San Felice Il Grigio Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva 2019, Tuscany, 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. 2019 vintage: Winter 2019 was characterized by rains and snowfalls that allowed the deposit of water reserves; average spring temperatures favored an early April budbreak and high summer temperatures in June, July and August brought the grapes to perfect ripening. In general, the 2019 vintage has produced well balanced wines with an excellent aging potential. Vineyard location: San Felice Estate (Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena. Soil Profile: Medium-textured, predominantly calcareous marl breakdown of Alberese and Galestro limestones, with abundant gravel-pebble mixture. Grapes: Mainly Sangiovese. Vinification & Maturation: Fermentation on the skins at 28 – 30 degrees 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 notes: Deep ruby red. Rich, long-lingering aromas are redolent of violets and wild red berry fruit. Il Grigio is a full-bodied wine, lean and firm, with succulent tannins and a tangy acidity.