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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Described as a "gem of a producer" by Decanter, Podere Le Cinciole may well be the ultimate insider's Tuscan estate, these high scoring, under the radar selections expressing the estate's exceptional "golden" terroir in Chianti Classico's high altitude terrain and quietly gaining the lesser known Le Cinciole a reputation among critics including Antonio Galloni of Vinous as "one of the leading estates in all of Italy," each of these artisan-crafted red wines also among the region's top values.
Situated on a biodiverse 30-hectare hilltop estate that includes an olive grove of 1,000 trees, Le Cinciole owners Luca Orsini and Valeria Vigano produce their measured, thoughtful wines from 11-hectares of biodynamically farmed vineyards in the Conca d'Oro, the amphitheater-shaped "golden basin" considered the Grand Cru of the region, planted in galestro soils of clay and schist ranging from 400 to 450 meters above sea level at one of the highest elevations in the region. Described as "one of the most distinctive wines in the appellation" by Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, the remarkably expressive 93 pt. 2019 Le Cinciole Chianti Classico and 92 pt. 2020 Le Cinciole Chianti Classico entry level cuvees were crafted from 100% Sangiovese and aged for 12 months in medium French oak barrels and a year in concrete before bottling, yielding seductive, earthy fruit and elegant tannins and described as "a perennial overperformer" by Decanter's Michaela Morris that's not to be missed. Crafted from 100% Sangiovese and aged well beyond the minimum requirement of 30 months for Chianti Classico's elite Gran Selezione category, Decanter critic Morris named the elegant 96 pt. 2016 Le Cinciole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Aluigi one of her Top 10 wines of 2021, its luscious core of rich Sangiovese fruit and balanced mineral driven acidity boasting "quite a wow factor," while Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate describes the "bold" 95 pt. 2018 Gran Selezione Aluigi as having "a lovely defined character" and Antonio Galloni of Vinous praises the 96 pt. 2019 Gran Selezione Aluigi as setting the gold standard for the classification, exclaiming "what a gorgeous wine this is." A deeply layered blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah and Merlot, the exquisite 95 pt. 2016 Le Cinciole Camalaione is "absolutely gorgeous" according to critic Galloni, boasting lush dark fruits with remarkable persistence and balanced acidity, while the powerful 94 pt. 2017 Le Cinciole Camalaione "packs a huge punch" and the enticing 96 pt. 2018 Le Cinciole Camalaione is "a knockout," describing the atypical blend as offering "stunning depth and textural intensity." Sourced from 100% Sangiovese grown in a single vineyard at the estate's highest elevation, Antonio Galloni calls the flagship 97 pt. 2017 Le Cinciole Petresco "breathtaking" while the 98 pt. 2019 Le Cinciole Petresco boasts "notable depth and intensity," and like all Le Cinciole's top cuvees, both are built to deliver pleasurable drinking over the next decade and beyond.
While Panzano and the Conca D'Oro have gained notoriety among collectors as the home to high profile producers like Fontodi, Le Cinciole's top scoring wines remain among Tuscany's hidden treasures, still seeming "to fly under the radar" according to Antonio Galloni and a rare opportunity for lovers and collectors of bold Tuscan reds to "strike gold" and scoop up a stash of Le Cinciole's purely irresistible wines at unbeatable prices. |
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A restrained and complex wine with rare depth and vibrancy. Aromas of red and black cherries, licorice, cocoa powder and Earl Grey tea with touches of pepper and ash. Fruit sweetness on the palate, with crisp acidity, a tight-knit structure and firm, extracted yet sleek tannins. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best in two or three years.
96 points, James Suckling (Jul 2025)
The 2021 Petresco is a huge, dense red. The dark, virile side of Sangiovese soars from the glass. Black cherry, lavender, sage, menthol and licorice stain the palate. Aeration releases the wine's lifted, expansive aromatics. This is an especially dense, powerful vintage for Petresco. I find the new oak a bit prominent at this stage, but that should be less of an issue in a few years' time. Petresco spends two years in wood (equal parts cask and barrique) followed by a year in cement.
95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jul 2025)
The organic Le Cinciole 2021 Petresco is sharply focused, showing the precision and definition of the vintage. This 100% Sangiovese delivers dark fruit, dried cherry and spice with very nice freshness throughout. The wine feels contained and vertical rather than broad, with fresh acidity that makes it especially well suited to the table. It undergoes spontaneous fermentation in cement and ages for 24 months, divided equally between 25-hectoliter French oak casks and second-use barriques. Very nice. This is a 5,000-bottle release.
94 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Sep 2026)
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