As we sit here squarely in the middle of tomato season, we find ourselves reaching for the small Italian corner of our cellar with some regularity. The natural acidity of summer tomatoes matches so well with our Nebbiolo and Sangiovese selections that sometimes it’s hard to drink anything else. We’re expanding our Piedmont offerings in next month’s September Futures issue, but in the mean time we’re well stocked on an old favorite Chianti Classico.
Rajat Parr calls Poggerino “some of the purest expressions of [Sangiovese] in Italy.” And indeed their wines seem to get better every year. Their current release 2020 Chianti Classico is beautiful. It’s fine grained and complex, with more nuance and finesse than usual. The wine bursts from the glass in dark floral notes that somehow also carry tremendous lift and elegance. Look for red cherries, roses, plums, licorice and cocoa. In the mouth it’s focused and sleek, with impressive intensity and perfectly coated tannin. The texture is fine grained and polished.
Antonio Galloni of Vinous gave 92+ points, finding it “soft, fruity, and open-knit,” calling it “supple and engaging” and “a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years.” He concludes “the precision and pedigree here are just unreal.” Find some local tomatoes, do anything you like with them, and then pull out the Poggerino.
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Poggerino Chianti Classico 2020
bottle price: $25
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES