Castello di Bossi Berardo Riserva Chianti Classico 2016 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2018 Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico a few months ago, for tonight's red wine review we go up a notch with a Riserva Chianti Classico from the same producer that arrived at the LCBO today as part of the May 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Castello di Bossi is located in Chianti Classico's southernmost commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, approximately 50 kilometres southeast of Florence and 14 kilometres east of Siena. The name "Bossi" is apparently linked to a money chest made of the rare and prized boxwood which the Roman army would carry to its encampments to pay the soldiers. Local inscriptions dating back to the 1st century A.D. indicate that a Roman settlement existed on the site where Castello di Bossi resides.

Today, Castello di Bossi is owned by Bacci Wines. While growing up in Tuscany, Marco Bacci developed a passion for wine and purchased the estate in 1983, bottling his first wines a couple of years later after spending some time learning about the soil and vines. The estate covers an area of 650 hectares, with most of the 124 hectares of vines planted to Sangiovese. The Bacci family uses modern viticultural practices to consistently harvest the best quality fruit in order to best express the terroir and grape variety. With great care and an eye for detail, the Bacci family uses only estate fruit to produce their wines and believes that nature plays a significant role in the quality of their wines.

This red wine is 100% Sangiovese from the Berardo Vineyard within the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga. The commune is located at the southernmost tip of the Chianti Classico zone and Berardo is a shorthand way of saying "it comes from Berardenga." The Berardo Vineyard is 88 acres in size and planted on calcareous clay-loam soils at an elevation of 1,155 feet with southern exposure to the sun. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks, followed by ageing in French barriques and casks for 18-24 months, and then aged in bottle for 6 months prior to release. First produced in 1994, let's see how this 2016 Riserva Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CASTELLO DI BOSSI BERARDO RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#113316) (XD) - $38.95
This 100% Sangiovese has a lovely, open, fragrant, and fresh nose delivering aromas of Damson plum, red cherry, spices, sandalwood, and savoury wet earth with rose floral accents. It's medium-full bodied on the chewy, structured palate with very appealing Damson plum, red cherry, savoury earth, and sweet spice flavours. Acids are fresh and lively, while the ripe, youthful tannins have some grip that will reward ageing. Savoury with lovely flavour replays lingering on the long, youthful finish. While enjoyable now, this should be even better in 3-4 years and drink well to at least the end of the decade. Highly recommended buy! Score: 93 pts

Other fine wines from Castello di Bossi are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.