2014 Dievole Chianti Classico DOCG 750 ml

A Rock-Solid Chianti Bargain

We spent our early years traipsing around Europe’s wine trails in Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône Valley. But then, in the early 1990s, we became enamored of the wildly aromatic, floral reds of Piedmont and Tuscany.

Each summer, we’ve sped north from the Rhône on the Route du Soleil, then took the high-speed fork towards the Mont Blanc Tunnel. By evening, we were barreling south from Florence towards the rolling hills of Chianti Classico.

Mapping out our travel itineraries for the next few months, our eyes lit up with thoughts of the next trip to Tuscany. If it’s any bit as memorable as our last — our 25th?! Time flies... — then you’ll be reading about what we find soon after we return, if not sooner. The best Chiantis, no matter how much they sell for, all combine richly textured, high-toned concentration with Burgundian minerality.

Showing a top Chianti’s scintillating minerality and mouthwatering acidity, the 2014 Dievole Chianti Classico was the greatest bargain we tasted almost two years ago. This estate in the small Tuscan village of Vagliagli has been around for more than 900 years (no, that’s not a typo) so the quality of the wine was not surprising. The price, on the other hand, really surprised us — no wonder Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate would pick it as one of the top “Value Wines of the Year” six months later. At $16.99 the 2014 Dievole easily competes with bottlings 3X the price. Traditionally styled and nuanced, this is a beauty drinking way above its pay grade.

The 2014 Dievole Chianti Classico is brilliant garnet in hue. Leather, anise, and crushed violets show on the highly aromatic nose. On the palate, peppered strawberry, dried cherries, and cranberries are accented by hints of sandalwood and green olive tapenade. This is about freshness and liveliness, through and through. The finish is persistent, bone dry, and laced with Burgundian minerality. Drink now to 2020.