In the glass
Aroma: red cherry, orange peel, chocolate, violet
Palate: sour cherry, dark plum, graphite, sweet spice
The Ricasoli flagship: pure Sangiovese with red-cherry and orange-peel aromatics over a graphite acid spine and soft, layered tannins.
What it pairs with
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Bistecca alla fiorentina
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Sangiovese acidity cuts the marbling; the tonneau-spice register matches the charred crust. -
Wild boar pappardelle
Tonneau spice and dark plum land cleanly on game ragu. -
Aged pecorino with chestnut honey
Pecorino salinity sharpens the wine's red-cherry lift; chestnut honey echoes the orange-peel note.
How to serve Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Bistecca alla fiorentina, Wild boar pappardelle, Aged pecorino with chestnut honey. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Ricasoli launched the Gran Selezione tier at the top of the Chianti Classico DOCG pyramid in 2014, with Castello di Brolio as its flagship single-cuvee. The 2019 vintage was bottled using exclusively indigenous yeasts cultivated at the estate.
- 1141 — Ricasoli family acquires Castello di Brolio
- 1872 — Bettino Ricasoli codifies the original Chianti formula at Brolio
- 2014 — Chianti Classico Gran Selezione introduced; Castello di Brolio elevated to that tier
Facts
- Producer
- Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio
- Grapes
- Sangiovese (100%)
- Classification
- Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione
- Oak
- 23 months in 500-litre French oak tonneaux, around 30 percent new, then four months in bottle
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 70 to 110 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2019
Scores
- Wine Advocate 96 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
- James Suckling 96 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
What does Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione taste like?
On the nose, red cherry, orange peel, chocolate, violet. On the palate, sour cherry, dark plum, graphite, sweet spice. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The Ricasoli flagship: pure Sangiovese with red-cherry and orange-peel aromatics over a graphite acid spine and soft, layered tannins.
When should I drink Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione?
Drink 5 to 20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione?
Bistecca alla fiorentina is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Wild boar pappardelle and Aged pecorino with chestnut honey. Sangiovese acidity cuts the marbling; the tonneau-spice register matches the charred crust.
What grapes are in Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione?
The blend is Sangiovese (100%). The wine is classified as Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione.