Chianti Classico: The Stellar 2015s and Surprising 2014s
BY ANTONIO GALLONI |
Chianti Classico is one of the world’s elite regions because of its proven ability to produce pedigreed, age-worthy wines that transmit the essence of site and that develop beautifully in bottle. Readers will find a bevy of compelling new releases in the market, ranging from the gorgeous, radiant 2015s to the more nervy, tense 2014s.
The Stellar 2015 Chianti Classicos
A generation or so ago, the average wine lover could afford to buy top-flight Bordeaux, Burgundy and Italian wines...by the case. Sadly, that is no longer possible, as the demand for the world’s best wines has escalated at a rapid pace and driven prices into the stratosphere in many regions. In this context, it is easy to be discouraged. Yes, the last thirty years have seen an explosion of wine quality in regions that were once considered backwaters. There can be no doubt that today’s consumer has more choices than ever before, and that is a very good thing. Even so, there is something magical about the best wines from the world’s top regions. These wines have the ability to speak to history, culture and their place of origin with great eloquence, which is why they are considered benchmarks.
The 2015 vintage presents consumers with a tremendous opportunity to acquire fine, cellar worthy wines without spending a fortune. In 2015, the warm growing season yielded rich, sumptuous Chianti Classicos with great depth and intensity. Vintages like 2015 tend to raise the quality of entry-level wines. That is exactly what has happened with the 2015 Chianti Classicos. The finest examples can be had for $25-30 a bottle and will drink well for twenty years or more. Smart consumers will to snap up the best of these wines by the case. Of course, while warm vintages can result in unusually fleshy wines at the entry level, they can also attenuate peaks at the high end and produce wines that aren’t as site-driven as they are in cooler years. We will save that discussion for later, when the Riservas and top selections start coming into the market. For now, readers won’t want to miss the top 2015s in this article.
Castello dei Rampolla, Panzano
Top 2015 Chianti Classicos
note: this list focuses on bottled 2015s, and includes a few wines from neighboring appellations
Casaloste 2015 Chianti Classico
Castello di Brolio - Barone Ricasoli 2015 Chianti Classico Brolio
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Chianti Classico is one of the world’s elite regions because of its proven ability to produce pedigreed, age-worthy wines that transmit the essence of site and that develop beautifully in bottle. Readers will find a bevy of compelling new releases in the market, ranging from the gorgeous, radiant 2015s to the more nervy, tense 2014s.
Show all the wines (sorted by score)
Producers in this Article
- Antinori
- Antinori - Badia a Passignano
- Antinori - Tenuta Tignanello
- Badia a Coltibuono
- Bibbiano
- Brancaia
- Camporignano
- Canonica a Cerreto
- Cantine Dei
- Carpineto
- Casa al Vento
- Casa di Terra
- Casaloste
- Castellare
- Castell'in Villa
- Castello dei Rampolla
- Castello della Paneretta
- Castello di Ama
- Castello di Bossi
- Castello di Brolio - Barone Ricasoli
- Castello di Farnetella
- Castello di Gabbiano
- Castello di Meleto
- Castello di Monsanto
- Castello di Querceto
- Castello di Verrazzano
- Castelvecchio
- Cavalli - Tenuta degli Dei
- Cinciano
- Collazzi
- Collelungo
- Fattoria Poggiopiano
- Fèlsina
- Fontaleoni
- Fontodi
- Gagliole
- Giacomo Mori
- Il Borghetto
- Il Molino di Grace
- Il Palagione
- Isole e Olena
- Jurij Fiore & Figlia
- La Querce
- Le Calcinaie
- Le Cinciole
- Le Fonti - Panzano
- L'Orcio A Ca' di Pesa
- Lucignano
- Marchesi Torrigiani
- Marco Salustri
- Mazzei
- Mazzei - Castello di Fonterutoli
- Monteraponi
- Monterotondo
- Montevertine
- Ormanni
- Pagliarese
- Palladio
- Petrolo
- Piazzano
- Podere Il Carnasciale
- Podere Il Palazzino
- Poggio al Sole
- Poggio La Noce
- Poggio Scalette
- Poggiotondo
- Querciabella
- Renieri
- Renzo Marinai
- Riecine
- Rocca delle Macie
- Rocca di Castagnoli
- Rocca di Montegrossi
- Salustri Leonardo
- San Felice
- San Giusto a Rentennano
- Selvapiana
- Tenuta di Capraia
- Tenuta La Massa
- Tenuta San Vito
- Tolaini
- Tolaini - Tenuta Montebello
- Tolaini - Tenuta S. Giovanni
- Vecchie Terre di Montefili
- Vignamaggio
- Vignavecchia
- Villa Cafaggio
- Viticcio
- Volpaia