29
Sep
2025
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
The Opener ... 
When I started my Chianti adventure many years ago, I would start with the Annata wines and work my way through to the Riserva. Then, in 2014, came the next level in Chianti Classico, Gran Selezione. This added another level and another hundred-or-so wines to the list of wines to try. Which means, somewhere, someone had to take the hit.
These days, I taste all the Gran Selezione, a bunch of the Riserva, and a handful of the Annata. Look for these reports coming soon. For now, you'll find the Annata report below. These include two that really are showing the best face of this level.
This year, I have included the barrel samples in the main report, but there are no notes for those wines. Only the finished versions get a brief write-up, and only those on the better and above classification.
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The Anteprima's Best
... TOP WINE ...
Querciabella 2022 Chanti Classico DOCG
Lots of red fruit comes screaming out of the glass - cherry in particular - plus the acidity plays well with those tannins. Really nice glass of wine. (see video)
Ricasoli 2023 Brolio - Chanti Classico DOCG
Brolio has a nice spicy flavour this year that mixes well with the red fruits and even notes of the balsamic-strawberry that shows up - this has the potential to be a classic with a few years in the cellar. (barrel sample)
... The BETTER ...
Brancaia 2023 Chanti Classico DOCG
Enough balance between the fruit, spice, acidity; this flavourful wine is worth having.
Castello di Monsanto 2023 Chanti Classico DOCG (barrel sample)
Castello Moterinaldi 2022 Chanti Classico DOCG
Mocha and black cherry with a contagious bit of spice - rich, juicy and full-bodied with a long finish.
Castello Vicchiomaggio 2023 Guado Alto - Chanti Classico DOCG
Really good flavour profile, nice hit of spice, the acidity helps keep evverything in check. The fruit isn’t as prevalent, but there are many elements to enjoy.
Castello di Volpaia 2023 Volpaia - Chanti Classico DOCG (barrel sample)
Nittardi 2022 Belcanto - Chanti Classico DOCG
Good fruit with gentle spice, juicy cherry; plentiful raspberry and strawberry.
... GOOD ...
Badia a Coltibuono 2022 Chanti Classico DOCG
Banfi 2023 Chanti Classico DOCG
Cafaggio 2022 Chanti Classico DOCG
Castell'in Villa 2020 Chanti Classico DOCG
Carpineto 2023 Chanti Classico DOCG
Dievole 2022 Petrignano - Chanti Classico DOCG
Fattoria San Giusto a Rentannano 2023 Chanti Classico DOCG (barrel sample)
Il Molino di Grace 2023 Chanti Classico DOCG
Isole e Olena 2022 Chanti Classico DOCG
Nardi Viticoltori 2022 Chanti Classico DOCG
Nittardi 2022 Casanuova di Nittardi "Vigna Doghessa" - Chanti Classico DOCG
Poggio al Sole 2022 Chanti Classico DOCG
Riecine 2023 Chanti Classico DOCG
Rocca di Montegrossi 2022 Chanti Classico DOCG
Tenuta di Nozzole 2022 Nozzole - Chanti Classico DOCG
24
Sep
2025
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
The Opener ...
This was the first ever Valdarno di Sopra day in Anteprima Toscana history. In truth, there were many who wondered why we were spending a whole day here. Once the day was over, there were many wondering how to make next year's even better.
A full day seminar with an afternoon tasting probably wasn't the best use of time, and so there were rumors that next year there will be visits to vineyards and wineries. It is the same mistake San Gimignano made. Having journalists cool their heels in a room is never a good story to tell. Getting us out and exploring is a much better use of our time.
The thing I found was that the Valdarno area liked to compare the idea that they had a left bank and a right bank, similar to Bordeaux in their geography. But an interview with Il Carnasciale, coming to Two Guys Talking Wine in October, found there is also a north versus south aspect to the regional style of wines being made.
Other interviews conducted on this day include Tenuta Sette Ponti and Il Borro, linked to their podcasts. As for the wines tasted on this day, the first set are from the seminar and the second set of wines from the Anteprima Tasting. All are in context of good, better, best ranking and judged for future potential.
