Chianti Classico Collection 2018: Cheers to the new vintages!
Statione Leopolda
At the beginning of this week, I spent two days at the "Chianti Classico Collection" - the trade fair for Chianti Classico - in Florence. Using all my taste buds and olfactory receptors, I sampled the latest vintages from numerous winegrowers. And I can say one thing straight away: Wow, wow, wow and wow again! Because what awaits us there is truly something to behold - or rather to drink!
I can mention one superlative right from the start: This year's fair set an absolute exhibitor record. An incredible 186 wineries from the Chianti Classico region presented their wines at the "Stazione Leopolda" in 2018. A clear signal of the great importance of the entire region and its products. The winegrowers usually present their latest products at the annual "Chianti Classico Collection". Accordingly, this year's focus was on the 2015 and 2016 vintages.
Basically, it can be said: Two truly outstanding vintages were in the spotlight here! One of the reasons for this: In both years, the climate was balanced, not too hot, not too cold, with average rainfall. In terms of aroma, it's berry-red: you can look forward to the taste of juicy sour cherries and fully ripe late summer cherries. In between, dark, red berries - in the 2016 wines mainly strawberries on the palate and nose. Complemented by currants, blackcurrants and blueberries. Spicy pepper undertones provide a special note.
Vintage 2015: Chianti Classico tipico e fantastico!
In 2015, the signs were ideal for a good vintage: healthy grapes - and in large quantities. The result: balanced wines that tend to be on the spicier side. Depending on the vineyard, sometimes with a little more, sometimes with a little less fruit sweetness and tannins. But always with the typical Chianti Classico aromas. All in all, a fantastic vintage!
Vintage 2016: This is going to be fun to drink!
The 2016 vintage, some of which has not yet been bottled, was often still presented as barrel samples at the fair. These wines are still racy and edgy at the moment, but are already very accessible. A few more weeks of maturation in the barrel and in the bottle will ensure that the rough edges are polished and the wines become a little softer overall. But this much is already certain: 2016 will be one of the most beautiful vintages in a long time. So we can already look forward to lots of drinking pleasure! According to the logic of the vintage, the Riserva 2014 would have been ready for sale now. However, due to the difficult weather conditions in summer 2014, many wineries decided not to produce the Riserva. The grapes were used for the Chianti Classico instead. And that is why there is not much to report about the Riserva this year ...
My trade fair highlight: The Gran Selezione Le Bambole by Il Palagio di Panzano
My personal highlight of the fair is a somewhat older wine from the semester: more precisely, the 2013 Le Bambole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG from the Il Palagio di Panzano winery. With this wine, Monia Piccini, owner of Il Palagio, has presented the international wine press with a Gran Selezione that absolutely stands out from the crowd. Or to put it in my own words: this 100% Sangiovese is a real stunner! A little tip: stock up! Because this wine can easily be stored for 25 years. What's more, this exclusive wine is only produced in very small quantities. In the next few weeks, the 2013
Chianti Classico Collection 2018