2017 Verrazzano - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Sassello (750ml)
Bottled under Chianti Classico’s strictest Gran Selezione classification, this 2017 Sassello cru delivers concentrated dark fruit and firm, savory tannic structure straight from the historic Verrazzano estate near Florence. The designation mandates 100 percent estate-harvested grapes and a minimum thirty-month aging period in wood, guaranteeing the compositional balance and regional authenticity that collectors look for in age-worthy Tuscan reds.
The Sassello parcel rests on well-drained schist and galestro soils at elevated elevation, conditions that naturally press acidic freshness and polyphenolic depth into the grapes even during prolonged summer heat. The 2017 growing season produced a sun-cured vintage with ripe mid-palate weight and readily accessible tannins. Aromatically, the wine unfolds stewed dark cherry, black plum, crushed violet, and drying thyme, anchored by distinctive flinty minerality and tobacco leaf. The finish runs clean and saline, revealing underlying cedar and dried herb nuances.
Suggested Food Pairings- Slow-braised Tuscan beef or pork shoulder ragù
- Roasted wild boar seasoned with rosemary and juniper
- Aged Pecorino Toscano or Parmigiano Reggiano
- Truffle-dusted risotto or wild mushroom tart
Ready to drink immediately but built for cellar progression. Pouring the wine directly yields sharper edges; allowing it to breathe in a decanter for twenty minutes unlocks its full aromatic breadth. Stored horizontally at consistent temperatures between 50°F and 58°F, this estate bottling will develop leathery, forest-floor, and spicy complexity over the next five to eight years.