2021 Monsanto - Chianti Classico Riserva (750ml)

Castello di Monsanto sits in Barberino Val d'Elsa, on the far western edge of the Chianti Classico zone, where Fabrizio Bianchi founded the winery in 1962 after his father gave him the property as a wedding gift. That same year Bianchi produced the first single-vineyard Chianti Classico cru in the appellation's history, and in 1968 he removed the traditional white grapes from his Riserva blend well ahead of regulatory change, a decision that helped set the template many Chianti producers eventually followed. The estate remains family run, with Bianchi's daughter Laura now leading the winery alongside him.

The 2021 Riserva is built mainly from Sangiovese, rounded out with small amounts of Canaiolo and Colorino grown across the estate's hillside vineyards. After fermentation the wine matures in a mix of French tonneaux and large Slavonian oak casks known as botti, with the majority of the blend resting in the larger, more neutral vessels. Chianti Classico Riserva requires a minimum of two years of aging before release, twice that of the standard bottling, time that Monsanto uses to build the wine's depth and structure.

The result is a bright ruby red moving toward garnet, with an intense, layered bouquet of black cherry, violet, and baking spice joined by hints of blood orange, pomegranate, and dried herbs. The palate is full-bodied and vibrant, its firm tannins framed by lively acidity that carries through a long, energetic finish. It suits red meats, roasted game, or aged pecorino.