Tenuta di Carleone Chianti Classico 2021

Tenuta di Carleone Chianti Classico 2021

Amazing story here - Sean O'Callaghan is a Englishman who for the past 30 years has lived in Chianti, Tuscany - making his expression of Sangiovese, as an ode to the Montervetine's Pergole Torte of the 1990s that he first experienced when he moved to Tuscany early in that decade. These are wines of elegance and purity, more so than power, an exceptional snapshot of Radda, unbelievably delicious and a modern ideology of what Tuscan wines could look like prior to global warming.

The 2021 Chianti Classico, 100% Sangiovese from Radda, is sublime. Aromatic and delineated, with terrific energy, the 2021 soars out of the glass. Dark cherry fruit, lavender, spice, licorice and new leather all come alive in the glass. The 2021 spent two to three months on the skins, with about 40% whole clusters. Aging was done in a combination of vessels with the goal of building complexity in the final blend. It is an exceptional wine in every way. 93 Points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

With fruit blended from various sites, this is a classical expression of Sangiovese that offers a good amount of varietal character along the way. That’s all you can ask for from a wine like the Tenuta di Carleone 2021 Chianti Classico. What’s more, you get the pleasure of drinking a rather funky (I mean that in the “cool” sense) interpretation from one of Italy’s storied winemaking regions. The wine aged in stainless steel, cement and neutral oak, and the quality of the fruit is extremely bright with lots of red berry fruit and plump cherry. There are delicate notes of crushed rock and rosemary oil, like when you brush your hand over the plant. I love that tart acidity on the finish. 93 Points - Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate