2022 Poggerino Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva Bugialla, Tuscany

A generous and intense wine with bright, ripe yet focused red cherry, cherry pit, fresh violet, rose and spice aromas. Tense, with a medium-bodied, tight-knit structure, crisp acidity and firm, velvety, refined tannins. Juicy, savory and minerally finish. Impressive quality considering the vintage. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

95 points James Suckling

For his Riserva, Piero Lanzo makes a selection of the smallest bunches on the vines and harvests these last. His objective is intensity rather body or structure, yet the 2022 achieves all three in harmony. With enticing scents of mocha, mint and tarragon to begin, Bugialla progresses with rich, mouthcoating layers of dark cherry and grenadine. Blood orange and minerals are tucked in too. Waves of tactile powdery tannins add to the charge before brilliant acidity cleanses the palate. Alas, there won’t be a 2023 bottling as all the fruit from Bugialla went into the spectacular annata.

93 points Decanter

The nose is sweet, saline and floral, with aromas of rose petals, peonies, tulips and tart cherries. Sweet, ripe berries star on the palate, while undertones of coffee grinds and candied walnuts are reinforced by refined yet grippy tannins.

92 points Danielle Callegari

Poggerino is one of Chianti Classico's hidden gems, a small family estate in the celebrated commune of Radda in Chianti where the Lanza family has quietly built a reputation for producing some of Tuscany's most authentic Sangiovese. Farmed organically and made with minimal intervention, the wines are prized for their purity, elegance and unmistakable sense of place. Bugialla Riserva is the estate's flagship wine, produced only from the finest parcels in exceptional vintages and regarded as one of the great expressions of Radda.

The vineyards sit at high elevation on the rocky galestro soils that define this cooler corner of Chianti Classico. Warm days and cool nights encourage slow ripening, preserving aromatic lift and vibrant acidity while building remarkable concentration. The outstanding 2022 vintage has produced a Riserva of exceptional balance, matured patiently in large oak casks to enhance complexity without overshadowing the character of the vineyard.

The colour is a deep ruby red with youthful garnet hues. Aromas of black cherry, wild raspberry and blood plum are layered with dried rose petals, violets, cedar, tobacco leaf and fragrant Tuscan herbs. The palate is refined yet beautifully structured, combining vibrant red and dark fruits with finely woven tannins and bright natural acidity. Notes of liquorice, forest floor, graphite and sweet spice unfold through a long, savoury finish that reflects the elegance, energy and longevity of this remarkable vineyard.

Magnificent with bistecca alla Fiorentina, slow braised lamb shoulder, pappardelle with wild boar ragù, porcini mushroom risotto or mature Pecorino Toscano. Although captivating in its youth with careful decanting, this superb Riserva has the structure and balance to reward fifteen to twenty years in the cellar.