Chianti Classico Riserva (1988)

About this wine

This 1988 Chianti Classico Riserva from Castell'in Villa is made entirely from Sangiovese and shows mature aromas of black cherry, dried red fruit, leather and forest floor. The palate is structured and concentrated with firm but integrated tannins, lively acidity and layers of spice and tobacco that have developed with age. The wine was fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured for several years in large oak casks, a process that builds depth and a persistent finish. The estate farms vineyards between about 250 and 350 meters above sea level and selects only the best lots for the Riserva bottling. Castell'in Villa notes that their Riserva is intended for long aging and that strong vintages are still rewarding decades after the harvest.

About the grape

Sangiovese is a central Italian variety long associated with Tuscany, valued for its bright acidity, firm tannins and ability to reflect site, and over centuries it has been selected into many local clones that producers use to balance vigor and concentration. At Castell in Villa the Chianti Classico Riserva is made entirely from Sangiovese grapes picked by hand from the estate sites around Castelnuovo Berardenga, typically from vines on alluvial soils with pebbles, limestone, clay and sand at about 250 to 320 metres above sea level. For this Riserva the estate uses indigenous fermentations and extended maceration followed by two to four years in large Slavonian oak botti, choices that emphasize the grape s structural acidity and terroir expression rather than oak manipulation. The property also practices organic or low intervention viticulture and selects fruit from its oldest and best parcels for Riserva status, which is why historic vintages like 1988 were vinified and aged to suit long term cellaring.

Quick facts

• 🏰 The estate is named after and built around a tiny medieval borgo with a commanding tower, which gives the wine a true village story in every bottle
• 👑 Princess Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa rescued and restored Castell'in Villa from 1968, shaping the modern style you taste in a 1988 Riserva
• 🤝 Castell'in Villa supplied fruit to early Tignanello productions, so this Riserva shares a quiet connection to one of Tuscany’s most famous wines
• 🔀 In 1988 the estate started blending Cabernet into some labels like Santacroce, making that year a pivot between tradition and experimentation at Castell'in Villa
• ⏳ The producer ages Riserva in large oak for 36 to 48 months and says the wine can peak between 6 to 30 years, which helps explain why 1988 bottles still appear on auction lists today

Palate profile

Producer

Castell'in Villa is a historic estate located in Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany, Italy. The estate's origins trace back to the 13th century when it functioned as a medieval hamlet and military outpost. In 1968, Princess Coralia Pignatelli della Leonessa and her husband Riccardo acquired the property, transforming it into a renowned winery. The estate spans approximately 298 hectares, with 54 hectares dedicated to vineyards and 32 hectares to olive groves. Princess Coralia is celebrated for her commitment to traditional winemaking methods, producing age-worthy wines that exemplify the elegance and longevity of Sangiovese.