Castello di Volpaia : Chianti Classico Riserva 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva from Castello di Volpaia

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays an intense ruby hue with purple highlights.

Nose
Complex and elegant, the nose opens with aromas of black cherry and violet, accompanied by spicy notes and subtle woody touches.

Palate
On the palate, this 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva reveals a harmonious structure supported by silky tannins. Its fine acidity brings freshness and vibrancy, while the finish is persistent and refined.

Food and wine pairings
This wine pairs perfectly with roasted red meats, game, and traditional Tuscan dishes. It also goes very well with Italian cured meats and aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring
The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. About thirty minutes of aeration helps fully reveal its aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now, but will continue to evolve favorably until around 2030.

A rich and delicate Chianti Classico Riserva

The estate
Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Castello di Volpaia is a medieval treasure where time seems to stand still. Its stone houses, cobbled lanes, and fortified towers make this haven of beauty a timeless little village. Built in 1172, the estate is one of the most significant architectural testaments to the glory and prestige of the Chianti region. Owned by the Famille Stianti Mascheroni since the 1970s, Castello di Volpaia benefits from an outstanding vineyard spanning 46 hectares of vines. Organic farming, massal selections, indigenous clones—the estate tends its vines with the greatest care.

The vineyard
The parcels selected for this Chianti Classico Riserva lie between 400 and 600 meters in altitude, benefiting from optimal south, southeast, and southwest exposures. The sandstone soils, typical of the Macigno del Chianti, lend the wine finesse and elegance. This high altitude, among the most elevated in the appellation, encourages slow, gradual ripening of the grapes, preserving a remarkable natural acidity characteristic of wines from Radda.

The vintage
The 2021 vintage is considered excellent in Tuscany. After a particularly warm March, a cooldown in early April slowed the vegetative cycle without damaging the buds. Cool, rainy April and May were followed by a hot, dry summer from July to mid-August. Welcome rains in mid-August enabled optimal ripening of the grapes. Harvest took place from September 27 to October 15, producing wines that combine ripeness and freshness.

Winemaking and aging
The grapes are harvested by hand and transported in small crates. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with two daily pump-overs for fourteen days, followed by an extended maceration of an additional ten days. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva is then aged for 24 months in Slavonian and French oak casks as well as in barriques, then matured for a minimum of three months in bottle before release.

Grape variety
100% sangiovese