2020 Barone Ricasoli - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Roncicone (750ml)

Producer

Barone Ricasoli is among the oldest wine producing families in Italy, tracing winemaking at Castello di Brolio back to 1141. The estate sits south of Siena in the heart of Chianti Classico, occupying one of the region's most storied vineyard positions. Today the winery is recognized for pairing centuries of tradition with modern experimentation, producing a range of wines that includes several single vineyard Gran Selezione bottlings drawn from distinct plots around the castle.

Growing and Production

Roncicone comes from a ten hectare single vineyard site near Gaiole, distinguished by sandy topsoil mixed with marine fossils. The Sangiovese grapes are moved into the cellar using gravity rather than pumps, preserving gentleness through the process. After fermentation the wine is transferred into a combination of large barrels and smaller barriques for maturation, a method meant to build structure while allowing the fruit and mineral character of the site to remain the focus. Only around ten thousand bottles are produced each vintage.

Tasting Notes

The 2020 vintage shows a ripe, generous character, with plum, red currant, and dried cherry set against notes of fresh flowers, walnut, and campfire ash. The palate is full bodied and structured, with fine, slightly chewy tannins and a savory, mineral driven finish that lingers. This is a wine built for the table, pairing well with braised short ribs, aged pecorino, or a hearty lentil stew.