“Le Cinciole” Chianti Classico DOCG 2023 (BIO)

Podere Le Cinciole | Tuscany
Le Cinciole Soc. Semplice Agr. | Via Case Sparse 83 | IT 50022 Panzano in Chianti

29042523 · 0,75 l · 28,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

Whilst many of their peers in the Conca d'Oro succumb to the temptations of opulence, Le Cinciole remains the uncompromising benchmark for cool limestone, skeletal soil and pure Sangiovese. One hundred per cent, no concessions, no sugar-coating. The vines are rooted at altitudes of 400 to 450 metres in highly calcareous Alberese soil, interspersed with slate and clay inclusions. This altitude, combined with the constant thermal conditions of the hills, preserves the Sangiovese's cool freshness even during warmer spells in summer.

Fermentation takes place spontaneously in concrete tanks, using wild yeasts and with skin contact lasting around 15 to 20 days, accompanied by carefully controlled punching down of the cap. Ageing takes place for around twelve months in traditional 20 to 25-hectolitre French oak barrels, followed by a further harmonisation phase in concrete tanks and at least six months' bottle ageing. No new wood to stifle the fruit, but neutral, well-seasoned oak that allows the tannins room to breathe.

A radiant, transparent ruby red of medium depth, with the rim taking on a delicate garnet hue – not an opaque mass of colour, but that honest, luminous brilliance which immediately signals that no one has over-extracted the colour here. The bouquet reveals typical high-altitude Sangiovese: cool, taut, aristocratic. Initially crisp sour cherry, barberry and blood orange peel; then, with a little air, the full herbal spectrum of Panzano unfolds: dried sage, black tea, undergrowth, wet limestone and a subtle, earthy note of damp autumn leaves. The oak remains olfactorily invisible, merely a stage for the terroir, nothing more. The first sip is one of vibrant precision. It brings an invigorating, delicate acidity that immediately makes it easy to drink, yet this wine is no harmless charmer: the tannins grip boldly and with fine grain, offering grip, structure and that chalky, crumbly texture that literally coats the palate. Slim to medium-bodied, yet with remarkable inner density and tension. The finish lingers with a mineral-salty note, accompanied by a subtle bitter hint of sour cherry stone and dried rosemary. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2023 Chianti Classico is a classy, polished wine. Dark Sangiovese fruit, leather, incense, tobacco, mocha and lavender are some of the notes that build in the glass. More importantly, the 2023 impresses with its balance and poise. It spent a year in cask and then a year in cement. This is a gorgeous effort from Le Cinciole." Vinous