FEBRUARY 2024

Chianti is the most famous wine region in Tuscany, known for its high-acid, red grape Sangiovese – the perfect pairing for acidic foods like tomato sauce.

Chianti tends to get lumped into one big group, but there are lots of subtleties worth exploring. It's a large area stretching from north of Florence to well south of Siena and east-west from Arezzo to Livorno and beyond.

The central Chianti Classico DOCG is the historic Chianti region as proclaimed by Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, in 1716. It requires 80% Sangiovese in the blend as opposed to 70-75% in other Chianti regions (if the wine is not 100% Sangiovese, the rest of the blend is some combo of Colorino, Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot), and it has a reputation for having higher-quality wines, but that's not necessarily true.

Outside of Chianti DOCG and Chianti Classico DOCG, there are 7 sub-regions with their own rules & regulations. One of these sub-zones (Chianti Rufina) is in your club as is a Chianti Riserva & for 3-bottle club members – a Chianti Classico.

Such a fun club! We had to work hard to find these wines, and we are mighty pleased with them. Hope you are, too!

2-BOTTLE CLUB

Azienda Agricola Giacomo Mori
Chianti

“Giacomo Mori makes some of the most distinctive wines in Tuscany. The small estate has the distinction of being located outside the Chianti Classico zone, which is one of the factors that explain why the wines remain so reasonably priced. The straight Chianti is one of my favorite Tuscan wines year in, year out.” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Generations of the Mori family grew grapes for the local co-op. It wasn't until mid-1990's that Giacomo Mori (pictured above) began estate bottling. In his family's historic 10-hectare vineyard, he replanted the vines, spacing them tightly together, forcing the roots to "dig deep into the earth and yield maximum complexity". He produces two wines: Chianti Normale and the Chianti Castelrotto Riserva, which means that the wine has aged 2 years in oak and at least 3 months in bottle prior to release.

Giacomo Mori 2017 Chianti Riserva
Tuscany, Italy // Reg $37.99 | Mixed Case $30.39

90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot from clay soils. 15-18 months aging in barriques. Intoxicating nose. Soft cherries, soft herbs. A wonderful herb garden fruit smell. Magical. Medium-bodied. Amazing acidity. Flavors of black cherries, blackberries, soil. Soft tannins.

All of this month's club wines are made for classic Tuscan fare, especially dishes featuring tomato sauce. Rich, braised, gamey meats would also be amazing! Drink now to 2 years.

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Fattoria di Basciano
Chianti Rufina

Located in Chianti Rufina to the east of Florence, this sub-zone is higher in altitude and thus cooler, allowing the grapes to ripen more slowly. The wines tend to have a little more fruit and be a little less dry. Chianti Rufina is the smallest sub-zone with only 22 producers.

The Masi family is in its third generation of running the estate. They have 20 hectares of olive orchards and 35 hectares of stony vineyards located at 1000 feet above sea level. It's dry and breezy with big summertime swings in temperature between day and night, an advantage of higher altitudes that allows for grapes to mature more slowly, creating more aromatic wines with good freshness.

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Fattoria di Basciano 2019 Chianti Rufina
Tuscany, Italy // Reg $18.99 | Mixed Case $15.19

95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino. Aged 12 months in 1-2 year old French oak barrels. Intriguing nose of balsamic, black cherries, earthy notes. Black cherries, blackberries, blueberries. Exciting acidity. Forms into a long finish with all kinds of options for food including grilled and braised meats and mushroom dishes. Drink now to 2 years.

3-BOTTLE CLUB

Castellare di Castellina
Chianti Classico

Castellare is the union of four farms (Castellare, Caselle, San Niccolò and Le Case), completed during the 1970's when the "so-called Renaissance of Italian wine began". The estate, owned by Paolo Panerai, is currently 80 hectares, of which 20 are olive groves.

The estate is comprised of 33 vineyards (aged 7-45 years), located on the hills of a natural amphitheater, facing south-east with an average altitude of 370 meters above sea level. The vineyards are organically farmed, and the property has become a virtual refuge for wildlife, including many of the birds pictured on their labels which are rare due to loss of habitat.

Winemaker Alessandro Cellai pictured below.

Castellare 2022 Chianti Classico
Tuscany, Italy // Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59

95% Sangioveto (the local Sangiovese grape) & 5% Canaiolo. 12 months in French oak. Bright red cherries on the nose. Earth with a note of oregano. Flavors of red cherries, black cherries. Note of tobacco comes & goes. (So lovely) Medium-bodied. Great acidity. A little smoky note on the finish. Drink now to 3 years. Winery says to enjoy with lasagne, ragù sauces, roasted rabbit, or braised veal shank.