Querciabella Chianti Classico Riserva
Tuscany, Italy
Vintage:2013 (Current)
Reviews
Wine & Spirits
90 Points
April 2018
“This sangiovese combines fruit from three of Chianti Classico's subzones (Radda, Greve, and Gaiole) to give a wine redolent with floral scents and sour cherry flavors supported by taut tannins. Subtle spice notes warm the bright fruit wine, picked up from 16 months in French oak barrels (20 percent new).”
Decanter
93 Points
February 9, 2018, Susan Hulme MW
“The 2013 Riserva is mid-ruby in colour with a blue-toned, youthful hue. There's a sweet cherry top note to the cream and nutmeg scents, with less finely delineated fruit aromas - instead there are some flinty, mineral hints. The palate is lithe, crunchy and sappy, with bright cherry flavours. It's less sensual in texture than the 2011, a bit more angular but still in a very elegant, pretty, vibrant style.”
JamesSuckling.com
93 Points
April 13, 2017, James Suckling
“Very floral and fresh with blackberry and lemon rind undertones on the nose. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Refined and stylish. Drink now. Made from biodynamic grapes.”
The Wine Advocate
91 Points
December 30, 2016, Monica Larner
“The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Querciabella reveals a deep and layered presentation of dark fruit. It offers a quick succession of dried blackberry, cassis and rose hip. Spice, leather and moist chewing tobacco give the wine a larger sense of dimension and weight at the back. This pretty Chianti Classico Riserva closes with bright acidity and elegant endnotes of dried mint and balsam herb.”
Vinous Media
92 Points
October 2016, Antonio Galloni
“The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva is a very beautiful, understated wine built on grace and finesse. Sweet floral and tobacco notes give the 2013 its aromatic lift. Precise and sculpted on the palate, with lovely juiciness to match, the 2013 is super-expressive today. This is another bright, vibrant wine with tons of Sangiovese character. The 2013 needs time for the tannins to soften, but it is very nicely done.”
Overview
A new take on a past tradition, which culminated with the 1999 vintage, Querciabella's Chianti Classico Riserva returns to the Querciabella range with limited bottlings in the best vintages. Following years of steady expansion throughout Chianti Classico, meticulous site selection and a rigorous micro-vinification regime have given rise to Querciabella’s historic Sangiovese project, which has produced a series of outstanding single-vineyard bottlings as well as this Riserva.
Winemaking
The Riserva, a blend of exceptional lots of grapes from the communes of Greve, Radda and Gaiole, is one of the fruits of an unprecedented effort led by Querciabella to identify the finest sub-zones for the cultivation of Sangiovese across the region.
The grapes are picked by hand using 9kg crates. In the cellar, they undergo fermentation in 3-ton French oak casks. After malolactic fermentation, élevage is carried out in French barriques for 16-20 months, 20% new.
No animal products or byproducts are used in the production of this wine, making it suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Harvest Notes
The 2013 vintage was characterized by early flowering followed by excellent fruit set in spring. Normal and balanced summer temperatures produced perfect maturation, supported by significant diurnal temperature variations. The sangiovese was harvested under the beneficial conditions afforded by the warm and sunny days.
Food Pairing
Enjoyable now. Will reach maturity five to six years after harvest and will continue to evolve for at least another fifteen years. The ideal serving temperature is 57° to 64°F.
Technical Information
Varietals: 100% Sangiovese
Wine Alcohol: 13.5%
Titratable Acidity: 5.89 g/L
pH: 3.41
Harvest Start Date: September 9, 2013
Harvest End Date: September 30, 2013
Aging: 14-16 months in fine to extra fine-grained French oak barrels and tonneaux of which 20% new