On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report from Anteprima Toscana 2026: Chianti Classico Riserva 2023

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2026) ... We move from the Annata to the Riserva - a step up at the Anteprima Toscana 2026 (or so they claim).

This year I will break the wines down a little more, compartmentalizing them so they are easier to find on the website. Starting with the vintage 2024 Annata (which was published several days ago) ... With the Riserva wines we are talking about a longer aging in oak - and it shows as my "personal aside" below explains.

In this range, I tasted all the 2023 Riservas. So I have a pretty good idea how the wineries handled the fruit and the oak.

My "Personal Aside" is a note taken to encompass the whole of what I have tasted, and was written after tasting all the wines in a category and on the spot to get my unvarnished reaction.

Notes are on wines that are rated BETTER and above; even the barrel samples (they are unfinished wines, so I have unfinished notes).

Personal Aside: Riserva continues to be a tough make / sell - people love that "reserve" means something in Italy; but sometimes the thing that makes it special can be a distraction or a detraction - in this case the wood gets in the way of the vintage. The wines below proved that they knew how to create a balancing-marriage between oak and fruit.

BETTER ... 

Capraia 2023 Capraia - Chianti Classico Riserva        
Maybe a little high-toned on the fruit side, but there is a little freshness that is added with that note; plus some herbal and slightly spicy notes. 

Mons Driadalis 2023 Mons Driadalis - Chianti Classico Riserva        
Nice acidity, strawberry and fairly light and easy on the wood - well-balanced, effective with a long finish. Hints of balsamic on the finish. This has potential to be even better with a little time.

Tenuta di Arceno 2023 Tenuta di Arceno - Chianti Classico Riserva        
Nice use of the oak here as a backdrop and not the main event. Juicy core, black cherry, rhubarb and strawberry sprinkled with balsamic and herbal character. A nice wine full of fruit.

GOOD-PLUS ... 
Monte Bernardi 2023 Monte Bernardi - Chianti Classico Riserva
Tolaini 2023 Vallenuova - Chianti Classico Riserva

GOOD ...
Antinori 2023 Villa Antinori - Chianti Classico Riserva
Cigliano di Sopra 2023 Vigneto Branca - Chianti Classico Riserva
Famiglia Zingarelli  2023 Tenuta Le Macìe, Sergioveto  - Chianti Classico Riserva
Guidi 1929 2023 Guidi - Chianti Classico Riserva
Il Poggiolino 2023 La Riserva - Chianti Classico Riserva
Ricasoli 2023 Brolio - Chianti Classico Riserva
Riecine 2023 Riecine - Chianti Classico Riserva
Torcilacqua 2023 Torcilacqua - Chianti Classico Riserva

Next up: Riserva 2023 - plus older vintages 2016-2022

Report from Anteprima Toscana 2026: Chianti Classico 2023 & Older

Details

Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2026) ... Looking at the wines of the Anteprima Toscana 2026. This year I will break the wines down a little more, compartmentalizing them so they are easier to find on the website. In this, the second article I'm looking at the 2023 vintage and beyond. Though the emphasis is on the wines from 2023.

Here, once again, I tasted a handful of the wines to get a feeling on how the vintage was. 
My "Personal Aside" is a note taken to encompass the whole of what I have tasted, and was written after tasting all the wines in a category and on the spot to get my unvarnished reaction.
Notes are on wines that are rated BETTER and above

Personal Aside: The 2023 have proven to have more depth and complexity than the 2024 - and there are some really great wines in this batch. Look for 24s for their juiciness, look at 23s for their complexity and depth.

BETTER-PLUS ...

Castello di Ama  2023 Ama - Chianti Classico        
Lovely complexity, nice darker fruit with cassis and balsamic notes at the core. Gentle spices graze the palate. Great finish with a length that doesn't give up easily.

BETTER ... 

Castello Monterinaldi 2023 Castello Monterinaldi - Chianti Classico        
Nice acidity with lots of cherry, sour, sweet and even byng.

Isole e Olena 2023 Isole e Olena - Chianti Classico        
This is a kick-ass Chianti Classico: balsamic, strawberry, blackberry, all rounded off by its nice finish.

Nittardi 2023 Belcanto - Chianti Classico        
Well-balanced, good acid crunch, screamingly bright fruit, complexity and depth abound.

Poggio al Sole 2023 Poggio al Sole - Chianti Classico        
Bright and full of acid punch, fruit shows up on the mid-palate and hangs around till the end. This is a pretty wine with notes of floral and fresh red fruits on the nose.

Tenuta di Nozzole 2023 Nozzole - Chianti Classico        
Dark fruit, spicy - deep, dark and delicious.

GOOD-PLUS ...
Cafaggio 2023 Cafaggio - Chianti Classico
Castello di Radda 2023 Castello di Radda - Chianti Classico
Dievole 2023 Petrignano - Chianti Classico
Frescobaldi 2023 Tenuta Perano - Chianti Classico
Nittardi 2023 Vigna Doghessa - Chianti Classico
Querciabella 2023 Querciabella - Chianti Classico
Vallepicciola 2023 Vallepicciola - Chianti Classico

GOOD ...
Rocca di Montegrossi 2023 Rocca di Montegrossi - Chianti Classico
Tenuta degli Dei 2023 Forcole - Chianti Classico

SOME OLDER VINTAGES OF NOTE ... 
Castell'in Villa 2020 Castell'in Villa  - Chianti Classico  (GOOD+)
Fattoria di Lamole - Paolo Socci 2020 Fattoria di Lamole - Chianti Classico  (GOOD+)
Vignamaggio 2022 Terre di Prenzano - Chianti Classico  (GOOD+)

Next up: The Riservas of the 2023 Vintage