2022 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico, Tuscany

A layered wine with bright red cherries, dried cherries, sweet violets and a lot of licorice on the nose. Medium-bodied and very supple and refreshing on the palate, with lightly framed tannins and a crunchy finish. Drink or hold.

93 points jamessuckling.com

The last vintage crafted by former owner Paolo De Marchi, who sold the estate to French investment group EPI in June 2022. It was blended by Emanuele Reolon, who has assumed the role of technical director. This has a fragrant overture of pepper and raspberry with mint, flint and dried florals joining in. The palate is a colourful mix of sour red cherry and blackcurrant – all very crunchy. Sandy-textured tannins give a decisive backbone and tart, crisp acidity cuts through the density. Graphite and spicy green peppercorn to finish. I’ll be buying a few bottles to revisit over the next five years or so.

92 points Michaela Morris MW decanter.com

Made with 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo, the Isole e Olena 2022 Chianti Classico has soft fruit and cherry with light spice and a hint of Tuscany rosemary or laurel leaf. I like the vibrant and lively quality of fruit in a vintage that also delivers ample ripeness. This release of 130,000 bottles ferments in stainless steel and sees a quick 12 months in botte grande.

92 points Monica Larner robertparker.com

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG is one of Tuscany’s great reference points, a wine that helped redefine what Chianti Classico could be. Sitting in the hills between Florence and Siena, the estate’s vineyards enjoy altitude, cooling breezes and classic galestro and alberese soils that give Sangiovese its natural energy, perfume and structure.

Isole e Olena rose to international prominence under the stewardship of Paolo De Marchi, whose influence on modern Tuscan winemaking cannot be overstated. Long before purity and site expression became fashionable, he championed low yields, meticulous vineyard work and a return to Sangiovese as the heart and soul of Chianti Classico. The wine has always been about balance rather than muscle, and that philosophy still defines it today.

In the glass, Chianti Classico from Isole e Olena is poised and expressive. Bright cherry, red plum and wild strawberry lead, followed by violet, dried herbs and a subtle earthy note. There is a savoury thread running through the wine, hints of leather and spice that add depth without weight. The palate is medium bodied and energetic, with fine tannins and vibrant acidity carrying the flavours through a long, clean finish.

This is a wine made to live at the table. It pairs effortlessly with pasta, grilled meats, roast chicken, mushrooms and classic Tuscan dishes built around olive oil and herbs. While approachable in its youth, it also rewards time in the cellar, developing greater complexity and savoury nuance over several years.

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico DOCG remains a benchmark for the appellation, honest, elegant and deeply rooted in place, showing why this estate continues to hold such a special place in the story of Tuscan wine.