2012 Chianti Classico Casasilia
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Tasting notes
100% Sangiovese, 18 months in French oak, new and used small barrels. Dark crimson. Very strong Sangiovese character. But the fruit seems to have been sucked out of the mid palate a bit and there’s a little too strong an oily oak layer. Shame. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Casasilia opens to savory and earthy layers with loads of bright cherry at the back. This Gran Selezione offers a great sense of territorial typicity with dusty notes of flinty stone and white mineral. The wine is streamlined and tight with moderate intensity on the finish. As nice as this wine is on the nose, it does hold back noticeably in the mouth. Uneven vintage conditions have taken their toll in terms of the wine's overall intensity. This is a former Riserva that has been upgraded to Gran Selezione status, although I'm not sure if the winemaking has changed during its transition.
The 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Casasilia is a bit deeper than the straight Chianti Classico, with slightly darker flavors, greater mid-palate depth and more structure from the oak, but the two wines are ultimately not really that different. A distinct oak signature is prominent in the Casasilia, but it blows off over time, so readers will want to open the 2012 an hour or two in advance.