Dec. 6, 2021 | by James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com
On his TOP 100 WINE OF ITALY 2021, among the more than 6,000 wines tasted this year, we find ours
#30 | Il Carbonaione 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
97/100 | IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Intense aromas of blue fruit, lavender and violets. Some sandalwood, too. Full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and beautiful fruit. Really racy and refined with excellent length. Drinkable now, but a few years of bottle age will make it even more beautiful. Try after 2023” (tasted & reviewed on July 23, 2021)
November 26, 2021 | by Simon Staffler & Othmar Kierm
FALSTAFF | CHIANTI CLASSICO ANNATA TROPHY 2021
The Chianti Classico offers a pleasant glass of wine at an attractive price. Its fine fruit, smooth tannin and its present but well integrated acidity make it an excellent accompaniment to dishes – this obviously also applies to the 2018 and 2019 vintages, which were tasted for this Falstaff Trophy
92/100 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
Rich, intense ruby. The nose is a little subdued, but opens with notes of dried porcini mushrooms and then a lot of blackberry. It blooms pleasantly on the palate, snappy, tannins present, well-developed fruit and good pressure in the finish
90/100 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2020 DOCG Chianti Classico
Ruby red, limpid and brilliant with a black heart. Inviting floral nose that opens to violet blossoms, with cherries full of dogwood and fresh plum fruit and light cedar wood and lacquer. Initial juicy in taste, shows a nice play between fruit and acidity, is wrapped in a youthful tannin and ends fresh with currant
Nov. 13, 2021 | by De Grote Hamersma
DE GROTE HAMERSMA
9/10 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
Young domain (anno 1991) owned by the Fiore family and Jurij, the second oldest out of the 4 brothers, an equally young winemaker, looks out to all production expets. Although the youth has the future now, father Vittorio Fiore suits him with all his know-how. And that is great, because Fiore senior, is a highly respected and internationally renowned oenologist.
So well informed about the potential of the twenty year old sangiovese di Lamole vines. Jurij then released his knowledge and skills that he had acquired during his wine studies in Beaune. We taste a delicate, elegant rosso. Aged for seven months in concrete and three months in bottle. Thick but not overripe black and red fruit. Cassis, cherries, blueberries and sour berries on a bed of soft tannins
9+/10 | IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
All things considered, Alta Vella della Greve is nothing more than a humble IGT in Tuscany. It can be found in the heart of Greve in Chianti, more precisely in the hills around the Greve valley. Son and father Fiore (in the same order responsible for the domain) have planted their more than 90 old vines of Sangiovese di Lamole here.
Ageing has not been a short cut. One and a half years of French oak of the best species (large barrels Nevers, Allier and Vosges) with a little American on the side. Comes to itself in bottle for six months. The result is an impressive wine. The traditional Sangiovese cherries with their idiosyncratic acidity. Black forest fruit: blackberries and berries. Green herbs and laurel liquorice. Dark ground after a rain shower. Lush, powerful, contemplative, in-depth and all-round performing
Nov. 5, 2021 | by SEMINARIO PERMANENTE LUIGI VERONELLI Editore
I VINI DI VERONELLI GUIDA ORO 2022
95/100 | PIANTONAIA 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
94/100 | IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
93/100 | CAPOGATTO 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
90/100 | CHIARA AURORA 2019 IGT Alta Valle della Greve bianco
89/100 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
Oct. 20, 2021 | by BIBENDA Editore
BIBENDA 2022
IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
Sept. 21, 2021 | by Antonio Galloni
VINOUS | “From Chianti Classico and Beyond – 2018 & 2019”
96/100 | IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Carbonaione is one of the most elegant editions of this flagship wine I can remember tasting. Il Carbonaione is usually a rich, bombastic wine, but the 2018 is sleek, gracious and remarkably refined. The fruit was picked a week later than originally planned because of a family emergency. That results in an exotic Carbonaione that is beguiling but not at all heavy. I can’t wait to see how it ages”
95/100 | CAPOGATTO 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“The 2018 Capogatto is a blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Inky red fruit, mocha, spice and wild flowers race out of the glass. Deep and potent in the glass, the 2018 possesses striking depth and as well as complexity. The 2018 is a bit compact today, but that should not be an issue in another few years’ time”
95/100 | PIANTONAIA 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“The 2018 Piantonaia, 100% Merlot, is deep, fleshy and super-expressive. Inky dark fruit, spice, licorice and mocha all meld together in the glass. The 2018 is deep, fleshy and wonderfully expressive from start to finish”
