Description
“Just when I thought I was familiar with the wines of Felsina, the estate comes through with one of the very best sets of new releases I have ever tasted. From top to bottom, these are marvelous wines that deserve serious attention.” Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
Fattoria di Felsina in the hills northeast of Siena is on the southern tip of the Chianti Classico region. Founded in 1966 by Domenico Poggiali, Fèlsina was the Etruscan name for this viticultural terroir nearly 3000 years ago. The estate at the southern border of Castelnuovo Berardenga remains one of Tuscany’s finest terrains. Today, Beppe Poggiali, Giuseppe Mazzocolin and superstar winemaker Franco Bernabei form an awesome team that has overseen 25 years of extensive research and clonal selection of sangiovese to achieve an incredible combination of complexity, structure, power and finesse. They are traditional producers, (organic practices in their vineyards) who solely grow sangiovese and always avoided the temptation to grow cabernet and merlot to make “new age” wines from their Chianti vineyards. They have championed the sangiovese grape (native to Toscana) and are renowned for elegant and yet intensely flavoured chiantis (deep and black fruited, smoky tones from the soils and deft touch of new oak). Fèlsina has been awarded Tre Bicchieri every year since the first publication of Gambero Rosso’s Vini d’Italia in 1988, and in 2009 they were named Winery of the Year.
Rancia, the estate’s single vineyard Riserva, was included by Decanter magazine in the 50 Great Italian wines of all time. 100% Sangiovese aged in French oak barrels; Made from the Rancia vineyard, a high-altitude site in the south of the Chianti Classico appellation, combines power and elegance with an aging potential of 20-30 years.
Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate, 94 points.
“… more than holds its own in this complete vertical. It shows elements of both a cold year in its mid-weight structure and a warmer vintage in its radiant fruit, a combination that represents an attractive stylistic middle ground. I very much like the sense of energy and intensity here. Bright acidity and youthful tannins frame the supple fruit. It will be interesting to see whether the 2009 develops along the lines of the cooler vintage Rancias, or whether the juiciness of the fruit will ultimately prevail in the wine’s balance. Either way, the 2009 is yet another terrific Rancia from Felsina. “
93+ points The International Wine Report “The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Rancia’ offers wonderful aromas of blackberry and wild cherry layered with charcoal, smoke, licorice, mineral and pretty floral. This demonstrates excellent structure and focus backed by gorgeous mouthwatering acidity. The finish is long, fresh and chewy leaving behind a mouthful of fresh fruit. So delicious now, but this is really built for the long haul. This is a top house for Chianti Classico and the 2009 is a strong showing. (Best 2015-2027″ RRP $125
