Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico – 2016

Castell’in Villa is one of the most important and renowned wine estates in Chianti, based in the beautiful, hilly countryside just outside Castelnuovo Berardenga. It was rated one of only 3 “1er Grand Cru Classé A” equivalent estates in Chianti by Walter Speller in his 2020 classification of Chianti’s top estates on Jancisrobinson.com. This remarkable Chianti Classico is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes coming from the estate’s 8 vineyard sites. It is aged in large Slavonian oak casks in traditional Chianti fashion for 12 months before bottling, then released onto the market around 3 years later. It has super-impressive depth of flavour and structure for a “simple” Chianti Classico, with notes of dried cherries, spice and cigar box. It is medium bodied, fresh and elegant, yet has the ability to develop and improve over 10-20 years! “The 2016 Chianti Classico is a wine that almost belongs in its own category, as it has very little to do with most straight Chianti Classicos. Powerful, classically austere and so incredibly beautiful, the 2016 is a total stunner. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, cedar, mint and dried flowers all open up with a bit of coaxing. All of the translucent beauty of Sangiovese comes through in a Chianti Classico that will leave readers weak at the knees. Readers who open the 2016 young will want to give it a good bit of aeration. If I could only have one wine reviewed in this entire article, it might very well be the Castell’in Villa 2016. The price? Ridiculous for the level of pedigree. What a wine.” 93+/100pts Vinous