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B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
"Two thousand twenty-one is the single greatest young vintage I have ever tasted in Chianti Classico. Period. Full stop." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
There you have it. We couldn't have said it better ourselves. This epic Tuscan vintage keeps delivering the goods in every denominacion across the region, but it truly seems like Chianti Classico hit the highest heights of all with "majestic wines endowed with striking aromatics, layered fruit and all the energy that is such a signature of the appellation." We've seen countless head-turning standouts come through already (with more to come soon), and today we're showcasing the some of the region's best buys.
Leading off, our direct-import star Le Cinciole has, to no one's surprise, delivered incredible bang for the buck in their "juicy, vivid, and crunchy" entry-level value star. Ruffino, perhaps Chianti's most well-known estate, turned out a Wine Spectator Top 20 Riserva with their 2021 Ducale, and Fonterutoli's 2021 delivers a double-93-point powerhouse expression, "darker, more powerful and concentrated than your standard entry-level Chianti Classico" according to Monica Larner. The double 95-point 2021 Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva stacks up as an all-time great value buy from Italy at under $30. "Aromatic, vibrant and delineated, the Riserva captures all the best qualities of the year," writes Antonio Galloni.
Finally, we are thrilled to present the 2021s from our direct-import secret weapon, Caparsa. "Caparsa remains one of Chianti Classico's under-the- radar gems, a small estate known only to relatively small subset of wine lovers," notes Galloni, "These new releases are nothing short of captivating." The DC95 2021 Chianti Classico is "pure drinking pleasure" for a mere song. Few, if any, of the Chiantis we've found in the sub-$30 price range deliver quite the impact and head-turning presence that the 2021 Caparsa does. As Galloni writes, "This is a very serious, hugely overachieving Chianti Classico." The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Caparsino finishes everything off with its pair of 95-point reviews from Decanter and Galloni, who praises it as "plush and wonderfully deep right out of the gate" making for "a Riserva of uncommon character and distinction."
No matter your style preference, Chianti Classico's extraordinary 2021 vintage has the perfect fit at prices that make it easy to stock up big. |
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This powerful red is dense yet fleshy, evoking cherry, tobacco, iron, earth and wild herb notes. Balanced and fresh, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit, savory Mediterranean herbs and mineral notes. Best from 2026 through 2041. 5,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.
93 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Jun 2024)
Notes of raspberries and cherries with red licorice, dried orange peel and spices. Medium- to full-bodied with meaty structure. Tannins are wide and velvety with a juicy, red-fruited mid-palate. Fresh and crunchy at the end. Drink or hold.
93 points, James Suckling (Aug 2023)
From a vintage that delivered great results across the region, the 2021 Chianti Classico Fonterutoli is a bit darker, more powerful and concentrated than your standard entry-level Chianti Classico. Cherry and dark plum cede to pretty mineral tones. That extra intensity is part of the house style and is a little gift for those who appreciate more meat on those Sangiovese bones. In fact, that grape is blended with a small 10% part of Malvasia Nera and Colorino in this ample 290,000-bottle release hitting the market now.
92 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Sep 2023)
The 2021 Chianti Classico Fonterutoli is redolent of dark cherry, plum, leather, licorice, menthol, dried herbs, incense and sage. Pliant and expressive, with gorgeous depth, the 2021 is a fine edition of the straight Chianti Classico.
91 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Aug 2023)