Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2020 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely, organic Chianti Classico made with Sangiovese that arrived at the LCBO last weekend as the Wine of the Month in the September 9 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

Castello di Bossi wines are produced by Bacci Wines, a family-owned winery located in Tuscany. The Bacci family has a long history rooted in Tuscany. Bacci Wines was founded by Marco Bacci, who began his working career at the age of 19 in their family business that specialized in clothing, a company that eventually became an icon in Italy's fashion sector. From this success, Marco founded a real estate company to take advantage of the period of economic growth in the sector. In a short time, Marco acquired several properties, including Castello di Bossi in 1984.

Winemaking was a pleasant pasttime for Marco until 1985, when he bottled his first wine. In 1996, he left the fashion sector to dedicate his body and soul to the wine industry and acquired several more estates to reach a grand total of 6 wine estates, mostly in Tuscany. Today, Bacci Wines is not only dedicated to producing high-quality wines from the Tuscan region, but are well-known for their commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices, prioritizing environmental sustainability, and producing their wines with great respect for the land.

Castello di Bossi is situated in the southern half of the Chianti Classico zone, within the territory of the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga UGA. The site where Castello di Bossi resides has a long history going back to when the first tower was built there in the year 1090. In 1450, the original structure was expanded into the 4-walled fortress that can be seen today. The historic castle is an iconic landmark that also serves as the centrepiece of the winery. The estate has changed hands several times over the years and now covers 650 hectares, with 124 hectares under vines that are mostly planted with Sangiovese. The grapes for this Chianti Classico are typically grown at 350 metres (1,148 feet) above sea level on tufo, brown and yellow clay, and broken stone soils.

I've enjoyed this wine for many years, including most recently the 2018 Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico last year. The 2020 growing season was a challenging one (due to the pandemic), but offered winegrowers the opportunity to concentrate their efforts towards every aspect of cultivation, vineyard management, and production. While it is difficult to generalize a vintage in Chianti Classico because each UGA experiences its own unique conditions, the vintage quality and quantity in 2020 is good, and in some cases excellent. Let's see how this 2020 Chianti Classico from the Castelnuovo Berardenga UGA is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95
This organic Sangiovese was aged in barrel for 12 months and is fresh and intensely aromatic with a very pretty nose of ripe pure red and dark red cherries that are joined by red currant, baking spices, clove, cinnamon, and gentle oak spice aromas. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with fresh, juicy acidity and ripe flavours of red fruited currant, plum, and cherry, plus cedary oak spice and clove notes adding a savoury component. Ripe, gently drying, and grippy tannins coat the palate. Tangy on the mid-palate, while red currant, plum, cherry, and cedary oak notes with hints of mineral linger on the long finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 90 pts

Other lovely wines from Castello di Bossi can be purchased from the LCBO or through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia./ Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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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.

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Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely, organic Chianti Classico that arrives at the LCBO this weekend and is featured as the Wine of the Month in the February 5th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

The wines of Castello di Bossi are produced by Bacci Wines. After developing a passion for wine while growing up in Tuscany, Marco Bacci purchased the estate in 1983 and after spending some to learn about the soil and vines, he bottled his first wines in 1985.

Castello di Bossi is located in the southern half of the Chianti Classico production zone, within the Comune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, approximately 50 kilometres southeast of Florence and 14 kilometres east of Siena. The estate has changed hands several times over the years, while the site itself has a long history that goes back to the first tower that was built there in the year 1090. In 1450, the original structure was expanded into the 4-walled fortress that can be seen today. The estate now covers 650 hectares, with 124 hectares under vine that are mostly planted with Sangiovese. The Bacci family has since purchased a number of estates in Tuscany and use modern viticultural practices to consistently harvest the best quality fruit in order to express the best qualities of the terroir and each grape variety. Marco uses only estate-grown fruit and believes that nature plays a significant role in the quality of their wines, thereby growing all of their grapes with great care and an eye for detail.

After enjoying the 2016 Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico from an exceptional vintage a couple of years ago, this red wine is from a vintage that was generally a cool year with uneven ripening. It is crafted using 100% Sangiovese that was grown at 350 metres (1,148 feet) above sea level on tufo, brown and yellow clay, and broken stone soils within the Chianti Classico subzone of Castelnuovo Berardenga that is located in the south of the denomination. The wines of Castelnuovo Berardenga are often described as having Brunello-like structure. Let's see how this 2018 Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95
Organic, this 100% Sangiovese has an elegant, medium+ intensity nose with aromas of sour red and black cherry, savoury earth, and clove spice. The medium-full bodied, structured and ripe palate has more sour red and black cherries, savoury earth, and clove spice flavours supported by fresh, lemony acidity. It has grippy, structured tannins, while the long, juicy finish is minerally with savoury earthy, and clove spice notes. A big wine for an Annata. Recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Although I see one other wine from this producer at the LCBO, other lovely wines from the Bacci Wines portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2016 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely Chianti Classico that arrives in LCBO VINTAGES on August 22 and is featured in this Release as part of the feature on High-Scoring Wines. It has already arrived in some stores and should be widely available across Ontario by Saturday.

This Sangiovese is produced by Bacci Wines at their Castello di Bossi estate in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, which is located in the southern part of the Chianti Classico zone, 50 kilometres southeast of Florence and 14 kilometres east of Siena.

