2017 Verrazzano - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Bartolo (750ml)

Castello di Verrazzano sits on a hilltop in Greve in Chianti, at the heart of the Chianti Classico zone, with vineyard records dating back to a manuscript from 1150. The estate was among the founding members of the Chianti Classico Consorzio and today is owned by the Cappellini family, who have farmed the property organically since 2014. Verrazzano's vineyards climb to unusually high elevations for the region, and the estate's limestone-rich soils, more typical of the cooler northern part of the zone, give its wines a distinctive backbone of minerality.

San Bartolo is one of Verrazzano's cru Gran Selezione bottlings, built from roughly 95 percent Sangiovese with a small portion of Merlot rounding out the blend. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature with about two weeks of maceration and frequent pumping over to extract color and tannin. The wine then ages for a minimum of eighteen months in medium-sized French oak barrels, followed by a further four months resting in bottle, a regime that softens the tannins while keeping the fruit vivid.

The 2017 shows a bright, intense ruby color and a nose built around ripe red fruit, with underlying notes of dried herbs and gentle spice. The palate is full yet approachable, with smooth tannins and a long, warming finish. It pairs nicely with pan-seared duck breast, a lamb ragù, or a semi-hard aged cheese.