Querciabella Chianti Classico Riserva 2020

Cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant before serving. Querciabella translates as “beautiful oak” in Italian, a nod to the verdant woodland that fringes the estate’s prized vineyards. Founded in 1974 by pioneering winemaker Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni, today the winery is considered one of Chianti’s leading producers with 74 hectares of vineyards which include many of the region’s finest plots. Querciabella is also a star performer when it comes to sustainability; it was one of Italy’s first wineries to go fully organic in 1988 and in 2000 the estate also adopted biodynamic practices. This stunning red is regarded as a benchmark example of Chianti Classico Riserva thanks to exceptional winemaking and a reasonable pricetag. It's made from Querciabella’s very best Sangiovese parcels in Greve, Radda and Gaiole in Chianti which are microvinified to give maximum control over the final blend. Each plot brings different characteristics, with Greve grapes bringing freshness, Radda giving firm tannins and dark fruit, and Gaiole adding ripe fruit and acidity. The different components of the wine are aged in French oak barrels for 16 months with only the very best lots making it into the cuvee at the blending stage. The wine is then matured in the bottle for a few months more before release. The result is a full-bodied, powerful red that’s bursting with ripe cherries, baked earth and hints of savoury rosemary and spice on the long finish.

Price: £27.67 from 8wines UK