“The Rocca di Montegrossi wines are distinguished by tremendous purity of fruit and exceptional balance.” – Vinous

So clearly, this ain’t no straw-basket bottle of Chianti.

More a high water mark, Gran Selezione is Chianti Classico’s top category, par with Brunello. World-class with scores to prove for good measure. At a price that defies all reasonable explanation while firmly in a tier of Italy’s greatest wines. And don’t just take our word for it, Antonio Galloni doesn’t often say “I would be thrilled to own” for any wine.

Montegrossi is an iconic Tuscan winery dating back to the ‘80s, and this top-of-the-line ‘Gran Selezione’ single vineyard is at the highest level the appellation can achieve. And that’s exactly what the glass holds at a quality level rarely seen in Tuscany. Ripely dripping with red and black cherries, purple plums, dusty cocoa-covered blueberries, cigar box, violets, minerals, this has all, as the palate confirms the perfumes. Length, complexity, profoundness, it’s evident why it has more accolades than an army general adorned with medals from head to toe. A showstopper in the true sense, without exaggeration.

How about cellaring some? Wine Spectator advises “San Marcellino vineyard Sangiovese makes for outstanding, mineral-driven Chianti Classico. Sangiovese from this area possesses a very strong backbone and mineral expression and is capable of long aging. The flagship and the smaller production 15-acre single-vineyard Vigneto San Marcellino, bottled in the best years, can go the distance, as the 1999, 1995 and a 1990 bottling demonstrated.”

Reviews suggest peak drinking through 2040! We say life is too short to wait that long to open this in abundance this Fall. Oh, and 96 points plus a 95, in the Top-100 for Wine & Spirits, it was $75 once, but a steal today.

You know the drill…

96 Points – Wine Spectator

“A rich, succulent red, this boasts cherry, raspberry, rose, graphite and earth aromas and flavors. Pure, with vivid acidity and refined tannins lending support. Balanced and long, with a mineral edge on the aftertaste. Sangiovese and Pugnitello. 500 cases imported. Drink now through 2040.”

95 Points, Top-100 – Wine & Spirits

“The deep color and rich, dark fruit tones of this wine are typical of the open, sun-drenched exposures found in Monti, the southernmost area of the Gaiole UGA. San Marcellino is Marco Ricasoli’s oldest vineyard, some of the vines planted in 1966. The wine’s dark cherry and black-raspberry flavors are concentrated and pure, deepened by a small percentage of Pugnitello and girded by firm mineral tannins and cool notes of graphite.”