On the Road with the Grape Guy
Report from Anteprima Toscana 2026: Gran Selezione 2021 / 2020 / 2019 + older vintages
25 Aug 2026- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(February 2026) ... This is the last of the Chianti Classico wines from the Anteprima Toscana 2026.
This year I broke the wines down a little more than usual, compartmentalizing them so they are easier to find on the website. In this article, it's the Gran Selezione from 3 of the vintages of 2019-2021 and a couple of older vintages.
I tasted all the Gran Seleziones on offer from these vintages.
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 at the time of tasting.
Tasting Notes are on wines that are rated BETTER and above.
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Personal Aside for 2021 Vintage:
The 2021 were lean and frustrating, missing concentration and fruit; a few bucked that trend, but they were mostly lean and "skinny" with acidity topping everything in sight. Frustrating is a nice way to put it - taking a risk on wines from this vintage are exactly that; a risk.
BETTER-PLUS ... 
Frescobaldi 2021 Rialzi - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Bright, very bright ... the acidity here livens up the fruit instead of turning it into a background dweller ... the good news, there is fruit, which is the best part of this wine; especially from this vintage.
BETTER ...
Fattoria di Montemaggio 2021 Alberello Montemaggio - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
One of the better wines from 2021 I tasted - there is some concentration of dark fruit, balsamic-strawberries and a nice long finish.
Lamole di Lamole 2021 Vigneto di Campolungo - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Fresh fruit with cherry and raspberry; good acidity, a little sour on the finish, but it's heads and tails above where some of the 21s have been.
GOOD-PLUS ...
Altiero 2021 Altiero - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Carpineta Fontalpino 2021 Vigna Dofana - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Castello di Monsanto 2021 Vigna Il Poggio - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Conte Guicciardini - Belvedere Campòli 2021 Il Tabernacolo - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dievole 2021 Vigna Sessina - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Lamole di Lamole 2021 Vigna Grospoli - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Tenuta di Nozzole 2021 Giovanni Folonari - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
GOOD ...
Cantalici 2021 Cantalici - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Colle Bereto 2021 Colle Bereto - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Cortedomina 2021 a.Marti - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Monteraponi 2021 Bragantino - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
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Personal Aside for 2020 Vintage:
The 2020s are, for the most part, a nice mix of fruit forwardness and good concentration - these wines show the potential to age very well. You should have a few of these wines in your cellar for upcoming special occasions.
BETTER ...
Castello di Verrazzano 2020 Sassello - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Dark fruit concentrates on the front palate; the finish is quick and light which matches with the silky tannins, lightly spiced with some gentle tannins. A drink-now or over the next 5 years kinda wine.
Rocca di Montegrossi 2020 Vigneto San Marcellino - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Good fruit, ripe and warming on the palate and long on the finish.
GOOD-PLUS ...
Capannelle 2020 Capannelle - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Pieve di Campoli 2020 Cortine - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Vecchie Terre di Montefili 2020 Vinea Vecchia - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
GOOD ...
Bindi Sergardi 2020 Mocenni 89 - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Castello di Radda 2020 Vigna il Corno - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Renzo Marinai 2020 Renzo Marinai - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Tenute Squarcialupi La Castellina 2020 Squarcialupi - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
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Personal Aside for 2019 Vintage:
I had high expectations for the 2019, but I was let down; granted this was only a sample of 24 of this year's wines, but they did not deliver. Better to look back at my report from the year these wines came out to see what is the real-story of this vintage was.
BETTER ...
Losi Querciavalle 2019 Losi Millennium - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
There's a freshness here with good acidity mixed with a brightness of fruit and charming mouth-feeling. It's a winner.
GOOD-PLUS ...
Borgo Scopeto 2019 Borgo Scopeto - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Casa di Monte 2019 Le Capitozze - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Podere Il Palazzino 2019 Grosso Sanese - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
GOOD ...
L'Orcio a Ca' di Pesa 2019 Ca' di Pesa - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
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SOME OLDER VINTAGES OF NOTE ...
Lornano 2018 Lornano - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (GOOD+)
Casa Sola 2018 Casa Sola - Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (GOOD)
