2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Full bottle 1,524 g. Certified organic. Paler than the 2017. Mid garnet and a suggestion of oak on the nose. The particularly ripe fruit slightly disguises the ultra-digestible, appetising nature of the carefully selected Sangiovese parcel that informs this wine. Chestnut notes and still quite a bit of tannin. Much sweeter than the 2017 with lower acidity. Still a good drink but perhaps less obviously Sangiovese. Still impressively persistent though. (JR)

Greve. 100% Sangiovese. Certified organic. Deep ruby with orange tinges. Savoury iodine notes hovering over deep cherry fruit. Doesn’t give the impression of being tired. Hint of morocco leather. Supple and juicy and concentrated, but suave at the same time. Great precision for this vintage and with long, gravelly tannins. The finish is an impressive whole of tangy, succulent cherry fruit with long, gravelly tannins. Impressive for the vintage. Elegant. (WS)

This is my first sample of a Gran Selezione by Querciabella. Made with certified organic fruit (and sporting a hefty price tag), the 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Querciabella draws its fruit from the Ruffoli Vineyard in Greve in Chianti with vines planted in schistous galestro and sandstone soils at a cool 500 meters in elevation. This vintage comes off as open and accessible with warm-vintage fruit, tobacco, crushed stone and dried rose. There is a hint of soft cherry ripeness. The wine comes in a heavy glass bottle with 4,000 of them made.