2021 Tenute Piccini Poggio Al Sale Chianti 750 ml

After over 140 years, it would be easy for a winery as successful as Tenute Piccini to rest on their laurels.

But the commitment to quality that allowed them to rise to prominence in Tuscany’s competitive winescape guides them as much as ever, which is why Wine Enthusiast declared them “one of the most dynamic and innovative wineries in Italy” only a few years ago.

That commitment shows in every sip of their Poggio Al Sale Chianti—a classically built bottle made solely from native grapes, per tradition, but displaying a modern focus and polish. Our Master Sommelier Sur Lucero called it “an excellent example of what the Tuscan landscape can produce.”

Piccini farms all of their vineyards organically, avoiding chemical intervention and building vine health with a variety of techniques that are so old they qualify as cutting-edge. It starts with a robust cover-crop program. They also use beneficial insects to combat pests, rather than artificial solutions. Yes, it’s a more labor-intensive way to farm, but it pays off in spades in the wine.

In the winery, the winemaking team uses long macerations to carefully develop Sangiovese’s classic flavors of dark cherries, dried cranberries, and hints of flowers, licorice, and black tea. All the while, they’re careful not to extract harsh tannins.

The 2021 provided absolutely stellar raw materials. The year kicked off with a mild but wet winter. By summer, though, things had dried out and the plants roared into action, developing small, concentrated berries that managed to keep vibrant acidity to balance their rich flavors and velvety tannins.