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Red Wine

Sangiovese

It’s grown throughout Tuscany in the sub-regions that make up the Chianti DOCG, where the Sangiovese Piccolo is the dominant version. Plantings in Montalcino making Brunello are typically of the Sangiovese Grosso version. We use the term version as there is some funky DNA floating around that doesn’t neatly fit into Variety or Clone. It’s a case of same same but different. You’ll find it in Sicily, Calbria and splashes around the world.

Where is it grown?

What does it taste like?

Generally lighter in colour, although as always there are exceptions. There’s a transparency to good Sangiovese.

There is an incredibly diverse array of flavours and aromas across the wines made from Sangiovese. This is true across both Chianti and Brunello wines. In Chianti this is influenced by blending with the native Canaiolo, and French varietes like Syrah and Merlot  You’ll find fresh flavours like sour cherry, shifting to dark fruits, earthy characters, florals, rich chocolate, spices and beyond. The perceived density certainly differs across the wine. Like most varieties the styles that can be made are incredibly diverse.

The tannins and texture of Sangiovese are a signature element. In Chianti, in general, expect long fine tannin. In Montalcino the can be a little broader and more robust.

You’ll typically find higher perceived acidity in good Sangiovese.

Italian varieties are growing in popularity in Australia. It’s still early days, but, we are seeing wines of considerable promise coming out of the King Valley and Heathcote amongst others. Paolo de Marchi’s discussion of achieving balance in Sangiovese gives further insight into the variety.


Castell'in Villa's Fairytale Chiantis


Captivating Stuff from the Principessa!

Current Release

Castell’In Villa Chianti Classico Riserva 2013

Sangiovese | Castelnuovo Berardenga, Italy

A Level Up from the Incredibly Good Chianti Classico! No wonder Walter Speller has it in his Top 5 Chianti Wines! There's a big difference between the mouthfeel of Sangiovese for Montalcino and Chianti. Just like this one Sangio from Chianti tends to have line and length of tannin similar to that of varietals like Cabernet, all the way along your palate. Sangio from Montalcino tends to have broader mouther filling tannins, not necessarily bigger or more tannic, just covering the width of your to
$147
$140ea in any 3+
$133ea in any 6+

Museum Release

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Showing 56 Delicious Wines!

San Giusto a Rentennano Fuori Misura Rosato Toscano 2022

Red Blend | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

Dang! This is foine woine! Personality+++ This ain't no blinkity blink pink link! It's got the full sink! Delicious. It takes some mad skills to pull off a wine like this. The balance point between rosé & light red, the crunch with real flavour, the texture. Sure winemaking smarts are key, it's that innate sense of touch that allows a cluey vigneron to layer in the kind of character this has that makes the real difference. Is it a Light Red or a Rosé? Who cares, it just an ace wine.
$43
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Brings Back Memories!

Corzano e Paterno Chianti ‘Terre di Corzano’ 2021

Red Blend | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

This wine, along with Corzano e Paterno’s top of the line 100% Sangiovese ‘I Tre Borri’ were two of the first Chianti’s that that piqued my interest and demonstrated the potential of this beautiful variety. Fresh zippy acid, red cherry, excellent tannins with a little playful grip and spice. Delicious.  Grape first. Earthy profile with dark fruit of energy and vibrancy a little perfume floats over the top ~ violets me thinks. Layered delicious and vibrant an excellent comparison to
$49
$46ea in any 3+
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Talenti Rosso di Montalcino 2021

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Italy

A staple on the Wine Decoded list! Another ripping Rosso from Talenti. Superb balance and texture. Plush with beautiful supple tannins, luscious fruit, juicy acid, and plenty of intrigue. Just like Talenti's Brunello this has to be one of the best value Rosso's year in year out. It too has great harmony and is delicious straight out of the gate.  It's like Dr Evil's Mini Me! All that red fruit, earthiness, baking spices, woody herbs, great energy and much, much more.  
$50
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Fèlsina Chianti Classio DOCG ‘Beradenga’ 2021

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Castelnuovo Berardenga UGA

The Perfect intro to the Fascinating Chiantis of Fèlsina! I have to agree with Galloni, the 2021 shows a welcome level of refinement and sophistication. Dark and brooding spice with sour cherries, lovely tannins. A lot going on here. Layered, with excellent drive and energy. Fine acid. It’s the intensity with the finesse, the richness yet elegance. It seems almost a wine in two parts. Lovely shape to the palate, linear yet with some excellent mid-palate generosity. This is the perfect frie
$64
$61ea in any 3+
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Castello dei Rampolla Chianti Classico 2018

Red Blend | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

Is it traditional Chianti Classico? No. Is it bloody good? YES!! A cooler year than 2016 delivery a refined personality. Wow! Talk about personality. Many in Chianti just can't get the blend with Cab and Merlot right. Castello dei Rampolla are smashing it. Thirst quenching with beautiful juicy fruit and acid. The tannins of the Cabernet come through, they're edgy, and, wonderfully so. Will be great to see this in 5 years time! Subtly layered oak. Like 2016 this is a wild crazy beast with a so
$67
$64ea in any 3+
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Canalicchio di Sopra Rosso di Montalcino 2019

