2021 Chianti Classico

Michele Braganti presented a stellar set of wines this year. Monteraponi is distinguished by high-elevation vineyards set within the large, sprawling property dominated by forests that convey an impression of wildness. Vineyards run up to 600 meters, which is the upper limit of the appellation. Reds are fermented in cement, with indigenous yeasts and long macerations. A bit of press wine is added back to the vats after racking and pressing. The cellar is then warmed to encourage malolactic fermentation. Wines are racked several times and then moved in wood. Aging takes place in French oak casks ranging from 10 to 30hL in a cramped cellar that is best described as a series of small connected rooms that are a poignant reminder of Monteraponi’s origins as a Medieval hamlet. Lastly, Braganti continues to make strides with his Trebbiano, which is one of the most distinctive whites in Chianti Classico. Fans of classically built wines will certainly want to take note.