Castellare di Castellina - I Sodi di San Niccolo

Decanter.com

96 / 100

par Georgina Hindle le 23/03/2023

Super fragranced nose, patchouli, pot pourri, Turkish Delight, rose with caramelised red berries and a touch of smoke and incense - all quiet forward and expressive. The nose alone you could smell for hours such is its complexity and beguiling nature. Powerful and concentrated on the palate, this is broad and muscular, sinewy with depth and determination. Tannins are well integrated, really giving the support to the fruit and acidity, driving the flavours forward despite the clear weight and hold. Fragranced red berries continue on the palate with a touch of stone, graphite and matchstick. Rich and big on the mid palate, becoming more focussed towards the finish. Cleary well made with lots going on. Acidity is great, it's cool, clean, sleek and packed full of flavour. Almost too much, this is a big wine, so needs time, but has lots of appeal and mouthwatering freshness throughout. Released on the 9th March. Director and winemaker Alessandro Cellai.

The Drink Business

96 / 100

par Colin Hay le 03/03/2023

The top wine from Castellare di Castellina (though I love their Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggiale too) and a super-subtle Tuscan that has been on great form in recent vintages. This is ethereal and undoubtedly the best vintage of this wine that I have yet to taste. Pretty; aerial; expressively floral – with roses, patchouli and candle wax, Turkish delight, incense, myrrh, cinders and cordite. Black cherry fruit, black tea leaf and dark cedary notes complete the sensory kaleidoscope. Limpid and diaphanous but substantial, dense and compact and with an impressive sense of forward momentum across the palate. This has a lovely fluid, fresh finish where one finds complex mineral and crushed stone elements. A fabulous wine and likely to represent excellent value

Jane Anson

96 / 100

par Jane Anson le 02/02/2023

Captures interest from the first nose, skewers you in place with its flavoursome pomegrante, raspberry, orange peel, lemongrass, rose, slate. There is a smoke, tar edge from the oak but it is matched step by step with vibrant fruit and mouthwatering freshness. 66% new oak, 10 months in bottle after barrel ageing before release; 33ha, winemaker Alessandro Cellai.

Decanter.com

91 / 100

le 21/03/2021

Owner Paolo Panerai adopted organic practises when he took over his family’s estate in 1975, though he has never certified the wines. His iconic labels depict the multitude of rare birds that have returned to the property since the use of synthetic chemicals was eradicated. Pronounced and pretty with scents of allspice, rose, violet and a hint of leather. The palate is sumptuous and layered, with ripe cherry, plum and a juicy nectarine quality. Charmingly exuberant, this is clean and polished but not too polite. It's quite racy and finishes with an orange twist.