2020 Barone Ricasoli Gran Selezione CeniPrimo Chianti Classico, Tuscany

Aromas of al dente cherries with citrus peel. Flowers, such as red roses, also come through clearly. Medium to full body, with open grain tannins that caress like cashmere. Chewy, fresh and vivid. Give this three to five years to come together. Try after 2027.

97 points jamessuckling.com

The Barone Ricasoli 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Brolio CeniPrimo opens to a medium-dark saturated appearance and a slightly more concentrated feel that translates into aromas of cherry liqueur, blackberry, spice and sweet earth. This wine carries a little more fruit weight and textural richness thanks to lower-elevation vineyards and silty riverbed soils. However, this wine also offers a spot of vibrant freshness on the close, and that makes a big difference in a warm vintage like this. It remains meticulously balanced throughout. Production is 11,000 bottles.

These are exciting years at Castello di Brolio and the Barone Ricasoli estate headed by the charming Francesco Ricasoli. There is an exciting new addition to the portfolio, the 2020 Castello di Brolio Sanbarnaba, that Francesco describes as "the realization of a dream to make a great white wine." The focus is on Trebbiano, and indeed, there are elements of this wine that remind me of the regional benchmark for this thick-skinned variety made over in Radda in Chianti by Monteraponi. The styles are different, with the Sanbarnaba showing more primary intensity, but I think its cellar aging potential is comparable.

95 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

From one of the most historic estates in Tuscany comes a Gran Selezione that highlights the precision and pedigree of single vineyard Chianti Classico. Barone Ricasoli traces its origins back to 1141 at Castello di Brolio, and it was Bettino Ricasoli in the nineteenth century who shaped the modern identity of Chianti by championing Sangiovese as its foundation. Today the estate continues to refine that legacy through detailed vineyard research and site specific bottlings. CeniPrimo is a distinctive vineyard in the Gaiole zone, characterised by varied soils that combine limestone and sandstone, producing Sangiovese of power, structure and aromatic depth.

Deep ruby with garnet highlights, the bouquet is intense and layered. Black cherry, red plum and wild berry notes unfold alongside violet, dried rosemary and subtle sweet spice. There is a pronounced mineral and balsamic edge that reflects the vineyard’s altitude and complex soil composition.

On the palate it is full bodied yet beautifully structured, driven by vibrant acidity and firm, finely etched tannins. Dark cherry and cassis fruit form the core, framed by tobacco leaf, cedar and earthy savoury nuances. The texture is concentrated yet balanced, leading to a long, persistent finish marked by cherry skin, spice and stony precision. It is a commanding yet elegant expression of Gran Selezione Chianti Classico.

Pair with grilled bistecca, slow braised wild boar, pappardelle with rich ragù or aged pecorino. While impressive in its youth with careful decanting, this wine is built for extended cellaring and will evolve gracefully for twenty years or more, developing complex tertiary layers of leather, dried herbs and forest floor.