This was our first ever tasting of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, a new classification for Chianti created in 2013 - first released in February 2014. The members were guided through this exciting tasting by guest speaker Matt Woo, Territory Manager at Halpern Wine. For full tasting event description, click here.
The Wines
2012 Casa Emma Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany, Italy $60
“A fresh and fruity red with hints of tobacco and berry. Medium to full body, solid core of chewy yet polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Solid Gran Selezione.” Drink or hold. 94/100 James Suckling
2012 Rocca delle Macie Sergio Zingarelli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy $100
“The 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Sergio Zingarelli shows what Rocca delle Macie is capable of at their best. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, spices, new leather and menthol flesh out as the 2012 shows off its succulent, layered personality. Already quite expressive, the 2012 should drink well for a handful of years. “ 90 pts Antonio Galloni
2012 Castello Banfi Fonte alla Selva Gran Selezione, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy $37
“Only a selection of the grapes, carefully harvested in the Fonte alla Selva vineyards, craft this prestigious Gran Selezione. A new wine at the summit of the quality pyramid of the Chianti Classico designation, presented on the market only after a minimum 30-month maturation and a mandatory period in the bottle. A patient aging that enriches its complex aromatic profile and its pleasingly smooth body. This wine shows a great aging potential. “ Winemakers comments, wine critic reviews were not available.
2012 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro-Gold, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Italy $45
“The latest release of the Ducale Gran Riserva follows in the same mould as the 2011, which is to say a dusty, resinous, herbal, firm and tightly wound wine. I prefer the fruit expression here, however, preserved to a greater degree, without sacrificing the enticing umami-savoury character that makes this category so interesting. Tannins are still a bit rough and tumble so give this another couple of years in the cellar. Overall this is a very fine example. Tasted October 2017.” - 91 John Sazbo, Winealign
2012 Marchesi Antinori Badia a Passignano, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Italy $50
Super-ripe black cherries, plums, lavender, cloves, chocolate and new leather give the 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano much of its racy personality. Flamboyant and overt, the 2012 offers superb density and yet there is just enough freshness to keep things in check. - 93 Antonio Galloni
2013 San Felice 'Il Grigio da San Felice' Gran Selezione, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy $49
“This is a powerful quite rich if overly oaked, topwrung "gran selezione" with wood resin, vanillin, nutty notes atop ripe red currant/pomegranate fruit. It is full bodied, fairly dense and still youthfully tannic but the textural richness supersedes that. There is also a sour edge here. Excellent length. Best now to 2022.” 90 pts. David Lawrason Winealign
2013 Tolaini Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Montebello Sette DOCG, Tuscany, Italy $46
Tolaini's 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is dark, plush and inviting. A wine of texture and depth, the 2013 fleshes out nicely in the glass. Hints of red plum, tobacco, leather, spice and woodsmoke add aromatic nuance, but like all of these wines, the Gran Selezione is mostly about fruit and palate richness. - 91 Antonio Galloni
2013 Castello di Ama 'San Lorenzo', Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Italy $56
The 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo is a plush, open-knit wine, and yet there is plenty of supporting structure. Sweet tobacco, earthiness, smoke, leather and menthol wrap around a core of dark stone fruit. Pliant and savory, but with a persistent spine of tannin, the 2013 should drink well for the next decade-plus. The tannins need time to soften, but the 2013 is nicely balanced, even at this early stage. - 92 Antonio Galloni
How the wines were ranked