French wines have long been the focus of the Ansonia portfolio. Of the 45 winemakers we work with, about half are from Burgundy, and all but a few are French. Our longtime exception to this rule is the Fattoria Poggerino.
Poggerino’s wines are all pure sangiovese — dark, delicately balanced expressions of an intense, powerful grape. We’ve worked with Poggerino for almost 15 years, but recently their star has risen dramatically. In his recent book Rajat Parr calls their wines “excellent” and “some of the purest expressions of the grape in Italy.”
As usual, the entire Poggerino lineup (including a very limited release of their exceptional olive oil) will appear in next Sunday’s January Futures release. But we’re singling one of our favorites out today to review in a bit more detail.
Poggerino is in Radda-in-Chianti, a charming hill town about halfway between Siena and Florence. Their regular cuvée Chianti Classico strikes a beautiful balance between a deep enticing nose and a sturdy, classic mouthfeel.
The 2015 is unusually good, with strawberry jam and anise on the nose, and cherries and roses in the mouth. The texture is firm and long, with excellent aging potential; but even today the wine opens nicely in a glass or carafe. Robert Parker’s reviewer calls it “plump and ripe” with “good intensity and a high pleasure threshold.” The Wine Spectator found it “harmonious” with “fine energy” and “a beam of pure cherry flavor.”
We think this is among the finer vintages of Chianti Classico that Poggerino has made. As the vines age, the wines gain depth and polish with every vintage. If you’ve got Poggerino in your cellar already, this vintage is an excellent for replenishing your stock. And if you’re new to the wine, Futures offers a discounted way to try it out.
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Poggerino Chianti Classico 2015
Retail: $300
Futures price: $250/case
Email Tom to reserve.