Never Seen Before Low Price - 91WA, 92V Rated Chianti Classico

Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 2018

Rated 92 Points Vinous

Rated 91 Points Wine Advocate

This is a wine that we consider a staple here. Consistent vintage after vintage, we have had this wine in stock as far back as our records go... but NEVER at the low price that you will see it for today. We bought a lot of it to get there, but this wine is just so good, and now sitting under $20 per bottle BEFORE DISCOUNTS, it's a true steal! This is the current (and excellent) 2018 vintage, known for its complex fruit, smooth textures and overall ripeness in all of the wines in the region. 

Since 1966 Felsina has been making wines in the Chianti region of Tuscany, starting small and locally, and developing into the internationally recognized name that they are today. Always developing and adjusting to modern technology and techniques, Felsina operates biodynamically and their vineyards are a benchmark of biodiversity, growing much more than just grapes. 

The Berardenga Chianti Classico comes from vineyards located in Castelnuovo Berardenga, which is in the southeastern part of the Chianti Classico region, southeast of Siena. Sprawling across slopes, these vineyards enjoy southwestern exposure to the sun, perfect for ripening. Grapes are hand selected for quality, even in this wine, the workhorse of the winery. The wine is mostly aged in medium-sized Slavonian oak barrels, with a small amount aging in small already used barrels. After 12 months of barrel aging, the wine is blended before aging in bottle for another 3 months. Known for its balance, this wine has certain characteristics that are apparent in every vintage - wild berry on the nose, spicy notes and ripe fruit on the palate and good tannic structure on the lingering finish. 

The 2018 vintage is drinking great now, but because of the quality of the grapes in this excellent year, this wine can age for well over another decade. In fact, give this wine 2 years and I think that it will be even better than it is today - more integrated and showy. For now, enjoy it, decanted if you can...but don't forget to set some aside. I doubt we'll see it at $19.99 per bottle in another 2 years!

Rated 91 Points by the Wine Advocate - "The Fèlsina 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a toned and delicate expression of 100% Sangiovese from a vintage that produced beautifully subtle and understated wines. It shows good momentum driven by dark fruit, blackberry and summer cherry. The intensity of these aromas is downplayed and rendered less pronounced, adding elegance and fragility. Pretty background notes of spice and balsam herb add an extra layer of complexity."

Rated 92 Points by Vinous - "The 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is endowed with so much class. In 2018, the Classico is a bit more restrained than it can be. That mid-weight sense of structure, though, gives the wine quite a bit of early appeal. Even so, I would cellar the 2018 for a few years, as all the elements haven't fully come together just yet. Dark cherry, game, smoke, licorice and earthy notes are a reminder we are in Castelnuovo Berardenga, even if the 2018 has less weight and overt power than Fèlsina fans are used to seeing."

Cheers!

Tracy Maxon

tracy@varmax.com