2021 Isole-e-Olena - Chianti Classico (750ml)

Isole e Olena was founded in 1956 by Francesco De Marchi and has been shaped since 1975 by his son Paolo, who modernized the estate and helped establish it as one of Chianti Classico's most respected addresses. The property sits near Castellina in Chianti, in the commune of Barberino Val d'Elsa, with fifty-six hectares of vineyard planted between 350 and 450 meters on galestro and marly schist soils.

The Chianti Classico is built from a blend unique to the estate, roughly eighty-five percent Sangiovese with fifteen percent Canaiolo, chosen to bring balance and a long finish. The 2021 vintage was a difficult one to farm, with a cold, wet spring that hurt flowering and cut yields, followed by a hot, dry summer that let the reduced crop ripen fully and evenly.

In the glass this wine is bright ruby red, with aromas of sour cherry, bramble fruit, violet, and sage layered over notes of tobacco, leather, and warm vanilla. The palate is vibrant and firmly structured, with chalky tannins and crisp acidity carrying through a long, intense finish. Pour it alongside bistecca alla fiorentina or a plate of cured salumi.