Gorgeous and compelling, punches well above its weight...'

This is a gorgeous set of wines from Monsanto… Monsanto remains a reference point for readers who enjoy structured, vibrant Chianti Classicos. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

The third generation is now in charge, with Laura Bianchi having taken over from her father Fabrizio. In the cellar, they work with Slavonian oak for the aging of the wines, which display exceptional refinement with a Burgundian slanting aesthetic. AUDREY FRICKE, jebdunnuck.com

The name Monsanto is synonymous with age-worthy Chianti Classicos…I first visited the property in 1983, when I was in awe of the cellars and old bottles from the 1960s. The wines were incredibly fresh and flavorful after 20 years. Some of the same vintages still show fantastic quality. Every devoted Tuscan wine lover should seek out the Chianti Classicos from Castello di Monsanto; they’re great value. JAMES SUCKLING

2020 Vintage: Overall, the 2020 Riserva are well structured but by no means austere. They are equally amply padded with fruit, so astringency rarely pokes through. Above all, they are gracious wines offering ageing potential of seven to 10 years. MICHAELA MORRIS, decanter.com 

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This is a stellar, I agree with critic Antonio Galloni who goes onto praise it being a winner and gorgeous and compelling. Steady on – the wine is blushing!

It comes from Castello Monsanto which is led by the Bianchi’s, an old-school Tuscan family. It’s their flagship wine, the wine they hang their hat on at the estate and make the most of (much more than their regular Chianti Classico). It’s a delicious cool-weather red, its framework of fine yet firm tannins is saturated with spiced raspberries, red cherries and forest herbs.

A great Chianti Riserva is made to age. With age, Chianti can take on beguiling hints of mushrooms and mulch – not enough to overwhelm the perfumed fruits and florals of the core if drunk at their prime. The tannins become slinky and slender, adding curvature to the palate. 

Based in the sub-zone of San Donato in Poggio, a culmination of environmental and geological factors collide to produce the elegant, fragrant and austere Monsanto wines.  Altitude tops out at 360 metres and the soils are a complex mix of pietroforte and marine sands.

Laura Bianchi is the third generation to run this estate. Like her father, she is respectful of the past while bringing the wines into the modern day. Their network of underground cellars stretches 300 meters, it’s filled with old bottles and aging wines in casks. It’s also a testament to how well their wines age.  

This 2020 Riserva needs time in the cellar to unleash its full potential. At the moment it’s a tightly clenched fist of fury. The reviews below are strong, so strong I couldn't choose one to leave out. It’s a charming Riserva with a pedigreed fruit source.

We're offering this prized Tuscan for $65 each in a 6 pack or $71 each in a bottle buy - that's over 20% off! Fill your cellar with this sophisticated sangiovese.

Cheers

Gabrielle Poy