2020 Istine - Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG (750ml)

Grown across three named estate parcels in Radda, the 2020 Istine Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG channels Angela Fronti’s organic vineyard management into a tightly structured Riserva bottling. Blending fruit from recognized cru blocks including Cavarchione and Vigna Istine, the wine undergoes twenty-four months of resting in Stockinger Austrian oak cooperage. This extended barrel regimen promotes gradual tannin integration, intentionally keeping the wood character behind the natural fruit profile.

The aromatic signature layers black cherry, ripe plum, crushed graphite, clove, and licorice, threaded with a clean menthol lift that persists on the palate. Built on a dense yet precise structure, the wine features silkily polished tannins and finishes long and focused. While earlier vintages sometimes leaned heavier on toasted oak, 2020 allows the underlying earthy and mineral notes to dominate the finish.

Its balanced acidity and moderate fruit concentration make it an effective counterpoint to rich, slow-cooked proteins. Serve alongside braised short rib or a hearty beef stew to let the wine’s savory backbone and subtle spice notes cut through the dish’s richness. Poured at cellar temperature, each glass highlights the disciplined craftsmanship behind Istine’s single-estate philosophy.