93/100 | CHIARA AURORA 2019 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“(Chiara) Aurora presents a whole range of Trebbiano and Malvasia aromatics married with the depth of Chardonnay, which makes for a super distinctive, appealing white. Deep, powerful and savory, with pretty top notes from the Malvasia on the finish, Chiara Aurora is a very beautiful and expressive white from Poggio Scalette”
92/100 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
“The 2019 Chianti Classico is classy, elegant and polished. Floral and spice notes lift a core of blue/purplish fruit. The 2019 offers a beguiling mix of Greve dark fruit, mid-weight structure and depth. The Classico is vinified like the flagship Carbonaione, but aged in cement. The 2019 is terrific”
Oct. 31, 2021 | by Bruce Sanderson
Wine Spectator | Vol. 46, No. 9
89/100 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
“This lush red boasts cherry, raspberry, earth and tobacco flavors, with a dense matrix of tannins for support and moderate length. Drink now through 2025”
Spet. 6, 2021 | by Touring Club Italiano
VINIBUONI D’ITALIA 2022
IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
Sept. 30, 2021 | by Bruce Sanderson
Wine Spectator
94/100 | PIANTONAIA 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Ripe aromas and flavors of plum, black cherry, loamy earth, eucalyptus and iron are aligned with a supple texture and well-integrated structure. Intense yet refined, with a long aftertaste of fruit, earth and iron. Merlot. Best from 2023 through 2040”
93/100 | CAPOGATTO 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“This red is charming and harmonious, with fresh black cherry and blackberry fruit, bright acidity and light tannins. Accents of wild herbs and iron add details. Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028”
92/100 | IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“A ripe style, marked by vanilla and toasty new oak, adding depth to its black cherry, blackberry and earth flavors. Solidly built, this needs time to absorb the dusty tannins. Sangiovese. Best from 2023 through 2035”
Jul. 23, 2021 | by James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com
97/100 | IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Intense aromas of blue fruit, lavender and violets. Some sandalwood, too. Full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and beautiful fruit. Really racy and refined with excellent length. Drinkable now, but a few years of bottle age will make it even more beautiful. Try after 2023”
95/100 | CAPOGATTO 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“A red with blackberries, black olives and hints of herbs. It’s medium-bodied with very firm, chewy tannins that follow through to the finish. It’s well put together and persistent on the palate. Try after 2023 and onwards”
93/100 | PIANTONAIA 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Black-olive, bark and blue-fruit aromas follow through to a full body with round yet tight tannins. Bright acidity and a light balsamic touch to the aftertaste. Merlot. Drink or hold”
93/100 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
“A creamy, refined red with blackberry and bark aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with round tannins that are very polished. Bright and vivid. Typical for the appellation. Drink or hold”
Jul. 20, 2021 | by James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com
90/100 | CHIARA AURORA 2019 IGT Alta Valle della Greve bianco
“An aromatic white with citrus blossom, pear and melon rind on the nose. Hint of sage, too. It’s medium-bodied with fresh acidity and a waxy, lightly bitter floral character. Dry and clean finish. Expressive. Drink now”
June 17, 2021 | by Walter Speller
JancisRobinson.com
“CHIANTI CLASSICO IN 2021 – Part 1” by W. Speller & J. Robinson
17+/20 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
“Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese aged for 10 months in concrete tank.
Mid crimson. Red cherry and rhubarb with minerally and spicy hints from oak. Slow to unfurl pure tangy cherry fruit finely ground tannins. Closes up on the finish, but decanting might speed things up. 13% but seems more voluminous than that”.
March 24, 2021 | by Michaela Morris (in Vancouver)
DECANTER
91/100 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
“In the high altitude, breezy reaches of Ruffoli, Poggio Scalette’s terraced vineyards sit on sandy, stony soil. Drought is an issue here but winemaker Jurij Fiore called 2019 ‘wonderful’ as summer rainstorms brought much-needed water. The nose is delightful, leading with red currants, cranberry, mint tea, tarragon and warm terracotta. Midweight and somewhat delicate in frame, though not insubstantial, there is a glossiness to the raspberry-laden core with compelling dustiness around the edges. Quite lip smacking and mouth scrubbing. Drinking window 2021 – 2026”.
July 1, 2021 | by Kerin O’Keefe
WINE ENTHUSIAST |
90/100 | IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Aromas of ripe plum and oak-driven spice lead the nose along with a whiff of menthol. Reflecting the nose, the enveloping, full-bodied palate offers fleshy black cherry, coconut, licorice and coffee bean while firm, grainy tannins leave an assertive, mouthdrying finish”.
