Two Serious Chiantis

I received these two bottles as tasting samples from the estate. See information about the estate below.

2021 Chianti I Sodi del Paretaio, Badia di Morrona

A young, pure nose with notes of ripe red cherries, Lily of the Valley, iron, Tuscan gravel and bakelite. Interesting and complex. Very fine.

The taste is medium bodied with a fine structure and purity. Sweet/sour cherries, violets, licorice and iron. Long and nicely balanced. 6+ years.

92p   (tasted 2023/07)

2020 Chianti Riserva I Sodi del Paretaio, Badia di Morrona

A deep, dense, gorgeous nose with notes of dark cherries, expensive leather, thyme, Tuscan gravel, fir wood and a hint of chocolate. Lovely.

The taste is concentrated and handsome with a hint of oak and additional notes of cherry pips, tobacco, herbs and chocolate wafers. Polished tannins. Very long. Great wine. 8+ years.

95p   (tasted 2023/07)

Here, in Pisa’s eastern hill country, the Gaslini Alberti family cultivates about 110 hectares of vineyard. Badia di Morrona, located in Terricciola, between Pisa and Volterra, has been owned by the Conti Gaslini Alberti family for almost a century. The heart of the estate is the ancient monastery, Badia di Morrona.

Both versions’ sovereign grape is Sangiovese, grown in vineyards continuously groomed by winds from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea that both keep the vines dry and temper the summer’s heat. The vineyards are planted deep into clay-based soils that also show alternations of sandstone, rock, grey schist, river cobbles, fossil shells, and alberese marl.

Chianti I Sodi del Paretaio 2022, a cuvée of Sangiovese with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah - fermentation in stainless steel tanks and a subsequent 10-month maturation in traditional concrete vats helped to preserve the nice fruit aromas classic to this wine.

Chianti I Sodi del Paretaio Riserva 2020, 100% Sangiovese, 18 months in 44hl French oak ovals and a brief stay in concrete vats before bottling.