Chianti Classico is currently experiencing a whole series of good to excellent vintages - and its producers know how to make the most of the opportunities. Despite the undoubted effects of climate change, changed ripening conditions and, on average, noticeably higher alcohol levels, many of them have succeeded in producing elegant and at the same time complex wines in a quantity and quality that have perhaps never been seen before.
The development of the Gran Selezione seems particularly striking to us. The fears that the new quality top of the Chianti Classico introduced a few years ago would "cannibalise" the Annata and the Riserva do not seem to be confirmed. Even more important, however, is how the winemakers are dealing with the new category. More and more often, the awareness seems to prevail that greatness in wine can be defined much more by finesse than by sheer power and concentration. Even if there are and probably always will be heavy blockbusters: The pendulum is currently swinging in the other direction.
