Istine

The Trebbiano and Malvasia Bianca grapes for this exceptional white wine come from the Casanova dell'Aia estate in Radda in Chianti, the first 0.2 ha of limestone and clay parcel that the family bought and planted in the 1980s and then renewed in 2014. It matures on the fine lees mostly in terracotta amphorae and only a small part remains in stainless steel tanks.

Brilliant, sparkling golden yellow. Intense and attractive on the nose with fresh notes of yellow-fleshed fruits and an elegant, delicate aftertaste including a delicately reductive note. Fresh and balanced on the palate, with invigorating acidity and a fine mineral note. An agile white with great independence and animating drinking flow. SUPERIORE.DE

The Chianti Classico from Istine is one of the most racy and pure representatives of its genre. Its weightlessness and at the same time precision make up a large part of its charm. Finely knitted bouquet of red berry fruits, flowers, chalk and white pepper. Medium-bodied on the nose, with further aeration its fine fruit, creamy tannins and plenty of personality come to light. A red that takes hearts by storm with its lively, prancing and extremely fine-nerved character! SUPERIORE.DE

"Mid crimson. Concentrated, complex nose of dark fruit and sweet raspberry with a hint of iron and damp earth. Succulent cherry fruit lined with grainy tannins and a final kick of acidity on the finish." Jancis Robinson

"Cherry and strawberry flavors are pure and focused, with a touch of rose and rosemary accents. This is firm and balanced, with a persistent finish echoing the fruit and herb notes." Wine Spectator

"The 2019 Chianti Classico is a classy, polished wine that needs time to fully come into its own, as the aromatics are not at all expressive, and that is such a big part of what makes Chianti Classico so distinctive. Today, the wine's energy and vibrancy are both notable, but it is clearly very early days for this bottling." Vinous

Since the 2012 vintage, a small and strictly selected part of the Sangiovese at Istine has been vinified separately according to the origin of the vineyard, in order to bring out the specific characteristics of the site, the soil and the altitude and make them tangible. Since then, the best grapes from the estate's own vineyards Istine, Casanova dell'Aia and Cavarchione have been vinified separately, resulting in three now highly sought-after cru wines, of which just 3,000 bottles are sold in specialist shops and restaurants every year.

Vigna Casanova dell'Aia is airy, weightless and graceful on the palate. Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, mint, chalk and white pepper rise from the glass in this very beautiful, immensely nuanced Chianti Classico. Arguably the most ethereal wine in the high-end Istine collection, on the palate flavours of red berries and cherries are flanked by a fine, downright silky tannin and lead into an elegant, flowing finish with remarkable memory potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"A juicy, fruity red with blackberry, mushroom and walnut aromas and flavors. Lots of fruit and a chewy finish. I like the mushroom and spice undertones to the fruit." James Suckling

"A ripe version, this exhibits macerated cherry, plum and tobacco flavors, allied to a succulent profile. Ample tannins and vibrant acidity extend the savory finish." Wine Spectator

"Made entirely with Sangiovese, this has energizing aromas of crushed mint, cedar, rose and tilled earth. Vibrant and focused, the structured palate delivers juicy black cherry, ripe plum and baking spice alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. It finishes on a licorice note. Give it a few more years to fully develop." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2018 Chianti Classico Vigna Casanova dell'Aia is a rich, powerful wine. It is also a bit less put together than the other wines in the range at this stage. Succulent black cherry, plum, licorice, tobacco, spice and new leather all build as this decidedly potent, virile wine shows everything it has." Vinous

The grapes for Istine's cult Riserva come exclusively from the estate's own vineyards Istine (Radda), Casanova dell'Aia (Radda) and Cavarchione (Gaiole). Only 4,000 bottles of this breathtaking wine, which is aged for 12 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, are bottled each year.

