2007 Chianti Classico 'San Marcellino', Rocca di Montegrossi

Description

This single vineyard Chianti is a different beast to Marco’s Classico; it is more intense, more powerful and demands to be taken even more seriously; it has all the characteristics of the wonderful 2007 vintage; intense, defined Sangiovese black fruit, spice, minerality and excellent structure; this is a wine of fantastic quality and breeding class that will reward lovers of ‘real’ unadulterated Chianti Riserva for many years. Needs decanting and food now.

'Once again Marco presented us with a sumptuous version of the Chianti Classico San Marcellino...The ’07 is an extremely dense wine, presenting warm and chewy with very alluring modern notes enhanced by oaky aromas that lend it complexity and fullness. It’s a cut above the ‘06’ **Maximum Three Glasses** - Italian Wines 2011, Gambero Rosso

'The 2007 Chianti Classico San Marcellino is a deep, dense wine with serious structure. The fruit is dark and inward, but over time the blackest of cherries, smoke, incense, minerals, earthiness and tar emerge in the glass. Far from an easygoing 2007, the San Marcellino needs at least a handful of years in the cellar, after which it should drink beautifully. The San Marcellino is 95% Sangiovese and 5% Pugnitello that spent 18 months in Allier oak (24% new), the traces of which need time to integrate. A touch of heat on the finish is borderline distracting, which is pretty much the only thing that keeps the score from going higher. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.' 92pts – Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate #191