On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report from Anteprima Toscana 2026: Chianti Classico Riserva 2022 & Older

11 Aug 2026

Details: Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

CCR2026 top

(February 2026) ... Stepping to the next level of Riserva, or at least a different vintage, and we find 2022 to have a better calibre of wine; especially at the higher end.

This year I break the wines down a little more, compartmentalizing them so they are easier to find on the website. I started with the vintage 2024 Annata (which was published several days ago) ... Now we are talking Riserva wines, meaning longer aging in oak - and it shows as my "personal aside" below explains - but also a different vintage. And as mentioned above, what a difference a vintage makes.

In this range, I tasted all the 2022 Riservas and a smattering of the older vintages. I have a pretty good idea how the wineries handled the fruit and the oak in 2022.

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.

Personal Aside: My note here says see 2023, so I will repeat that note here. 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-PLUS ...

Cantalici 2022 Baruffo - Chianti Classico Riserva
Pleasing, pleasant, refreshing - good acidic punch with some nice, light red fruits, slightly high-toned but this just adds something to the long finish.

Castello di Monsanto 2022 Castello di Monsanto - Chianti Classico Riserva
Sweet black cherry, hints of mocha, toasty, good acidity. A real winning wine here that shows depth of character, depth of fruit and plenty of charm; but also it has a dark side.

Tenuta di Nozzole 2022 La Forra - Chianti Classico Riserva
Upfront you'll find cherry and blackberry; a nice dollop of acidity picks up on the mid-palate. Smoky-cherry, cassis, and mocha rounds out the finish - complex and layered from the first sip to "down the hatch".

BETTER ...

Cantina Poggio Borgoni 2022 Borromeo - Chianti Classico Riserva
There is some charm here, even some refreshment: good acidity, nice little tang of sour cherry and wild strawberry. Very pleasing.

Castello di Gabbiano 2022 Castello di Gabbiano - Chianti Classico Riserva
Nice balance of oak and fruit. Fruit sits on the darker side with cassis and some cedar notes mixing it up with blackberry and spice. Plenty to be excited about here - like whether the fruit can beat that oak into submission.

Querciabella 2022 Querciabella - Chianti Classico Riserva
This one has enough spice and stuffing to keep it interesting; the dark fruit mixes with the dark spices and the cedar wood to create something special.

GOOD-PLUS ...
Castello di Ama 2022 Montebuoni - Chianti Classico Riserva
Castello di Radda 2022 Castello di Radda - Chianti Classico Riserva
Castello Vicchiomaggio 2022 Agostino Petri - Chianti Classico Riserva
Ruffino 2022 Ducale - Chianti Classico Riserva

GOOD ...
Buondonno 2022 Buondonno - Chianti Classico Riserva
Carpineto 2022 Carpineto - Chianti Classico Riserva
Castagnoli 2022 Terrazze - Chianti Classico Riserva
Dievole 2022 Novecento - Chianti Classico Riserva
Vignamaggio 2022 Gherardino - Chianti Classico Riserva

SOME OLDER VINTAGES OF NOTE ...
Castell'in Villa 2020 Castell'in Villa - Chianti Classico Riserva
Lots of dark, brooding fruit and even some smokiness. Plum and black cherry lead the charge. (BETTER)

Badia a Coltibuono 2021 Badia a Coltibuono - Chianti Classico Riserva (GOOD+)
Borgo Scopeto 2021 Vigna Misciano - Chianti Classico Riserva (GOOD+)
Castello Monterinaldi 2021 Castello Monterinaldi - Chianti Classico Riserva (GOOD+)
Fattoria di Lamole - Paolo Socci 2018 Antico Lamole - Chianti Classico Riserva (GOOD)
Frescobaldi 2021 Tenuta Perano - Chianti Classico Riserva (GOOD)