AntinoriBadia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019

The vineyards of Badia a Passignano surround an ancient monastery which has belonged to Benedictine monks since the 11th century. It’s just 3km south of Antinori’s Tignanello estate, from which the Sangiovese cuttings hail. Youthful, graceful and unencumbered by masses of oak, this expresses pretty floral, red cherry and cedar. Smooth yet tactile, the tannins are sleek and yielding, and succulent acidity contributes to the levity and clarity of this mid-weight, elegant Gran Selezione. Glossy red berries are infused with sage on the palate. Everything is in place - almost too perfectly.

A dense, rich red highlighted by black cherry, blackberry and blueberry flavors, with flashes of vanilla and toasty oak underscored by mineral and wild herbs. Shows fine balance and texture, with a tannic structure emerging on the earth-tinged finish, suggesting this will need another two to three years before hitting its stride. One for the cellar.

Marchesi Antinori´s 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano embraces a ripe fruit profile with sweet cherry and baked plum. Fruit at the Badia a Passignano estate matures very nicely, Marchesi Antinori General Manager Renzo Cotarella tells me. He describes the 2019 season as having abundant rain in the spring and then showing heat that lasted for a good part of the summer. This estate has a total of 56 hectares of vines, but this bottle is born from a selection from 20 hectares. The resulting annual production is 100,000 bottles. The wine offers sweet tannins, lots of dark cherry, spicy sensations, rich fruit weight and hints of salinity on the close.