With fruit from a 4.5-hectare vineyard that is distinguished by mineral-rich clay soils, the Castello di Querceto 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Picchio offers a broad and rich personality that wraps heavily over the palate. This vintage saw a cool spring and summer that delayed ripening by about two weeks. However, the wine's richness feels muddled. There are dense layers of mature blackberry, prune, earth and spice. The wine lacks definition, but there is intact primary fruit even at this advanced age.