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Italy

The perfect introduction Canalicchio known for producing elegant, fine, Burgundian Brunello. A Top 10 producer year in, year out! Looking good, lovely shape and mouthfeel. Red fruits fresh red sour cherry, of mid-body that sit with a pinch of baking spice and hard woody herbs. Flavour with a refreshing weightless feel. A little something dark along the licorice line. Plush long fine. A fantastic Rosso. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2019 Rosso di Montalcino is a balanced wine with pretty purity
$68
$65ea in any 3+
$62ea in any 6+

San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico 2020

Red Blend | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

Finally got my laughing gear around this. There's stuff going on here. It plays a balance between beauty and the beast. Finally got my laughing gear around this. So, now I get what all the fuss is about. First wine I tried from these guys was their Rosato, it's a might tasty beverage. It has the same seamless complexity, spice, chocolate, earth, joy, that makes their Rosato the insanely delicious wine it is. There's stuff going on here. It plays a balance between beauty and the beast. A dark, ne
$68
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Tenuta di Carleone Chianti Classico 2020

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

Radda is one of the cooler parts of Chianti Classico and Sean has done the 2020 justice. Dominated by dark fruits with a pop of fresh red fruits layered with woody herbs, a little earthiness & faint lick of cigar. There’s harmony & flow in this seamless elegant Chianti. Finishing with a fine sweep of bitterness that cleanse followed by lingering flavours. A certain delicacy. The fine long tannins offer up a mouthfeel and flavour profile suggesting a longer maceration on skins. Bu
$71
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San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico 2021

Red Blend | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

Finally got my laughing gear around this. There's stuff going on here. It plays a balance between beauty and the beast. From a balanced vintage that delivers acidity and structure, the organic 2021 Chianti Classico reveals a shiny dark garnet color and a clean, mid-weight appearance. There's so much energy and vibrancy on the bouquet, which is a quality that Sangiovese achieves when growing conditions are ideal. Tangy cherry, cassis, blue flower, violet and soft earth give this wine an authentic
$73
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Rosso doing it right! Fuligni's 'Ginestreto' is beautifully poised. Ever so devourable this is classic Sangio! Excellent. True to the Fuligni style, perhaps with an extra bit of complexity for the wine at this stage of its life. A wonderful core of fruit. This is more in the mold of a baby Brunello than a playful Rosso. Plush, with fine tannins, generous mid-palate and great length. The build in complexity with layers of intrigue, from earthy almost truffled pops. Long delicious. Plump and vital
$88
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Fontodi Chiant Classico 2019

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

The thirst-quenching nature combined with great intensity and personality draws you in!  More elegance than 18 looking good. Refined fun. With lovely red fruits, earthy, savoury with a little herbal pop. Pretty bloody serious Sangiovese for the coin. A very clever layer of oak in this. Complex with fine tannins with a slight build to mid-palate that’s going to work beautifully with loads of food. This should be very interesting with 5-10 years of age on it.
$99
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Gorelli Rosso di Montalcino 2019

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Italy

Speller is on the money, this is still closed (April 2023). Builds with time in the glass, the fruit leans toward the fine Burgundian style. The tannins are just a little edgy, as with the Brunello, as the new Botti season future vintages should see further refinement to the texture.  This clearly sits in between the Rosso & Brunello level. I like the cranberry descriptor and would add a musk and rose top note. A few years in bottle should see the tannins resolve fully and mid-palate weight
$107
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Just Divine!

Corzano e Paterno Chianti ‘I Tre Borri’ 2020

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

Exceptional core of fruit, a beautiful 2020 with length and energy. Excellent mid-palate weight and persistence. As with the Il Corzano time will be required for this to resolve.  Still quite tight with a  little whole bunch grip. Earthy layers, dark and brooding with energy. Give this time and it will take us to a happy place. Already starting to open in the glass. Maceration notes of graphite, pencil shaving, heading to truffle. A little perfume dancing over the top. The faintest line
$107
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Fontodi Chiant Classico 2021

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Chianti Classico

We're yet to see reviews for the 2021 Chianti Classic. The 2021 Chiantis I've tried to date have been excellent, energetic with fine acid and tannins. Will report back just as soon as this hits the tasting bench. Expect delicious things!
$107
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A True Baby Brunello!

Conti Costanti Rosso di Montalcino 2019

Sangiovese | Montalcino, Italy

A pretty handy Rosso resting a small step away from heading into the next league. This needs time by the 4th and 5th day the full potential of this Baby Brunello was on full display. Dark cherry, fresh blackberry fruit with an earthy feel, a little dried orange peel, plush long tannins. Layered in spices rolling through, exceptional length and depth. There's been a bump in price here, if I were to taste it blind I would say it was excellent value. Comparative youth aside in a couple of years if
$108
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Le Baroncole is made from 97% Sangiovese and 3% Canaiolo grapes. The initial stages of its production are the same as Chianti Classico but it is then aged in barriques for between 16 to 20 months, bottled unfiltered and held for a further six months prior to release. The 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva Le Baròncole (a certified organic wine) shows bright fruit with summer cherry and redcurrant. It offers textural heft and weight. Its Riserva status (with extended aging) is well noted. With tim
$122
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