Local inscriptions indicate that there was a Roman settlement on this site dating back to the 1st century AD. The name Bossi is apparently linked to a money chest that was made of boxwood - a rare and prized wood at the time - the Roman army would carry to encampments to pay the soldiers. In the 9th century, the noble dei Berardenghi family settled on the site. After a lengthy rule, the dei Berardenghi family withdrew to private life and donated most of their landholdings - except for the property which today surrounds the castle.

Castello di Bossi has changed owners many times over the years and is currently in the hands of the Bacci family. The estate covers 650 ha, with 124 ha under vine, most of which is planted to Sangiovese. Using modern viticultural practices, the estate aims to consistently harvest the best quality fruit in order to express the best qualities of the terroir and each grape variety.

The 2015 Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico was an excellent wine I enjoyed last fall, so I am delighted to see the next vintage come to Ontario this year. According to vintage reports, the high quality of the 2016 vintage matched 2015, albeit yields were somewhat lower. Furthermore, the wines of 2016 tend to be less structured, but very aromatic. Sounds great to me! Let's see how the 2016 is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95
100% Sangiovese grown at 350 metres above sea level on tufo, brown and yellow clay, and broken stone soils. The fragrant, highly aromatic nose offers enticing rose floral, red and black cherry aromas joined by cinnamon, sweet spices, and leather notes. The medium+ bodied, juicy palate is fresh, spicy and a touch warming with cherry, spices, and clove, and leather flavours with touches of dried herb. Well-integrated tannins have a pleasantly subtle, textured grip, while fresh acids are slightly tart and limey. Chocolatey oak with touches of mineral linger on the finish, with excellent length. Score: 91 pts

Other wines from the Bacci Wines portfolio can be found via their Agent Connexion Oenophilia.

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Castello di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2015 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is featured as the Wine of the Month from the upcoming October 26th LCBO VINTAGES Release and will be on shelves across Ontario by next weekend.

Bacci Wines is the producer, and they make this fine red at their Castello di Bossi estate which is located in the southern area of the Chianti Classico zone within the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the province of Siena in Tuscany, approximately 50 kilometres southeast of Florence and 14 kilometres east of Siena. This area tends to produce wines that are fuller and more structured than those from the rest of Chianti Classico, closely resembling those of Montalcino.

The name "Bossi" is apparently linked to a money chest, referred to as boxwood, which was made from a rare and prized type of wood that the Roman army would carry to its encampments to pay its soldiers. Local inscriptions on the site indicate that it was a Roman settlement as far back as the 1st century AD. In the 9th century, a noble family called the dei Berardenghi settled there and enjoyed a lengthy rule over the territories they owned, eventually withdrawing into private life and donating most of their landholdings to a church. However, they kept the property which today surrounds the castle.

At the centre of the estate is Bossi Castle. The first tower was built around the year 1099 and shows the area's early strategic importance. Around 1450, it was expanded into the 4-walled fortress that visitors can see today.

Castello di Bossi has changed hands many times over the years, and was in a slow decline until it was acquired by the Bacci family sometime after World War II. Today, the estate covers 650 hectares, of which 124 hectares are planted with vines. By employing modern viticultural practices, Castello di Bossi aims to harvest the best quality fruit year after year in order to express the best qualities of the terroir and individual grape varieties.

This red wine is made with 100% Sangiovese from soils that contain yellow clay, tufo, gravel and broken rocks, located in a vineyard 350 metres above sea level with southwest exposure. The average age of the vines is 18 years and is manually harvested.

Tasting Note:

CASTELLO DI BOSSI C. BERARDENGA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#994608) (XD) - $22.95
100% Sangiovese that spent 6 months in oak casks. Fragrant, perfumed nose of spice, red cherry, clove and incense aromas. It is medium-full bodied and quite savoury on the palate with red cherries, chocolate, spice and some stony mineral flavours. Acids are fresh and mouthwatering while textured tannins are a touch on the grippy side. Clean, savoury, stony mineral and red cherry notes linger on the long, succulent finish. Highly recommended wine to enjoy over the next 3-4 years. Score: 91 pts

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Tenuta di Renieri Chianti Classico 2013 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's delicious red wine is a new release that will be coming to LCBO VINTAGES on April 28.

Tenuta di Renieri is the Chianti-area estate of Bacci Wines, a winery based in Montalcino. It is located in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga, approximately 14 km east of Siena and in the southern half of the Chianti Classico production zone. The property is contiguous with Castello di Bossi vineyards and covers 60 hectares, with 22 hectares planted to vineyards. The vineyards are south-facing and planted in soils that vary from yellow clay to tufa, along with a mixture of rounded pebbles that provide natural drainage.

Tasting Note:

TENUTA DI RENIERI CHIANTI CLASSICO 2013 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#540849) (XD) - $22.95
This 100% Sangiovese was aged for 12 months in (French) Allier Barriques and oak casks. A mix of red cherry, plum and sweet oak spice aromas from the cork. In the glass, this has a generous nose of sweet oak spice, red cherry, floral with some earthy elements and rustic charm. Hints of dried cherry emerge with time. The palate is light-to-medium bodied with soft, balanced, and well-integrated tannins that provide just a touch of grip. Fresh, food-friendly acids lift the palate. Flavours of dark cherry, blackberry, cedar, earth, and hints of dried cherry. Nicely balanced overall. Earthy notes with cherry linger on the long finish. There's just enough here to keep you coming back for another sip. Enjoy over the next 2-3 years. Score: 89 pts

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