Riecine is an irresistibly juicy, organic Chianti at the highest level, made from 100% Sangiovese—a “ballerina wine” where everything is perfectly in place. There is no oak make-up or turbo extraction here, but simply a joyful, singing, pure and vibrant top-class Chianti, with Gaiole’s terroir forming an essential part of its DNA.
Strict selection and meticulous vineyard work in some of the highest-altitude sites in Gaiole in Chianti (Chianti Classico) produce healthy wines that never feel heavily extracted, but instead come across as vital and intensely flavourful.
After many years away, Carlo Ferrini has returned as a consultant, working together with Alessandro Campatelli to produce the optimal wine in a beautifully renovated winery that matches the estate’s ambitions.
The Sangiovese grapes are hand-harvested and hand-sorted in two passes, then placed as whole bunches into 5,500-litre Nomblot concrete fermentation tanks. The weight of the grapes on top gently crushes those underneath, and alcoholic fermentation—via carbonic maceration—begins spontaneously after three to four days. After around two weeks of fermentation and a total of three weeks of maceration, the wine is aged for about a year in a mix of vessels: Nomblot concrete tanks, French tonneaux, and large untoasted Grenier casks (around 6,000 litres). The wine is then stabilised for three months in Nomblot tanks, where it is fined, but bottled without filtration.
On the nose and palate you find juicy cherries, a perfumed, red-floral and transparent fruit character, and a seamless yet engaging drinking experience—an irresistible burst of pure drinkability that calls for simple, lovingly prepared food. The wine is fruity and ready to drink on release, yet experience shows it can easily develop for 10 years.
Enjoy slightly below room temperature, around 14–17°C depending on preference and season.
92 points – Vinous.com
“Riecine’s 2022 Chianti Classico is fabulous. An explosion of red cherry, blood orange and perfumed floral notes follow, adding freshness and brightness. The purity of fruit is ravishing. This vibrant, saline Chianti Classico is an absolute knockout. It’s one of the standouts of the year.”
