- WINERY Casale dello Sparviero
- GRAPE Sangiovese
- YEAR 2004
- COUNTRY Italy
- REGION Chianti
Despite the weak exchange rate, a terrific vintage in 2004 has made it possible to find good values in Chianti—like this cherry-driven red from Casale dello Sparviero.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
This single-vineyard Chianti is the top bottling from Casale dello Sparviero, an estate in the hilltop town of Castellina in Chianti that, until the 1990s, had been gently declining for years. In 1996 all that changed when the Andrighetti family, owners of a neighboring winery in Castellina, purchased the property. They have renewed the estate, rescuing native grapes such as Sangiovese and Canaiolo and planting imported ones like Cabernet. Their Vigna Paronza cuvée comes from a plot of century-old Sangiovese vines, whose low yields help make this lively, plummy red particularly rich.
SMELL IT
Ripe cherry with a hint of dried herbs.
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TASTE IT
Focused flavors of dried cherry and herbs, with medium tannins and fresh acidity.
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SERVE IT
Cellar temperature—the bottle should be cool to the touch.
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