2020 Riecine, Chianti Classico DOCG, Tusacny, Italy.
The beautifully pure 2020 Riecine Chianti Classico really hits the spot, I’m an unabashed Chianti Classico lover and crave wines like this, especially the wines from Gaiole, like this one, Radda and Castelnuovo Berardenga, which show distinctive terroir nuances, and this one is completely dialed in, structured and fabulous delicious already. While not cheap, this fantastic Chianti Classic, 100% Sangiovese, is probably half again less than most Brunello offerings of this quality with lovely dark garnet color and a heady bouquet of dried flowers, red berries, loam and mineral that leads to this Riecine’s medium/full palate of blackberry, plum, strawberry and spiced cherry fruits that feel nicely supported by ripe tannins a fine smooth cut of acidity and background accents of tobacco, minty herbs, cedar, delicate earthiness and dried orange peel. While supple and opulent, this wine definitely is at its best with food and allows an inner beauty to shine through, this is a brilliant vintage for Riecine, a property that has seen a few patchy spells before becoming one of the region’s favorites and I highly recommend checking this one out and can see it drinking nicely over the next 5 to 10 years. Everything folds together in this Riecine with grace and heightened details and I look forward to enjoying a few more bottles of this vintage and following this label into the future, it is great to see an estate like this make such a comeback from obscurity or mediocrity and make such a seductive wine.
Riecine who’s first vintage was 1973, founded back in 1971, is located in the highest part of Gaiole and enjoys an amazing set of conditions that is perfect for an elite wine to be produced here and since 2015 when Alessandro Campatelli took the reins here things have significantly changed for the better and this 2020 shows off the talent of his winemaking and highlights the potential f this property. The vines are all organic here at Riecine, and may have been since before original owners John Dunkley and Palmina Abbagnano bought this historic vineyard site in the late 1960s, but certainly it was farmed 100% organic since the 1970s. The vineyards at Riecine, which are surrounded by an ancient forrest, sit up between 430 and 600 meters above sea level and are mostly on very stony alluvial limestone topsoil and limestone bedrock which the Sangiovese vines love and that bring out the best of this native varietal. This area benefits from good exposure during the day and sees chilly nights that retains freshness and adds to the balance found in the wines of the Gaiole zone, plus imparts a sultry and savory character that contrasts exceptionally well with the concentration f the mountain fruit, providing the wines with complexity and old world charm. The all Sangiovese Chianti Classico, was 100% de-stemmed and native yeast fermented in cement vat with hand punch-downs and pump overs and then was aged over a year, close to 14 months in large old (neutral) 900L French oak, making for a stunning and transparent wine, bravo Alessandro Campatelli for such an impressive effort!
($34 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive