Le Cinciole isn’t one of those Chianti producers with centuries of history, but in just a few decades (their first harvest was 1991) they’ve ascended about as high in reputation as about anyone in the Classico zone. Progress has been steady, each year refining their craft, and today Le Cinciole stands among the best Chiantis you can buy—especially for the money!
I first met Luca and Valeria Orsini about twelve years ago at a tasting in Panzano. They had just converted to organic and biodynamic farming and were eager to show how fast their wines had evolved. Their passion was immediately palpable, and they boldly compared their finesse to great wines from Burgundy and Barolo. The proof was in the bottle then, and they’ve only gotten better since.
Their small estate in Panzano has 10 hectares planted entirely to Sangiovese, growing on the same sandstone-galestro hillsides as respected neighbors like Fontodi and Castello di Rampolla. They use only Sangiovese for their Chianti Classico, which ferments naturally on native yeast, ages a year in 2,000-liter French oak, then rests in bottle. This is not a blockbuster Chianti—there’s no heavy extraction or oak. Instead, its beautiful acidity lifts aromas of red raspberries, cherries, cinnamon and star anise with a whiff of pipe tobacco and violets. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, graceful and elegant, a gymnast rather than a wrestler, proving Chianti doesn’t need Super Tuscan muscle to be really, really good.
While it certainly has the energy and strength to stand up to that porterhouse you’ve been wanting to grill, I imagine it more as the perfect partner to ravioli in sage butter, a platter of smoked meat and Pecorino Toscano or an herby chicken or quail with plenty of grill marks on it. Get plenty because it will age well too!
Vinous Media, 92 points: 'The 2021 Chianti Classico is a fabulous introduction to this range from Le Cinciole. Brisk acids and veins of tannin give the 2021 its shape and plenty of overall energy. Expressive floral and savory overtones lend tons of character. The 2021 was vinified in cement and aged in cask for a year, followed by a year in cement. This mid-weight Chianti Classico is a winner.'
