Santo Stefano, « drugo » 2019 – Chianti Classico Riserva

The wine has a ruby color of medium intensity, with slight garnet reflections. The nose is delicate, refined and offers complexity by combining the herbaceous, spicy and mineral notes with a tangy and fresh fruitiness. The first nose expresses a subtle minerality (limestone and more slightly – graphite), which are then complemented by notes of sweet spices (ground gray pepper, a hint of liquorice, ground clove), cocoa, dried peppermint, dried basil, Earl Gray tea (with a smoky touch of bergamot), as well as a delicate floral bouquet (fresh rose, lily). We also find a fresh and slightly jammy fruity side (morelo cherry, red cherry jam, crushed blackcurrant, mountain ash, wild plum, a tangy touch of dried raspberry) with a slightly sweet note of candied orange in the background. The roasted aromas (toasted hazelnut, coffee) are very slightly perceptible and appear in the background on the second nose. The palate is firm, textured, with powdery tannins with a hint of cocoa, slightly dry in the mid-palate. We find the flavors of fresh morello cherry, dried red cherry, dried raspberry, crushed blackcurrant, mountain ash, cranberries, crunchy strawberry and bergamot in the background, associated with notes of ground clove, liquorice (in background), dried rose, with the herbaceous and smoky hint of Earl Gray tea and dried oregano and a slightly dry mineral touch of chalk and graphite on the finish. The tannins are young and firm, a little astringent, but enveloped in the juiciness of tangy fruit and balanced by a salivating acidity. The finish is rather persistent, mineral and with good bitterness. A wine with a structure and freshness.