UPC: 618109017517
Brand: Barone Ricasoli
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Vintage: 2020
Rating: 93
Farming Practice: Sustainable
These are the best set of wines I've seen from Francesco Ricasoli and the team at Barone Ricasoli in my two decades in this job. When I say ""the best,"" specifically I mean that they are the most assertive in their individual identities. This historic Castello di Brolio estate boasts a winemaking legacy spanning an almost unthinkable nine centuries. There have been many excellent vintages born in these cellars, and this estate has proudly produced groundbreaking wines that have shaped the very course of modern Italian wine.
WA93:I n the bottle with the black label, this is a very pretty, relatable and well-priced wine from Tuscany. Made with 100% Sangiovese, the 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva Brolio offers blueberry, plum and sweet spice thanks to 18 months of tonneaux aging. I especially appreciate the wine's pronounced mineral signature that gives the wine a salty or savory side, which is perfect for food pairing. Some 75,000 bottles were made.
WS91: A savory version, this Chianti Classico delivers green olive, tomato leaf, iron and tobacco flavors centered on a core of macerated cherry fruit. Though lean and sinewy, this is also intense and focused, with a lingering aftertaste that feels the pull of both the savory and fruity sides. Best from 2025 through 2038. 6,250 cases made, 3,500 cases imported.