2023 Castellare - Chianti Classico (750ml)

Castellare di Castellina is based in the commune of Castellina in Chianti, one of the historic heartlands of the Chianti Classico zone. The estate is known for using only indigenous grape varieties, Sangiovese and Canaiolo, having spent years since the late 1970s researching and isolating its own preferred Sangioveto clone. Each vintage carries a different bird on its label, a nod to the property's long-standing commitment to biodiversity and sustainable farming across its vineyards.

The 2023 Chianti Classico is a blend of ninety percent Sangiovese and ten percent Canaiolo, made without any international varieties in keeping with the estate's traditional approach. The wine's label this year features the Great Tit, a small songbird that nests near the vineyards and feeds on fallen grapes during harvest. Roughly twenty thousand cases were produced, a portion of which is set aside for export.

In the glass this wine is a bright ruby red with purple highlights, showing aromas of ripe cherry, red plum, violet, and a touch of spice. The palate brings soft, velvety tannins alongside notes of tobacco, leather, and sunbaked earth, finishing with lively acidity and real freshness. It works well with lasagna, roasted rabbit, or braised veal shank.