San Giusto Chianti Classico Riserva Le Baroncole 2022

Certified Organic

San Giusto A Rentannano are up there with Italy’s top growers – they are all about purity of sangiovese fruit, elegance (almost feminine for super Tuscan), beautiful aromatics, and superb freshness. They were certified organic in 2008 vintage. Set in the far south of the Chianti Classico zone, San Giusto a Rentennano started out as a medieval Cistercian monastery and currently owns about 40 hectares of vineyards – a small landholding compared to some of big Tuscan names and a feature that means they produce small quantities of wine.

Le Baroncole is made from 97% Sangiovese and 3% Canaiolo grapes. The initial stages of its production are the same as Chianti Classico but it is then aged in barriques for between 16 to 20 months, bottled unfiltered and held for a further six months prior to release. There are dark cherries, floral notes, spice, licorice and menthol and the tannins build impressively on the finish. Le Baroncole blends power, richness and freshness with outstanding balance, gaining complexity with time in the bottle.

The 2022 Chianti Classico Riserva Le Baroncole is packed with dark red cherry/plum fruit, new leather, cedar, blood orange and spice. Dense and layered, with superb depth. the 2022 is endowed with real structure. The oak, sometimes a touch intrusive in this bottling, is especially well integrated, reflecting a gradual move towards larger-format wood and a lighter touch overall. Gorgeous. 94, Antonio Galloni, Vinous