Chianti Classico Brolio, Barone Ricasoli 2021

The imposing Castello di Brolio is where the Ricasoli Barons started making wine in 1141 and this historic estate has one of the best positions of all the Chianti Classico vineyards, looking south towards the ancient enemy Siena (over the centuries the Ricasoli family have fought on the Florentine side during the many conflicts between Florence and Siena ).

Francesco Ricasoli has been improving his wine with each vintage since taking over the property in 1993 following several years of mismanagement by previous owners, paying particular attention to the work carried out in the vineyards and lowering yields to attain riper fruit.

Brolio now has 240 hectares of vines all re-planted with superior clones. The whole estate has been carefully zoned according to soil type, and as a result they now make 200 separate vinifications. The vineyards are at heart weathered sandstone with galestro in front of the castle and limestone for the single-vineyards at 500metres with some land at 250m on alluvial soil. There are three outstanding single-vineyard Gran Selezione bottlings, the most important of which is Colledilà from the hill opposite the castle. The others are Roncicone and Ceni-Primo. Also produced is a fine 'Chiantified' merlot called Casalfero.

Once the fruit reaches the modern cellars, at the foot of the slope on which the castle sits, they are fed to the vats using only gravity. Once fermented the wines are transferred to barrels and barriques for maturation.