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The Seminar's Best
La Salceta 2021 Vigna Ruschieto - (sangiovese)
A little on the lean side but with a juicy core that settles in on cranberry and sour cherry . (right bank)
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2019 Vigna dell'Impero - (sangiovese)
Richer and juicier style, almost chewy in nature, silky tannins with good acidity, and a long finish. (right bank)
Il Borro 2020 Polissena vigna Polissena - (sangiovese)
Smoky and woody with some good fruit in the middle; there's a elegance that's unexpected. (right bank)
Tenuta San Jacopo 2022 Vigna Mulino - (sangiovese)
Sweet cherry fruit, hints of mocha and chocolate with savoury notes and good acidity - there's a real richness here. (left bank)
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The Anteprima's Best
... TOP WINE ...
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2020 Vigna Dell'Impero - (sangiovese)
Juicy elegance, fleshy red and black fruit; savoury and spicy character.
... The BETTER ...
Il Borro 2020 Polissena - Valdarno di Sopra - (sangiovese)
Nice, light, fresh and focused, juicy fruit: mostly on the red spectrumed.
Il Borro 2021 Il Borro - IGT - (merlot / cabernet sauvignon / syrah)
Robust and full bodied; generous of fruit and spice with good tannins. This might be one of the better Il Borro wines I have tasted - shows elegance with a fruit / tannin mix.
Il Borro 2019 Alessandro del Borro - Valdarno di Sopra - (syrah)
Mocha, blackberry and spice - the peppery side of this wine really kicks in, the wood is present but not overwhelming.
La Salceta 2024 Osato - Rosato - (cabernet franc)
A touch on the sweet side with plenty of red fruit - it does hit the spot.
Podere Il Carnasciale 2021 Il Caberlot - IGT - (caberlot)
Big, savoury and herbal elements roar out of the glass; interesting to see how this one will age - it definitely shows it Franc parentage.
Tenuta San Jacopo 2022 Vigna Mulino - Valdarno di Sopra - (sangiovese)
There's a juiciness here with some good dark fruit character - real savoury and spicy on the finish.
Tenuta San Jacopo 2022 Orma del Diavolo - Valdarno di Sopra - (sangiovese / merlot / cabernet sauvignon)
Here you'll find mocha and black cherry with some savoury elements that bring depth to this wine without overpowering the juice.
... GOOD ...
Campo del Monte 2020 Isei (sangiovese / merlot / syrah)
Ejamu 2023 Vertigine - Valdarno di Sopra (sangiovese / canaiolo / malvasia nero)
Ejamu 2021 Rabizza - Valdarno di Sopra (sangiovese)
Ejamu 2023 Tombolo - IGT (incrocio manzoni)
Fattoria Bellosguardo 2021 Posta Reale - Valdarno di Sopra (sangiovese)
La Salceta 2020 Campolucci - IGT (cabernet sauvignon / merlot / syrah)
La Salceta 2024 L'O - Valdarno di Sopra (orpicchhio)
Mannucci Droandi 2020 Campolucci - IGT (cabernet sauvignon / merlot / syrah)
Petrolo 2022 Galatrona - Val d'Arno di Sopra (merlot)
Petrolo 2022 Torrione - Val d'Arno di Sopra (sangiovese / merlot / cabernet sauvignon)
Petrolo 2022 Boggina C - Val d' Arno di Sopra (sangiovese)
Petrolo 2022 Campo Lusso - Val D'Arno di Sopra (cabernet sauvignon)
Podere Il Carnasciale 2022 Carnasciale - IGT (caberlot)
Podere Il Carnasciale 2022 Ottantadue - Valdarno di Sopra (sangiovese)
Tenuta Scrafana 2018 Pugnacoda - Valdarno di Sopra (merlot)
Tenuta Scrafana 2019 Berulfo - IGT (merlot / cabernet franc / sangiovese)
Tenuta Scrafana 2024 Pulcella - Rosato (sangiovese)
