2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, Castello Fonterutoli

Castello Fonterutoli is located 5 km south of Castellina in Chianti (Siena), on the hills facing the Val d’Elsa, in the heart of the Chianti Classico. Owned by the Mazzei family since 1435, it still retains its original form, that of a tranquil country village: a cluster of houses, the church of San Miniato and the villa, built at the end of the 1500s where the medieval castle once stood. Today, the estate comprises 117 hectares of vineyard, largely planted with Sangiovese. The cellar at Fonterutoli, designed by architect, Agnesi Mazzei, is one of the most impressive in the region, and has been built with minimal environmental impact in mind.
This Gran Selezione comes from 25-30 year-old Sangiovese vines, aged for 18 months in 500 litre, french oak barrels (50% new). 2019 recalls the great vintages of the 1980s, being a classical year, where no extremes of temperature in the summer nor excessive rainfall has resulted in a wine of elegance, excellent concentration and freshness. Mid ruby-garnet in colour, aromas are attractively fragrant, recalling red cherry, cranberry, Christmas spices and incense. Palate starts full, with intense, rich flavours opening silkily in the mouth. This is a wine of great finesse, muscular structure and refined tannins. The finish is lengthy and harmoniously full of freshness.