2011 Felsina, Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany, Italy.
The Felsina lineup of Chianti Classico is a gorgeous group and 2010, 2011 and 2013 look wonderful and interesting from the basic Classic to the Gran Selezione Colonia, but I must say the Rancia is just stunning, it is a flowing sexy wine that is opulent, hedonistic and gracefully balanced. Even from this ripe and warm vintage, the Felsina delivers poise, class and focus, it is well crafted and is a total package of precise form and detail, it is hard not to love this stunning example of pure Sangiovese from the Castelnuovo Berardenga commune of Chianti Classico. The Felsina 2011 Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva starts with a bouquet of floral perfume, smoke, a mix of sweet and savory spices and roasted herbs, mint and red fruits leading to a layered palate of mulberry, black cherry, raspberry, plum and dark currant fruits with a complex array of supporting elements that include polished walnut, cedar, a hint of chalk dust, mineral, vanilla, cigar wrapper/sweet tobacco leaf, anise and mission fig notes. The sweet ripe tannins of vintage make this a pleasure filled experience, though there is live and vibrancy with subtle acidity and there is a lot of hidden vigor, this is not over-ripe or flabby, it reminds me of a superb Saint-Emillon in some ways, while the 2010 was more left bank Bordeaux like, Rancia is a special vineyard and a special place, one of Chianti’s finest terroir driven wines. The 2011 Rancia is a wine of body, texture and fruit, the feel is excellent and the length is magical, I certainly love this vintage and while it will drink great right away, it has the stuff to age well too, I would guess from my own experiences with Felsina, and Rancia is particular, the window is going to be easy 7 to 12 years, best from 2016 to 2028.
($48 Est.) 94-96 Points, grapelive
