Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 'Il Grigio' 2019 (750 ml.) San Felice

THE WINE

The Chianti Classico Riserva 'Il Grigio' by San Felice is produced only from the best grapes selected from the Chianti Classico vineyards of the estate, a valid combination of tradition and modernity. The label depicts a famous painting by Titian 'Man with Armor'. Fermentation occurs in contact with the skins for 18-20 days, and 80% of the mass matures in Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months, while the remaining 20% matures in 225L French oak barriques. It is a red wine with an intense and persistent aroma, with typical notes of violet and wild berries. It is a full-bodied, austere wine with juicy tannins and fresh acidity. Aromatic complexity comes from well-measured wood. It pairs well with grilled meats, roasted pigeon, and beef tagliata.

THE ESTATE

San Felice is a historic winery in Chianti Classico, located in the eponymous area in the territory of Castelnuovo Berardenga. The first wine productions in the ancient Pieve San Felice in Pincis date back to the Etruscan era and saw great development starting from the 1400s, as historical sources testify, maintaining itself over the centuries and achieving significant successes in the 1900s, thanks also to brilliant insights. The winery took its current form in 1978 when it was purchased by the Allianz group, reaching such dimensions that it acquired other smaller wineries. Today, it includes, in addition to the picturesque estates of Chianti, the Campogiovanni estate in Montalcino and the Bell’Aja estate in Bolgheri.

The San Felice estate, the main site of this large production reality, extends over more than 650 hectares, of which 140 are dedicated to vineyards. The happy combination of climate, soil, and exposure ensures the perfect ripening of the red grapes grown, particularly Sangiovese. The maintenance of ancient terraces divided by dry stone walls and a sustainable approach called “precision viticulture,” aimed at limiting treatments, allows for the maintenance of biodiversity. The experimental project “Vitiarum” also consists of preserving 270 ancient grape varieties collected in 1.6 hectares of vineyard to prevent their oblivion, thus preserving the typical ampelographic heritage of the area. The Campogiovanni estate, on the other hand, extends over 65 hectares southwest of Montalcino, while the more recent Bell’Aja in Bolgheri currently covers just over 6 hectares.

The wines of San Felice are celebrated expressions of the Tuscan territory, known and appreciated by multiple generations of wine lovers. The “Vigorello,” for example, introduced back in 1968, was the first example of a Supertuscan and still today manages to amaze and captivate. Another historic label is “Il Grigio,” an intense and traditional expression of Chianti Classico. All the other labels also reveal a classic and solid approach, behind which lies the great success of this winery in the world.