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 some exciting large formats) 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’s 2016 Chianti Classico is simply terrific, 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. It’s finer grained than in some recent vintages, offering gorgeous, velvety immediate drinking.
Antonio Galloni, founder and owner at Vinous, was effusive: “Poggerino’s 2016 Chianti Classico is gorgeous. Aromatically lifted and juicy on the palate, the 2016 has much to offer. Black cherry, plum, tobacco, new leather, licorice and spice are pushed forward in a supple, beautifully perfumed Chianti Classico. The 2016 is impeccably done. Best of all, it will drink well right out of the gate. 92 points”
We think this is among the finer vintages of Chianti Classico that Poggerino has made. 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 2016
Ansonia Retail: $300
January Futures: $250/case
