On the Road with the Grape Guy
Report from Anteprima Toscana 2026: Chianti Classico Riserva 2023
10 Aug 2026- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(February 2026) ... We move from the Annata to the Riserva - a step up at the Anteprima Toscana 2026 (or so they claim).
This year I will break the wines down a little more, compartmentalizing them so they are easier to find on the website. Starting with the vintage 2024 Annata (which was published several days ago) ... With the Riserva wines we are talking about a longer aging in oak - and it shows as my "personal aside" below explains.
In this range, I tasted all the 2023 Riservas. So I have a pretty good idea how the wineries handled the fruit and the oak.
My "Personal Aside" is a note taken to encompass the whole of what I have tasted, and was written after tasting all the wines in a category and on the spot to get my unvarnished reaction.
Notes are on wines that are rated BETTER and above; even the barrel samples (they are unfinished wines, so I have unfinished notes).
Personal Aside: Riserva continues to be a tough make / sell - people love that "reserve" means something in Italy; but sometimes the thing that makes it special can be a distraction or a detraction - in this case the wood gets in the way of the vintage. The wines below proved that they knew how to create a balancing-marriage between oak and fruit.
BETTER ...
Capraia 2023 Capraia - Chianti Classico Riserva
Maybe a little high-toned on the fruit side, but there is a little freshness that is added with that note; plus some herbal and slightly spicy notes.
Mons Driadalis 2023 Mons Driadalis - Chianti Classico Riserva
Nice acidity, strawberry and fairly light and easy on the wood - well-balanced, effective with a long finish. Hints of balsamic on the finish. This has potential to be even better with a little time.
Tenuta di Arceno 2023 Tenuta di Arceno - Chianti Classico Riserva
Nice use of the oak here as a backdrop and not the main event. Juicy core, black cherry, rhubarb and strawberry sprinkled with balsamic and herbal character. A nice wine full of fruit.
GOOD-PLUS ... 
Monte Bernardi 2023 Monte Bernardi - Chianti Classico Riserva
Tolaini 2023 Vallenuova - Chianti Classico Riserva
GOOD ...
Antinori 2023 Villa Antinori - Chianti Classico Riserva
Cigliano di Sopra 2023 Vigneto Branca - Chianti Classico Riserva
Famiglia Zingarelli 2023 Tenuta Le Macìe, Sergioveto - Chianti Classico Riserva
Guidi 1929 2023 Guidi - Chianti Classico Riserva
Il Poggiolino 2023 La Riserva - Chianti Classico Riserva
Ricasoli 2023 Brolio - Chianti Classico Riserva
Riecine 2023 Riecine - Chianti Classico Riserva
Torcilacqua 2023 Torcilacqua - Chianti Classico Riserva
Next up: Riserva 2023 - plus older vintages 2016-2022
