2020 Marchesi Antinori 'Badia a Passignano' Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Badia a Passignano is ruby red in color. Intense on the nose with notes of ripe red fruit, liqueur cherries, and sour cherries together with citrusy hints of red oranges and delicate floral sensations of lavender. Its complex bouquet is completed by sweet notes of vanilla and pleasant spicy aromas of cloves and leather. On the palate the mouth filling entry is sustained by silky, vibrant tannins than accompany a lengthy finish, persistent and sapid, with a pleasant aftertaste of bitter cocoa and citrus.
There just aren't many on the level of Piero Antinori. Process this for a moment: He represents the 25th generation in an unbroken string of vintners, beginning in 1385. 26 generations! His family started accumulating knowledge about vineyard and cellar practices when Chaucer was working on The Canterbury Tales. It's difficult to comprehend. His lifetime experience cannot be overstated as he has literally been involved with wine his entire life. In fact, one of his first memories is of German soldiers shooting barrels in his family's cellars as Europe descended into chaos at the end of WWII. He has a truly encyclopedic knowledge of what it means to be a winemaker, and he understands that he is a vital link from his family's past to its future as the Antinori footprint expands across the globe.
James Suckling
This is really velvety and open with a caressing texture that entices with every sip. Medium-bodied with gorgeous brightness and complexity. So hard not to drink now. So why wait, but will age beautifully.