2017 Cafaggio - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG Basilica Solatio (750ml)

Villa Cafaggio, in the heart of Panzano's Conca d'Oro, produces two single-vineyard Gran Selezione wines, San Martino and Solatìo, each drawn from a distinct plot on the estate. The property has farmed organically since 2014, and its modern identity took shape after the Farkas family bought the then-neglected estate in the late 1960s and rebuilt both the cellars and vineyards. Since 2016 the estate has been owned by ISA, a Trento-based investment group that has continued to support its focus on quality and terroir-driven winemaking.

Solatìo was originally released as a Riserva between 1981 and 1995 before returning with the 2010 vintage as one of the estate's flagship wines. It comes from a 2.2-hectare plot planted with Sangiovese in the early 1990s, sited in one of the sunniest corners of the Conca d'Oro on silty clay over marl limestone and sandstone soils. Grapes are hand harvested and fermented with regular pump-overs, undergoing a natural malolactic fermentation before extended aging in French oak.

The wine shows a bright ruby color, with aromas of black cherry, plum, violet, and black pepper layered over notes of leather and earth. The palate is full and silky, with fine tannins and real freshness carrying through a long finish. It pairs well with a peppered beef stew, roast pheasant, or aged Tuscan pecorino.