2020 Castello di Radda Chianti Classico DOCG 750 ml

Back in August of 2019, Antonio Galloni of Vinous—for our money, one of the greatest Italian-wine critics out there—hit “publish” on a post about one of Chianti Classico’s phenomenal recent vintages. 

At 1,800+ words, it was a whopper. But what made it remarkable was the section, tucked below the fold, that we’d bet many Italian-wine lovers missed. Called “Radda Rising,” it was about how the Radda subzone, home of the highest-altitude vineyards in Chianti Classico, was positioned to succeed beautifully in our changing climate—and it didn’t shy away from how superb the region’s wines had become.

Boasting a 95-point score from Decanter, Castello di Radda’s extremely affordable 2020 Chianti Classico ratifies every word Galloni wrote. It’s a mouthwatering, sleek, ageworthy red straight from Sangiovese’s holy land—and you won’t find a more impressive bottle for the price. 

In the past, Radda’s lower temperatures meant winemakers often had to coax and caress their Sangiovese to ripeness. But since the thermometer started rising, this hilly outpost has become Tuscany’s new sweet spot, and its wines have started to pack on some muscle while retaining their high-altitude zip and complex aromatics.

Perhaps the Beretta family, which also owns top-tier Franciacorta estate Lo Sparviere, suspected where Radda was heading when they acquired Castello di Radda in 2003. Their commitment is reflected in the massive investments they poured into renovating the winery, including carving an energy-efficient underground cellar out of rock and hiring the legendary Maurizio Castelli, a consultant for the iconic 100-point Brunello Le Ragnaie .

Radda is the name to know in Chianti Classico, and this bottle shows why.