Flavours of sour red cherry, juicy forest fruits and balsamic notes – a Riserva packed with acidity and tannins

This delicious Chianti Classico Riserva is made from “first selection” – or the best and ripest – grapes, harvested from a south-west-facing vineyard 400 metres from the centre of Castellina in Chianti. The wine offers an impressive level of fresh acidity. Balance that with pronounced fruit flavours and tannins, and you’ll find the wine which will continue improving in your cellar for years. When you open the bottle, give it at least a couple of hours to breathe or decant it – it will impress you more if you give it plenty of air.

Squarcialupi Riserva is made from 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon – all grown in Castellina, at an altitude of 500-550 metres. After harvesting by hand, the grape juice is fermented for eight days in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature, to preserve the natural bouquet of Sangiovese. Then, the wine is left to macerate on the skins for three weeks, extracting the polyphenols and aromas from the grape skins. After that, it is aged for 12 months in large, 4700-litre oak barrels, in the historic cellar, beneath the Squarcialupi palace in the very heart of Castellina. Finally, the wine spends another six months in small 225-litre oak barriques. This helps to open up the power of Cabernet and introduce complex notes of coffee and spices.

Tasting notes:

In this glass, this Squarcialupi Chianti Classico Riserva has a deep ruby colour. When taking the first sip, the first thing you notice is the aroma of sour red cherry and dark balsamic vinegar – you can feel the shadow of Cabernet Sauvignon here. Those aromas are supported by notes of juicy forest berries, sweet pipe tobacco, espresso and leather. This wine is getting more and more interesting by the year. It’s bold and full-bodied, packed with acidity and grippy tannins.

Awards:

James Suckling – 93 points (2015 vintage)