Starting with the 2010 vintage, the Chianti region has introduced an additional quality designation – ‘Gran Selezione’.
Gran Selezione’ is a quality designation that sits above the existing Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva designations. Gran Selezione must be made exclusively from a winery’s own grapes grown in its finest vineyards according to strict regulations that make it a truly premium wine & a new point of reference for Chianti. It can only be sold only after a minimum 30-month maturation & an obligatory period of bottle ageing. Gran Seleziones have great structure that, thanks to grape selection and longer bottle ageing, display superior balance & harmony, enhanced depth of flavor & aromatic complexity.
Introduction of this new quality level is yet another of the dramatic changes in the regulations governing production of Chianti. Since 1996 the blend for chianti and Chianti Classico has been 75–100% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and up to 20% of any other approved red grape variety such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah.
In 2006, the use of white grape varieties such as Malvasia & Trebbiano were prohibited. This resulted in Chianti’s suddenly exhibiting more fleshy fruit structure. Other rules require Chianti to have a minimum alcohol level of at least 12% and a minimum of 7 months aging in oak. Riserva’s must be aged at least 24 months. The harvest yields for Chianti’s are restricted to ensure that the wines exhibit vibrant fruit structure & are not diluted by high yield over production .
It is now very evident that modern Chiantis benefit significantly with the hand over to the better educated and trained younger generation who no longer stick to the traditional winemaking methods “just like Mum and Dad did”.
So for all the reasons stated above, the Chianti’s of today are dramatically better than ever. Gran Selezione sits up at the top – and they great! Watch out for the arrival in Singapore of our ‘Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010’
