The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Tuscany

DOCStill huntingModerate

Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC

Same method as Vin Santo del Chianti, from the heartland estates, and on average more concentrated because the top Chianti Classico houses take it seriously. Isole e Olena's is the reference: deep amber, intensely sweet, with dried apricot, candied orange, roasted hazelnut, toffee and a saline, oxidative tang that keeps it from cloying. Felsina, Badia a Coltibuono, Volpaia and Fontodi all make excellent versions. Expect 10 to 20 years of ageability and prices that reflect the tiny yields.

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Bottles I'm chasing

ProducerWinePriceBuy
Badia a Coltibuono
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
Dalla Terra import; medium-sweet, dried apricot, almond, honey, a clean and balanced example.
$35 to $50Wine-Searcher
Felsina
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
Rich and layered: caramel, walnut, dried fig, orange marmalade, with long oxidative length; released with real bottle age.
$45 to $65Wine-Searcher
Isole e Olena
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
The benchmark: dense, unctuous, hazelnut and candied citrus, huge concentration, ages for decades.
$65 to $90Wine-Searcher