Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia 2017

Tuscany, Italy

Wine Advocate 94 points! Vinous 94 points! James Suckling 95 points!

Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is among the most beautiful wines from this famous appellation of Tuscany. Fattoria di Felsina has long been one of the great names in Tuscany. Based in the Chianti Classico region, Felsina produces one of the finest ranges of ageworthy and complex Chianti bottlings. Unlike many of their neighbors, Felsina has never succumbed to the temptation to produce "new age" wines blended with Cabernet or Merlot. Felsina wines are classic Chianti, 100% Sangiovese grapes from vines 50 years or older located in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, northeast of Siena.

“Rancia is always one of my favorite wines from this storied appellation (and the Castelnuovo Berardenga subzone). This vintage threw quite a few challenges at the winemaking team, but the Fèlsina 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia emerges intact, intense and beautiful. It is virtually unscathed by the heat and drought that marked this growing season. In fact, that brilliant radiance, linearity and energy of the Sangiovese grape comes through loud and clear. The bouquet is redolent of red fruit, wild berry, toasted almond, violet and potting soil. My score is a little lower (compared to past vintages) in terms of mouthfeel because I found this edition to be a bit shorter and less impactful on the finish, but not by much. It ages in barrique for up to 20 months. This vintage of Rancia saw 46,000 bottles released.” Drink 2021-2038—Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, 94 points!

“The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is incredibly polished and sophisticated. Silky tannins give the 2017 its racy, sleek personality. Over the last year, the 2017 has really settled into a gorgeous place. There is plenty of vintage 2017 intensity, but Rancia is distinctly medium in body and restrained. The wilder side of Sangiovese, one of the signatures of Rancia and Fèlsina more broadly, tastes a bit baked out. I can't wait to see how the 2017 develops over the coming years and decades. Drinking window: 2025 - 2042.”—Vinous, 95 points!

Enjoy Felsina Chianti Classico Rancia with veal, pasta, osso buco, and aged cheeses.