Berries, currants, baking spices, bark and leather on the nose. It’s medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins. Well-balanced with crunchy berry fruit on the palate and a flavorful finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

This wine is almost all Sangiovese, with about 10% Merlot blended in for extra fruitiness and softness. The 2018 Chianti Colli Fiorentini Il Castelvecchio (with 20,000 bottles made) is a bright and balanced value wine with lots of cherry, crème de cassis and sweet almond. Fruit is sourced from across the estate's three vineyard parcels, measuring 4.5 hectares in all. All farming is certified organic. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel and cement, and the wine ages in both tonneaux and barrique. Thanks to that fresh Sangiovese acidity, you could pair this wine with an easy pork chop and a side of buttered mashed potatoes.

This 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot blend was a bit disappointing in this vintage. In the 2017 Chianti Colli Fiorentina Il Castelvecchio, I found the dried notes of cherry, candied cherry and blackberry to be too ripe for my tastes.

The 2016 Chianti Colli Fiorentina Il Castelvecchio is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot aged mostly in neutral tonneaux. The grapes are sourced from vineyard sites located from 250 to 350 meters above sea level in the softly rolling hills just south of Italy's Renaissance capital, Florence. Those vineyards extend over 24 hectares. This is a fresh, easy-drinking red with a mid-weight style. The wine closes with immediate freshness and bright fruit tones. This estate makes 100,000 bottles in total. Bottle production for this wine is 15,600 strong. You get fabulous value here.

Cherry and black currant flavors mingle in this elegant red. Bright and supple, with fine balance and a lingering finish of tobacco and tea. Drink now through 2018. 2,500 cases made, 300 cases imported.??–BS??Region: Italy / Chianti Colli Fiorentini Select to Add