WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
Ripe fruit, aromatic herbs and spicy and peppery notes. Full, complex and persistent mouthfeel. Soft tannins.
TASTING NOTES:
Powerful and strapping, the 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva is super-expressive right out of the gate. Iron, orange peel, licorice, chalk and white pepper bring out the wilder side of Sangiovese. I would give this a year or two in bottle, as the tannins are a bit imposing at this stage. There's certainly plenty to look forward to. Savory accents linger on the close.
- Vinous, 92 pts.
This medium- to full-bodied red has notes of sour cherries, blueberries, violets and tomato leaves. It’s savory and chewy, with firm, grainy tannins and a zesty finish.
- James Suckling, 90 pts.
In the bottle with the dark green label, the organic Castello di Meleto 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva shows medium-dark concentration with soft fruit flavors of Morello cherry and blackcurrant. Cinnamon or creamy custard rounds out the mid-palate and gives this Riserva a little more textural heft compared to its peers. This Sangiovese is usually blended with a tiny part of Merlot. The 2021 vintage finishes on an openly sweet note that recalls honey or brown sugar. This wine is ready to drink now.
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90 pts.
