Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Poggio Castello Monsanto 2020 (750ML)

Monsanto first bottled Il Poggio on its own in 1962, making it Chianti Classico’s first single-vineyard wine, a step credited to Fabrizio Bianchi. The vineyard is a south-facing 5.2 hectares at 310 meters in San Donato in Poggio, on sandstone pietraforte and galestro. The 2020 Gran Selezione is 95% Sangiovese with 5% Canaiolo and Colorino, fermented in truncated-cone steel vats and aged 18 to 20 months in 3,800-liter casks. Spring frost cut the crop that year, and a warm summer with cool nights let the remaining fruit ripen slowly and fully. The wine is tense and fine-boned, with struck stone, white pepper and blossom on the nose, then wild strawberry, dark cherry and citrus peel over tannins that are fine but still tight, and a long, savory finish. Set it beside roast squab, porcini risotto or a grilled veal chop.