2016 Isole e Olena Gran Selezione Chianti Classico, Tuscany

Notes of chocolate and dried cherries with spices, dried sage and potpourri. Lots of new wood. Full and velvety on the palate with plush red fruit framed with vivid acidity. Firm and lingering. Racy at the end. Better in two or three years. Try after 2025.

94 points jamessuckling.com.au

The Isole e Olena Gran Selezione Chianti Classico represents the pinnacle of Paolo De Marchi’s vision for Sangiovese in Tuscany. While Isole e Olena is best known for its benchmark Chianti Classico and the iconic Cepparello, the Gran Selezione embodies the estate’s most precise expression of terroir, sourced from the finest parcels of mature vineyards around Barberino Val d’Elsa in the heart of Chianti Classico. Introduced in line with the Consorzio’s Gran Selezione classification, which sits above Riserva, this wine reflects purity, structure and an extraordinary sense of place.

In the glass, it is a luminous ruby with garnet edges. The bouquet is fragrant and layered, offering red cherry, plum and wild strawberry accented by violet, rose petal, Tuscan herbs and a touch of spice. On the palate it is medium to full-bodied, combining vibrant red fruits with finely woven tannins and bright acidity. Subtle oak maturation adds cocoa and savoury depth without overshadowing the fruit, while the finish is long, elegant and mineral, underscoring Sangiovese’s natural precision.

Food pairings highlight its finesse and structure: bistecca alla Fiorentina, wild boar ragù, roast lamb with rosemary, or porcini mushroom pappardelle. Pecorino Toscano or aged Parmigiano Reggiano also pair beautifully. With 15 to 20 years of cellaring potential, this Gran Selezione evolves into a wine of great complexity, gaining notes of truffle, leather and dried flowers while retaining its core of fruit and acidity.