine than the 2019, and they worked really hard in the cellar to harness all the natural brilliance of the year with very gentle extraction of the juice. Some in open top plastic fermenters, using their hands to gently push down the cap as required and - the rest fermented in steel with gentle pump overs. Cherry fruit, firm blueberry and lovely sweet plum flesh combine with wild herbs. Beautiful drive and energy keeps this an an enthralling glass of wine and a very fine Chianti indeed. L&S (Mar 2023)
12 | ||
*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.
The broad terraces of bush vines on an open, sunny slope of western Castellina have created a pure, joyous Sangiovese Annata with great expressiveness and finesse. The nose opens with sweet almond paste, barley and maraschino cherry. The energy level picks up on the palate, which has a pleasingly bitter entry with quinine and gentian, dried cranberry fruit and a continued sense of sweet almond beneath. The tannins are slightly gravelly – reflecting the calcareous element in the soil here – but the mid-palate is sheer, with a translucency enhanced by flamboyant crescendos of acidity and a seductive hint of white pepper. Drinking range: 2023 - 2029 Rating: 93 Sarah Heller MW, Club Oenologique (May 2023)
Castagnoli
The first mention of Castagnoli was as early as the year 979, when it was an abbey. Centuries later it became the home of a noble Florentine family. The name recalls the previous existence of a chestnut forest.
The wines produced here are a true reflection of the hard work that has been undertaken by the current owners, the Shefernacker family, who are also wine producers in Württemberg. They are fully organic, and use some biodynamic preparations and principles, but are not fully biodynamic. Today the vineyard is about 11 ha in production, of which about 4.5 is on the terraces, interspersed with olive trees, planted on soils with a mix of galestro, loam, limestone and schist, at between 360 and 420m. Two-thirds of the total estate is forest which which helps to regulate temperatures.
The vineyard was planted from 1978, and they decided to make narrow stone terraces on a steep south and south-westerly-facing slope. The Sangiovese vines were planted each supported by one stake, like the albarelli of Etna. The current generation may rue this choice as these terraces and the way of training the vines both entail an enormous amount of manual work. However, the quality of the 'Terrazze' Riserva is indisputable.
The cool, high terrain gives elegant, long-ripened Sangiovese, and although they have experimented with other varieties, it is this which really shines here.
The team here is led by Tim Schefernacker (pictured with his young Maremma Sheepdog Lucie), helped by Filippo (winemaker) with Michele, Stefano and Davide in the vineyards and winery.
The Complete Christmas Mixed Case
"A best-seller every year this is quite simply the Christmas classics delivered!
If your presents are wrapped, the tree is up, fire on and the smell of Christmas cooking fills the house, then all you need to complete your Christmas is in this box.
There's delicious grower Champagne to get you started, a trio of Burgundy, Bordeaux, an Italian beauty and, to finish, a sweet Coteaux de Layon from the Loire."
- For full delivery details see our Delivery page.
- We offer free nationwide* delivery for all orders over £150 with our own vans. We also offer an express delivery service for an additional charge.
- Order & Collect from any of our 5 London shops. Order by Midnight for collection the next working day from 11am.
- Private wine storage: we offer a full In Bond and Duty Paid private wine storage service - find out more here.
ORDER COLLECT
ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT FROM ONE OF OUR SHOPS