2021 Barone Ricasoli Gran Selezione Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico, Tuscany

This is so classy, with finesse and sensitivity that are so mesmerizing. It’s delicate and almost weightless, with a beautiful and energetic fruit and acid balance. It’s medium-bodied and extremely long. Medium chewy. It goes on and on. Dark cherries, bark and lots of flowers in the finish. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years and beyond.

97 points jamessuckling.com

Now identified by the Gaiole subregion on the back label, the Barone Ricasoli 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Gaiole Castello di Brolio reveals a beautiful bouquet that is packed tight with carefully ripened fruit. There is a sweet spot in terms of aromas with a hint of candied cherry that is folded into iris root, dried mint and spice. This generous Sangiovese ends with lasting freshness.

95 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

The 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Brolio is redolent of red-toned Sangiovese fruit, white pepper, cedar, tobacco, incense and dried herbs. Bright and complex in the glass, with terrific energy, the Riserva is another fine offering from the Ricasoli family. In fact, the 2021 is one of the finest editions I can recall tasting. 

94 points Antonio Galloni vinous.com

Barone Ricasoli Gran Selezione Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico is a powerful and aristocratic expression of Tuscany’s most historic wine estate. This is the pinnacle of Chianti Classico—sourced from the best parcels around the iconic Brolio Castle, aged with patience, and crafted with precision to reflect the soul of Sangiovese and the grandeur of the region.

The Ricasoli family has been making wine at Brolio since 1141, making this the oldest winery in Italy and one of the oldest in the world. Bettino Ricasoli, known as the “Iron Baron,” literally wrote the formula for Chianti in the 19th century. Today, under the leadership of Francesco Ricasoli, the estate continues to be a driving force in quality, innovation, and the deep exploration of terroir across their 240 hectares of vineyards.

Gran Selezione is the top tier of Chianti Classico, and Castello di Brolio is a single-vineyard bottling that blends Sangiovese with small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, depending on the vintage. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged in tonneaux and barriques, with careful use of new oak to preserve the integrity of the fruit and structure.

In the glass, it opens with aromas of black cherry, violet, tobacco, cedar, and wild herbs. The palate is powerful yet elegant, showing ripe red and black fruit, firm but polished tannins, and a savoury, mineral finish that goes on and on. It’s a wine of tension and finesse, designed for ageing but impressive even in youth with a proper decant.

Ideal with bistecca alla Fiorentina, braised meats, or truffle-infused mushroom dishes, this is Chianti Classico at its most noble.