San Felice Il Grigio Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva 2014, Italy

Made only from the finest Sangiovese grapes carefully selected from the estate Chianti Classico vineyards, this Reserva represents the perfect blend of the traditional and the modern. It spends some 24 months in oak, with about 20% in small barriques, and one year in the bottle. The front label bears Titian’s famous portrait of a medieval knight in armour. 2014 vintage: One of the most peculiar climatic trend of the last decade: -winter definitely warm and rainy, and average temperatures during spring, with few rainfalls; the months of July and August were instead a bit cooler than usual with frequent afternoon showers, while the month of October, with windy days and pleasant temperatures, allowed a smooth running of the harvest. Soil profile: Medium-textured, predominantly calcareous marl breakdown of Alberese and Galestro limestones, with abundant gravel-pebble mixture. 100% Sangiovese. Vinification & Maturation: Fermentation on the skins at 28-30 ° C for 18-20 days followed by malolactic fermentation in steel. 80% of the wine then matures for 24 months in 60- or 90- hl in Slavonian oak casks, and 20% in 225-litre French barriques, followed by a further 6 months or so in the bottle. Tasting: Deep ruby red color. Aroma: intense and persistent with the typical notes of sweet violet and wild red berries. An austere, full-bodied wine, with succulent tannins and fresh acidity. Enriched with an aromatic complexity that originates from a delicate dosing of wood.