Rich, bright ruby red with a sparkling core. The bouquet exercises complex aristocratic restraint. Compact and fresh-fruited nose of lush cherries and ripe raspberries, with amarena cherries and hints of tobacco in the background. Medium-bodied on the palate, but with endless, captivating depth waiting to be discovered. Then spreads out beautifully in the body, coming across as downright juicy and fruit-driven, opening up more and more towards its terrific finalwith crisp cherries and a refined saltiness. Purists will love its linear and unmistakable Sangiovese character. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright and woven with strawberry and cherry fruit, this red is also supple and lively. Earth, mineral and wild thyme elements add detail. A swath of dusty tannins lingers on the finish, yet the ripe fruit returns, giving equilibrium and length." Wine Spectator

"Enticing aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, iris, new leather and camphor lead the nose. It's smooth, structured and has great energy for such a hot vintage, offering flavors of dried cherry, raspberry compote, blood orange and tobacco set against taut refined tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Levigne is another positively stunning wine in this range. Ample and explosive in the glass, with tremendous resonance, the 2017 is off the charts gorgeous. To be sure, the Riserva is a big, rich wine, but it also offers plenty of Sangiovese character to please purists. Macerated dark cherry, spice, leather, menthol and a whole range of balsamic inflections fill out the layers in a dramatic, towering Chianti Classico Riserva. In a word: stunning." Vinous

The Chianti Classico from Istine is one of the most racy and pure representatives of its genre. Its weightlessness and at the same time precision make up a large part of its charm. Finely knitted bouquet of red berry fruits, flowers, chalk and white pepper. Medium-bodied on the nose, with further aeration its fine fruit, creamy tannins and plenty of personality come to light. A red that takes hearts by storm with its lively, prancing and extremely fine-nerved character! SUPERIORE.DE

"Mid crimson. Concentrated, complex nose of dark fruit and sweet raspberry with a hint of iron and damp earth. Succulent cherry fruit lined with grainy tannins and a final kick of acidity on the finish." Jancis Robinson

"Cherry and strawberry flavors are pure and focused, with a touch of rose and rosemary accents. This is firm and balanced, with a persistent finish echoing the fruit and herb notes." Wine Spectator

"The 2019 Chianti Classico is a classy, polished wine that needs time to fully come into its own, as the aromatics are not at all expressive, and that is such a big part of what makes Chianti Classico so distinctive. Today, the wine's energy and vibrancy are both notable, but it is clearly very early days for this bottling." Vinous

The grapes for Istine's cult Riserva come exclusively from the estate's own vineyards Istine (Radda), Casanova dell'Aia (Radda) and Cavarchione (Gaiole). Only 4,000 bottles of this breathtaking wine, which is aged for 12 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, are bottled each year.

Rich, bright ruby red with a sparkling core. The bouquet exercises complex aristocratic restraint. Compact and fresh-fruited nose of lush cherries and ripe raspberries, with amarena cherries and hints of tobacco in the background. Medium-bodied on the palate, but with endless, captivating depth waiting to be discovered. Then spreads out beautifully in the body, coming across as downright juicy and fruit-driven, opening up more and more towards its terrific finalwith crisp cherries and a refined saltiness. Purists will love its linear and unmistakable Sangiovese character. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright and woven with strawberry and cherry fruit, this red is also supple and lively. Earth, mineral and wild thyme elements add detail. A swath of dusty tannins lingers on the finish, yet the ripe fruit returns, giving equilibrium and length." Wine Spectator

"Enticing aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, iris, new leather and camphor lead the nose. It's smooth, structured and has great energy for such a hot vintage, offering flavors of dried cherry, raspberry compote, blood orange and tobacco set against taut refined tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Levigne is another positively stunning wine in this range. Ample and explosive in the glass, with tremendous resonance, the 2017 is off the charts gorgeous. To be sure, the Riserva is a big, rich wine, but it also offers plenty of Sangiovese character to please purists. Macerated dark cherry, spice, leather, menthol and a whole range of balsamic inflections fill out the layers in a dramatic, towering Chianti Classico Riserva. In a word: stunning." Vinous