Barone Ricasoli : Casalferro 2019

A blend of Merlot grown in three distinct sites in Gaiole in Chianti, with elevations up to 500m above sea level and exposures ranging from south to north, gives Casalferro's new multi-vineyard identity a cool, breezy direction. Like Ricasoli's other top wines, it's vinified in stainless steel and long-aged in tonneaux, 30% new. Blueberry, plum and red and black berry scents mingle with wildflowers, spices and a hint of roasted coffee beans. Stony and sapid in the mouth, it's all about elegance with beautiful cool blue fruits accompanied by a touch of creaminess on the mid-palate, then a long, super-fresh and poised finish. ‘Like a Sangiovese,’ says Francesco Ricasoli proudly.

Super aromas of fresh violets, black olives, crushed raspberries and blackberries. Hints of dried flowers, too. Full-bodied, yet compact and polished, with superbly crafted tannins that compress the palate, giving it a fine-velvet texture. Tight and focused. Most precise and sophisticated Casalferro ever. This needs at least three or four years to show what it has, but great potential. Best from 2026.