CHIANTI CLASSICO COLLECTION 2017: 2015 WINES ARE VERY GOOD AND HAVE AN ESPECIALLY PLEASANT TASTE. 2014 RESERVES ARE MORE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE OF THE VINTAGE YEAR, BUT THERE ARE EXCELLENT EXCEPTIONS. WINENEWS’ TOP 10

Vintage 2015 is promising and the taste is especially pleasant, but Chianti Classico wines also express character and good definition. Riserva 2014 is a different story, though. In many cases, the wines are more problematic mainly due to the difficult year, but there are also some pleasant surprises.

Here is a summary of the Chianti Classico Collection 2017, a preview of the red wines produced in the hills between Florence and Siena, in one of the most beautiful terrors in the entire wine world landscape, which might soon also become Unesco Heritage.
The tasting tables at Stazione Leopolda in Florence compared Chianti Classico 2015 and Reserve 2014. The two vintages are opposite on some levels, as 2015 is much more interesting, revealing a very good vintage, characterized by a hot summer, but also by good temperature changes. 2014, however, was marked by almost continuous rainfall that also affected the decisive moments of the harvest, and the Reserves, despite the various companies’ intense work, have failed to change the natural course of the wines.
The wines are thin, the aromas not always focused and marked by aging, scents not always in focus and too much oak - pleasant, but not more than that. The pleasantness and consistency of Chianti Classico 2015 Badia a Coltibuono with its fresh and compelling fragrance was not overlooked and is on the WineNews "Top 10" tastings list.

Equally delicious and perhaps one of the best wines is Chianti Classico 2015 Le Miccine. Chianti Classico "Peppoli" 2015 Antinori shows impeccable workmanship and is quite enjoyable. Chianti Classico 2015 Isole e Olena is a solid wine and well expressed. Chianti Classico 2015 of Cianciano has extraordinary drinkability and must be kept under careful observation. Chianti Classico "Meleto" 2015 Castello di Meleto is just as interesting in terms of pleasantness and is full and fragrant. Chianti Classico "Ama" 2015 Castello di Ama has a wonderful sensation in sipping, a decisive, spot-on red. Turning to the Reserves, Chianti Classico "Cortevecchia" Riserva 2014 of Corsini has clean aromas and good, smooth taste, a well-interpreted wine for this somewhat critical year.
Chianti Classico Riserva 2014 Val delle Corti has an underlying pleasure at sipping and the flavor, supported by oak, though not secondary, gives substance and structure. Chianti Classico Riserva 2014 Castellare of Castellina’s aroma is a successful crossing between fruits and spices and a good balance between oak and fruity fragrances in the mouth.



Focus - 2016 harvest, the 300th year anniversary

Prospects for Chianti Classico 2016, marking 300 years since Duke Leopold III Medici defined the borders, can actually be considered excellent, starting with the impeccable quality of the grapes the Chianti wine companies have brought to their cellars. The grapes, explained the Chianti Classico Consortium, were healthy and, thanks to a fairly regular weather pattern, fruit concentration was good, which makes us hope that we will have great structured wines.

Vintage 2016 went smoothly and there were no records of health problems in the vineyard. The only event that attracted the attention of winemakers was insufficient rainfall at the end of July during veraison, but water stress was overcome thanks to rains in late August and early September.
Balance was also supported thanks to consistently warm weather, and no excessive peaks in the last month, which helped grapes mature, so, no phenomena of over-ripening or dehydrating the fruit.

Overall, the summer was very good, characterized by lack of rain and high temperatures in July and August, but mainly by a variable night temperature range, indicating that wines with high aromatic profiles will probably have excellent acidity.

We can therefore say that quality will be very high this year and that, more than others, will exalt the characteristics of Sangiovese: extracted values, anthocyanins, polyphenols and unique and concentrated varietal aromas.