2020 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico
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Tasting notes
Lean, light style with restrained sour-cherry fruit and a touch of all-spice on the finish. High acid, medium tannin, finishes with typical bitterness. Old-school Chianti that seems to have more acidic structure than it does flavour. Perhaps not in ideal condition, given this estate's track record? (RH)
Critic scores
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Chianti Classico is such a classy wine. Deep and layered, yet wonderfully translucent, the 2020 is one of the best editions of this wine I can remember tasting. Macerated dark cherry, kirsch, cedar and pipe tobacco open first, but what I am most drawn to is the wine's textural resonance and sheer power. The 2020 possesses remarkable depth yet retains the transparency that is such a signature here. This is a fabulous showing.
The Isole e Olena 2020 Chianti Classico opens to a dark ruby color and medium concentration. The bouquet offers pretty fruit aromas with dried cherry and raspberry. Those bright primary tones segue to crushed stone and potting soil. This playful, entry-level wine ends with a bright spot of sweet cherry.
San Donato in Poggio. 82% Sangiovese, 18% 'other varieties'. Cask sample. Just mid crimson. Finely fragrant, sweet raspberry nose. Beautiful precision on the palate with crushed-raspberry fruit and polished, fine tannins. (WS)
About the producer
Situated north of Castellina, on the western side of Chianti Classico, Isole e Olena was created by the De Marchi family in the 1950s and has since become one of the region’s leading names. It is renowned for its top bottling Cepparello, a pure Sangiovese, as well as its brilliant Chardonnay.