2023 Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico, Tuscany

Vibrant and floral on the nose, with cherries, rose hips and pomegranates. Crisp on the palate, with a dusty texture and a red-fruited core. Pure, energetic and very approachable. Drink now.

91 points jamessuckling.com

Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico is a polished, vibrant and deeply rooted expression of one of Tuscany’s most historic estates. The Ricasoli family has been shaping Chianti Classico since the eleven hundreds, with Baron Bettino Ricasoli famously helping define the original formulation of the region’s wines in the nineteenth century. The Brolio estate sits in the southern part of Gaiole, where steep slopes of galestro and alberese limestone give Sangiovese its signature lift, mineral edge and fine tannin. Fruit is hand selected from parcels surrounding the ancient Brolio castle, fermented with care and matured in a mix of large casks and tonneaux to balance brightness with savoury depth.

The aromas are quintessentially Chianti Classico. Red cherry, blood orange and wild strawberry rise first, followed by rose petals, dried herbs and a soft peppery spice. Beneath the fruit lies a clean mineral thread alongside hints of cedar, tobacco leaf and warm terracotta that evoke the castle’s hillside soils. As the wine opens, subtle notes of balsamic, anise and violet weave into the bouquet.

The palate is bright, finely structured and wonderfully food friendly. Juicy red fruits run through a line of crisp acidity that gives the wine clarity and lift. Flavours of cherry skin, pomegranate, raspberry and savoury spice move across taut yet silky tannins, leading into a long, elegant finish marked by earth, herbs and mineral detail. It drinks beautifully young but will develop added complexity over five to eight years, gaining deeper notes of leather, dried flowers and forest warmth.

Excellent with classic Tuscan fare bistecca, tomato based pastas, grilled vegetables, roast chicken with herbs, pecorino, salumi or mushroom dishes. Brolio remains one of Chianti Classico’s most reliable and historically significant bottlings, offering both authenticity and tremendous value.