2020 Verrazzano - Chianti Classico Riserva (750ml)

Castello di Verrazzano's roots reach back to the twelfth century, and the estate has remained a founding member of the Consorzio del Chianti Classico ever since the organization's earliest days. The property is also the birthplace of the navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano, who explored the North American coastline in the sixteenth century and lent his name to New York's Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, giving the estate an unusual tie to American history alongside its Tuscan one. Today it's run by Luigi and Silvia Cappellini, who farm organically and keep winemaking rooted in tradition.

The estate has held the same boundaries for over a thousand years and spans 230 acres, with 52 hectares of vineyard planted to Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and other native varieties on stony clay and limestone soils between 260 and 420 meters. Because the cellar sits at the center of the property, grapes reach the presses within minutes of picking. Fermentation happens in small batches at controlled temperatures, and the Riserva ages in Slavonian oak casks within cellars dating to the sixteenth century.

The 2020 shows a bright ruby color with light garnet edges, offering red fruit, tobacco, black pepper, and sweet wood that grow more complex with air. The palate is smooth and elegant, with ripe plum and sour cherry. Pair it with grilled steak, pasta with meat ragù, or aged cheeses.