Pèppoli Chianti Classico (2023)

About this wine

This Chianti Classico opens with bright aromas of cherries and red currants, layered with hints of strawberry and a touch of pomegranate. Floral notes of violet and lavender sit over subtle spice, with suggestions of licorice, cocoa and a faint smoky tone from its time in large oak casks. On the palate it is medium bodied and juicy, with lively acidity, soft yet present tannins and a savory finish that keeps the red fruit flavors humming. The wine is based mainly on Sangiovese with a smaller share of Merlot and Syrah, fermented in stainless steel and then aged for about nine months mostly in large Slavonian oak with a portion kept in tank to preserve freshness. The Pèppoli estate lies in the heart of Chianti Classico and this bottling, first produced in 1985, is made to show the grape in a fragrant, fruit driven style that is ready to enjoy in its youth while still offering good structure and length.

About the grape

Sangiovese originated in central Italy and has been the backbone of Chianti since medieval times, and at Pèppoli it makes up about ninety percent of the blend, grown on gravel rich soils in an east and north east facing valley that keeps heat and helps the grapes ripen fully. Merlot, a Bordeaux grape that arrived in Tuscany in the twentieth century, is planted in smaller blocks here and is fermented separately to add supple texture and depth to the Sangiovese core before blending. Syrah, which traces its roots to the Rhône Valley in France, is also used in small amounts at Pèppoli, where it is cultivated alongside Merlot and vinified on its own to bring color and gentle spice to the final cuvée. All three varieties are harvested and fermented separately, then combined once malolactic fermentation is complete and aged mainly in large Slavonian oak casks so that the character of Sangiovese and its supporting grapes remains clear and linked to the Chianti Classico hills.

Quick facts

• 🍷 Pèppoli Chianti Classico was first created from the 1985 harvest as a modern fruity twist on a very old Tuscan style and it quickly became one of Antinori’s most widely recognized reds
• ⛰️ The Pèppoli estate sits in a small protected valley with an unusual east and northeast exposure a quirky orientation that still ripens Sangiovese beautifully thanks to the warm sheltered microclimate
• ⛪ This Chianti Classico is born on land that once belonged to a medieval monastery so its vineyards share history with monks who were tending vines in the area as far back as the Middle Ages
• 🌍 Although Pèppoli feels like a classic regional red it is quietly international because a small but important slice of the blend is Merlot and Syrah which were once considered daring additions in traditional Chianti
• 🥗 The same Pèppoli grapes that make this wine are also turned into a traditional red wine vinegar at the estate so a single harvest can season both glasses and salad bowls around the world

Palate profile

Producer

Marchesi Antinori, established in 1385 by Giovanni di Piero Antinori, is one of the world's oldest family-owned wineries, now led by the 26th generation. The family has been instrumental in the 'Super Tuscan' revolution, notably with their Tignanello wine introduced in 1971. Their state-of-the-art winery in Bargino, Tuscany, inaugurated in 2012, seamlessly blends innovative architecture with the surrounding landscape. Beyond winemaking, the Antinori family has a longstanding tradition of supporting the arts, exemplified by their Antinori Art Project, which commissions contemporary artworks for their estates.