Chianti Classico 2021

I feel like a new benchmark for fine wine is being set by Maddalena Fucile and Matteo Vaccari of Cigliano di Sopra in San Casciano Val di Pesa. These young winemaking colleagues studied enology together in Florence and both worked with Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr at Domaine de la Côte in California and at other prestigious wine estates in Italy. Winemaking is hands-on and artisanal in the stone underground cellar of Maddalena's family Tuscan villa. Farming is organic and biodynamic, and I want to underline the sheer excitement I feel for these wines and this promising up-and-coming estate.

I love the Cigliano di Sopra 2021 Chianti Classico. This fabulous wine comes from an exciting estate that I absolutely recommend you seek out. Made with organic Sangiovese, it offers a punchy and bright fruit profile with cassis, red berry and blue flower that pop from the glass. The wine offers balance, freshness and an elegantly streamlined style. It feels transparent, almost fragile. With exactly 11,586 bottles made, this is a thrilling discovery. 94 points, Monica Larner