Ancient, Etruscan Roots in Chianti - Wine & Spirits Magazine

Wine of the Week

Ancient, Etruscan Roots in Chianti

review by Stephanie Johnson • March 30, 2020

Stucchi Prinetti’s estate in Chianti

The land around fifth-generation winemaker Roberto Stucchi Prinetti’s Monti estate has been producing wine and olive oil for more than 1,000 years, and there is an ongoing archaeological dig on their property that has found artifacts going back to the Etruscan period. A strong traditionalist, Stucchi Prinetti has been a vocal opponent of the Gran Selezione category, and prefers to bottle this wine, his top-level Chianti Classico, as a Riserva. Lively acidity and fine-grained tannins give a seamless structure to this wine’s high-toned red berry flavors. The blend (sangiovese with ten percent of colorino, canaiolo and ciliegiolo) reflects this estate’s emphasis on native Tuscan varieties, and vines of up to 40 years of age impart balance and concentration. This wine shines in 2016, a stellar year for Chianti Classico, showing classic restrained elegance and it has the structure and freshness to improve over the next decade.

Dalla Terra, Napa, CA

92

Badia a Coltibuono 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva (Best Buy)

$36

Where To Buy

Every week, our editors highlight a wine that intrigued them in our blind panel tastings, expanding on their tasting note in this space. These are entirely editorial choices; there are no paid placements. Subscribers can also access the original tasting note by searching here.

Stephanie Johnson

is the Italian wine editor at Wine & Spirits magazine.

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TAGS Chianti Italy Stucchi Prinetti

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