Chianti Classico

94 Points! Though elegant and linear, this red exudes ripe cherry, currant, rose, mineral and wild herb flavors. This version is racy, even, with vivid acidity driving the long aftertaste, which echoes the red fruit and mineral elements. Shows terrific energy and balance. Best from 2026 through 2040. - Wine Spectator

92 Points! This rich red boasts cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, floral and wild herb aromas and flavors. Dense, chewy tannins reveal themselves as this plays out on the long, mineral finish, driven by racy acidity. Drink now through 2036. - Wine Spectator

92 Points! The 2023 Chianti Classico is a classy, polished wine. Dark Sangiovese fruit, leather, incense, tobacco, mocha and lavender are some of the notes that build in the glass. More importantly, the 2023 impresses with its balance and poise. It spent a year in cask and then a year in cement. This is a gorgeous effort from Le Cinciole. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

93 Points! The 2021 Chianti Riserva Castelrotto offers a compelling mix of intense fruit and structure. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice, graphite and underbrush all run through this mid-weight, classically built Riserva. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94 Points! The fresh and floral nature of this wine is more than evident, with black cherry and orange undertones. The palate is medium-bodied and refined, with silky tannins and mineral highlights. Tangy and crisp at the end. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Supple and harmonious, this red delivers cherry, raspberry, rose and mineral flavors on an elegant frame. Balanced and fresh, with a lingering aftertaste echoing the fruit and mineral elements. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! Full of character and savory depth, offering iodine, tangerine peel and ripe berry aromas. The medium- to full-bodied palate is bright and fleshy, framed by velvety but focused tannins. Long, layered and spicy at the end. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! There’s considerable flesh, along with developing flavors of cherry, raspberry, pomegranate and wild herbs. Mineral and tobacco elements add detail. This is just hitting its stride, with an impression of dusty tannins and oak spice notes on the lingering aftertaste. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! Aromas of vivid raspberries with a floral undertone and an austere hint of slate. The palate is composed and balanced, combining generous red fruit with vibrant acidity. Well crafted and precise. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Cortevecchia enjoys a strong connection to the historic roots of the estate winery located in the underground ramparts of a Tuscan Renaissance castle. The wine is aged in large oak casks that are almost 30 years old, as they were installed in 1994. Duccio Corsini tells me that 2018 was a "complicated vintage" with almost tropical-like rains in June and July. The team worked hard to maintain cover crops of chamomile, clover and legumes to optimize organic farming. This wine is Sangiovese with a touch of Colorino. The wine is succulent and fine with bright fruit flavors and cherry over an elegant mid-weight texture. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

93 Points! This is layered and very fine-tannined with blackberry and dark-cherry character. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut, too. Medium-to full-bodied with a tight, fresh finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

Always one of the best bang for buck wines from Chianti.

93 Points! The 2023 Chianti Classico is a powerful wine. Black cherry, lavender, exotic spice and leather soar across the palate. There's gorgeous textural depth and resonance here. Time in the glass brings out striking layers of nuance that continue to build. Deeply pitched floral and spice notes extend the effortless finish. Superb...Sean O’Callaghan is one of the most inspired growers in Chianti Classico. These new releases are absolute knockouts. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

93 Points! The 2023 Chianti Classico is fabulous. Rich and layered in the glass, the 2023 impresses with its purity and exceptional balance. Strong spice, leather and tobaco notes run through a core of red Sangiovese fruit. All the elements are so well balanced. Dollops of Canaiolo and Colorino are so well put together. This is a sublime wine. Truly exceptional. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

93 Points! This powerful red is dense yet fleshy, evoking cherry, tobacco, iron, earth and wild herb notes. Balanced and fresh, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit, savory Mediterranean herbs and mineral notes. - Wine Spectator

93 Points! Notes of raspberries and cherries with red licorice, dried orange peel and spices. Medium- to full-bodied with meaty structure. Tannins are wide and velvety with a juicy, red-fruited mid-palate. Fresh and crunchy at the end. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

96 Points! The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto San Marcellino is a dense, powerful wine. Black cherry, scorched earth, tobacco, licorice and incense showcase the darker, brooding side of Sangiovese. Readers will want to cellar the 2020 for at least a few years. Its relatively plush contours should start to soften by then. It's a stellar wine, one with a very bright future. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

96 Points! The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Marcellino is made from 88% Sangiovese and the balance Pugnitello, which contributes richness to the blend. Pugnitello, meaning fist, refers to the compact size of the grape clusters, which have thick skins, give good extract of color, and are the last harvested. In the glass, the wine pours a deep yet bright red hue, while aromas of ripe cherry, resinous herbs, pine, and gravelly earth lead into a full-bodied palate with a firm backbone of acidity, rich tannins, and savory depth. Structured and persistent, it shows both power and freshness (hallmarks of the estate), with a long, mineral-driven finish. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com

94 Points! The 2019 Chianti Classico has changed dramatically since I last tasted it, either because of more time in bottle, or because this is a later bottling. In any event, the 2019 is dense, ample and resonant in feel. Readers will find a serious, texturally intense Chianti Classico that delivers the goods, big time. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94 Points! A crunchy wine with a bright shining color. The nose is pure sangiovese from Chianti Classico, with restrained yet well-defined red cherries, wax, subtle flowers, minerals and cherry stones. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows refined if not filigreed tannins, tight-knit acidity and a savory, chewy, tight, yet well-balanced finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points, Wine Spectator's #3 Value Wine of 2025! This red is sleek and engaging, offering cherry, raspberry, blackberry and mineral aromas and flavors. Harmonious, with beautifully integrated tannins and vibrant acidity. The finish is long and detailed. Sangiovese and Merlot. - Wine Spectator

Sangiovese (95%) and Canaiolo (5%) from 50- and 60-year-old vine on sandstone soils at 550 meters with a rare Northwest exposure.

Grapes are handpicked and fermented in cement tanks for 14-18 days, during which regular pumping over and gentle punching is performed. Aged 20 months in cement tank and at least 4 months in bottle before release.

95 Points! This luscious, dense red is packed with cherry, blackberry, pomegranate and violet flavors. Its tannins are ripe and refined, while the vibrant acidity keeps everything focused. An iron streak weaves through the long, energetic finish. This is approachable now yet will be better in 2–3 years. Best from 2026 through 2045. - Wine Spectator

95 Points! A deep and complex wine with licorice, dried cherries, pomegranates, bergamot and violets on the nose. Soft on the palate, it’s powerful and extracted yet not without grace due to velvety tannins, a full body and tight-knit acidity. Super-tense finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.coim

95 Points! The intention with Castello di Monsanto’s Riserva is to make a wine with immediate accessibility as well as serious cellaring potential. Gorgeous and precise from the get-go, the 2021 is profuse in aromas of black pepper, flint and earthy brambles. Equally perfumed, the palate ups the ante with rose, bergamot and graphite. A firm tannic spine and linear acidity are matched by fruit depth galore, all intricately and tightly stitched. My instinct is that this is only going to get better, so I prefer to wait. The solution is to buy a few bottles to enjoy its evolution.

94 Points! The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva is a wine of pedigree and class. Aromatic, vibrant and delineated, the Riserva captures all the best qualities of the year. Crushed flowers, dark red/purplish fruit, mint, blood orange and pomegranate are some of the many notes that build in the glass. This is a sublime effort. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

94 Points! A supple, fluid red marked by flavors of macerated cherry, raspberry and boysenberry. Well-structured, with flashes of graphite and tobacco as this builds to the long, compact finish. All the components are there, this just needs time. Sangiovese and Merlot. - Wine Spectator