90/100 | CAPOGATTO 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“A blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, this has aromas suggesting black-skinned berries, mocha and a whiff of graphite. The forward palate recalls ripe black currant, espresso and licorice alongside polished tannins”.
90/100 | PIANTONAIA 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Aromas of toasted oak, tilled earth, blue flowers and blueberry form the nose. On the densely concentrated, enveloping palate, fine-grained tannins accompany prune, blackberry extract, licorice and candied notes before a roasted coffee bean finish”.
May 16-20, 2021 | by Marcus Hofshuster
WEIN.PLUS
92/100 | CAPOGATTO 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Firm, cool and quite deep aroma of blackcurrants and some cherries with floral and cedary traces, some herbs, red pepper and a hint of liquorice. Taut, juicy, tart, quite fresh fruit, present, fine tannin and some bite, spicy and herbal nuances, persistent, still young and undeveloped, tart nutty hints, clearly salt, cedary traces, has polish and freshness, very good, firm, juicy and finely spicy finish with bite. Still needs to mature”.
90/100 | IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Relatively tart, slightly fleshy and dried-vegetable scent of ripe predominantly dark berries and cherries with a hint of tar in the background. Ripe, rather juicy, partly preserved fruit, clear dry herbal notes, a hint of tobacco and nutty wood with bitter-chocolate hints and a hint of mocha, warm and persistent on the palate, lots of melting, noticeable but integrated alcohol, gains juice with air, very good, quite tight finish with nougat and a little milk chocolate”.
86/100 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2019 DOCG Chianti Classico
“Clear, quite fresh and polished aroma of mixed berries and cherries with dried floral nuances. Tart, youthful fruit, nutty and very slightly chocolaty aromas, crumbly, sandy tannin, good persistence, still very slightly muted on the palate, dried herbal and floral nuances, a little bitterish spice, some bite, good to very good, tart finish”.
April 30, 2021 | by Monica Larner
eRobertParker.com | THE WINE ADVOCATE
“ITALY, CHIANTI CLASSICO: DISCOVERIES FROM GREVE IN CHIANTI”
Issue #254 of End of April 2021
93/100 | CAPOGATTO 2017 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Enologist Vittorio Fiore is the face behind Podere Poggio Scalette. The 2017 Capogatto is a hot vintage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This wine comes roaring out of the glass with thick layers of black fruit and lots of pretty intensity. The aromas are front-loaded in the 2017 to be sure, and wine follows through with a less formal, mid-weight impact to the palate”.
92/100 | IL CARBONAIONE 2017 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Here’s a nice Sangiovese to serve with an appetizer of wild mushroom pâté spread over slices of freshly baked whole wheat bread. The Poggio Scalette 2017 Il Carbonaione is a sultry and rich wine from a hot vintage. Fruit in 2017 is dark and ripe, but more importantly, the vintage delivers extra concentration and textural fiber because of the lack of rain and moisture for most of the summer. This wine shows lots of rich and concentrated fruit at its core, with lighter touches of baked terracotta, toasted spice and iron ore. You might be surprised by a floral tone of violet and dried lavender that pops up on the close”.
91/100 | POGGIO SCALETTE 2018 DOCG CHIANTI CLASSICO
“The Poggio Scalette 2018 Chianti Classico is a classic expression from the Greve in Chianti subzone of the appellation with a touch of wild bramble that comes in with the breezes that blow over these wooded hills. This pretty wine opens to sweet blueberries and blackberries with some rose, earth and crushed stone. This is a linear and tight Chianti Classico that is offered at a great price”.
February 14, 2021 | by Simon Staffler & Othmar Kierm
FALSTAFF | TROPHY TOSKANA CENTRALE
The Sangiovese is the leading vine in Tuscany and from the “wine revolution” in the 1980s we know that Cabernet & Co. also grow well here.
96/100 | IL CARBONAIONE 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Dark garnet with a hint of purple. Noble on the nose with a fine spicy note, fine woods, rich in blackberry and black currant, delicate dark currant, minimally balsamic. It opens robust, with dark and light berries, full of tension and multilayer, spreads very well on the tongue, for a long time”.
95/100 | PIANTONAIA 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Dark garnet, almost impenetrable. Medium expression on the nose, light mint, blackberry and wild berries. Dense on the palate and with a lot of pressure, it shows a lot of tension, substantial and lively, first approach of great harmony, still has a long life ahead of it”.
93/100 | CAPOGATTO 2018 IGT Alta Valle della Greve
“Dark and deep garnet with violet reflections. Full, compact and dense nose of berries, black currant, blackberry, a hint of elderberry and a noble spicy note. Dense, full, full on the palate, it develops in several layers and harmoniously, with emphasis”.