Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 2023 is a pure Sangiovese from Fèlsina's organically farmed estate at Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the warm south-east corner of Chianti Classico. It shows red cherry, strawberry and wild herbs over fine, firm tannins. Kerin O'Keefe rated it 93 POINTS. A great wine for anyone who enjoys fresh, savoury Tuscan reds.
In the glass it shows a deep ruby colour and fine, elegant aromas of wild berries and spice, then a fruity palate with good tannins and a lingering finish.
This is a wine for those of us who enjoy savoury, food-friendly Sangiovese, and a great match for a bowl of pasta or a weekend roast.
Michaela Morris of Decanter named it one of the best-value Chianti Classico wines of the 2023 vintage.
What it tastes like
The wine has real brightness and savoury charm. Michaela Morris noted baked earth, dried scrub and grilled thyme, with dark cherry and plum on a well-endowed palate, and found it kept its freshness and vibrancy. Raffaele Vecchione of WinesCritic.com picked up sour cherry, red plum and a hint of orange, with pleasantly rounded tannins. Kerin O'Keefe found great finesse and energy. It's a lovely, lively Chianti Classico.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh and lively
- Tannin: Firm and refined
- Oak: Medium-size Slavonian oak barrels, adding subtle toasty and vanilla notes
- Style: Fresh, savoury, organic Chianti Classico
Food to enjoy this with
- Bistecca alla fiorentina
- Pappardelle with a slow-cooked beef ragù
- Arista, the Tuscan roast pork loin with fennel and garlic
- Pizza margherita
- Pecorino and a board of salumi
- Grilled salmon with herbs: an unexpected match, as the wine's fresh acidity cuts through the richness of the fish
Who makes it
Fèlsina's modern story began in the 1970s, when Domenico Poggiali and his son Giuseppe saw the potential of a farm then growing mainly olives and cereals, with only a few hectares of vines and a small cellar. They chose to plant every vineyard to Sangiovese, and today Fèlsina grows 30 different clones of it on 7 rootstocks.
Giuseppe Mazzocolin, husband of Gloria Poggiali, joined a few years later and built Fèlsina's reputation around the world. Since 1990 Giovanni Poggiali has led the estate. The family also makes the Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva, Fontalloro and Rancia.
The vineyards sit at 320 to 420 metres on ventilated, mainly south-west-facing slopes. Higher up the soils are rocky quartz and alberese limestone with river pebbles, while towards the Crete Senesi they turn to layered sandstone and loam. Fèlsina has farmed organically since the early 2000s.
The grapes are hand-selected, destemmed and fermented for 12 to 15 days in stainless steel. In March or April the young wine moves into medium-size Slavonian oak barrels, with a small share of older barrels, for 12 months, then rests at least 3 months in bottle. The first vintage of this wine was 1967.
About the vintage
Michaela Morris of Decanter reported an incessantly rainy, humid spring in 2023, which brought widespread downy mildew (a fungal disease of the vine), followed by a hot, dry summer. The consorzio put the crop at about 200,000 hectolitres, 22 to 30% below the decade's average.
She found the 2023 wines clean, lively and exuberant, with the tart edge of Sangiovese, and expected them to drink well over 4 to 5 years.
Critic scores and ratings
- 93 POINTS – Kerin O'Keefe – KerinOKeefe.com
"Rose, lavender, wild herb and dark exotic spice aromas mingle together on the fragrant 2023 Chianti Classico Berardenga along with a whiff of red berry. Showing great finesse and energy, the elegantly structured palate reveals strawberry, red cherry, vanilla and star anise accompanied by firm, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced."
- 93 POINTS – Raffaele Vecchione – WinesCritic.com
"Slightly herbaceous in its sensory profile, it displays notes of sour cherry, red plum, orange juice, and dried chamomile. Medium-bodied, with pleasantly rounded tannins and a balanced, joyful finish. Drink now."
- 92 POINTS – Michaela Morris – Decanter
"This renowned estate puts out one of the vintage's best value annata wines in 2023. Offering complexity and sense of place, it is so emblematic of the warm southeastern reaches of Castelnuovo Berardenga, where diverse terrains converge. Subtle toasty and vanilla top notes are joined by baked earth, dried scrub and grilled thyme. The well endowed palate proposes dark cherry and plum, and the round, supple fruit is corseted by dry, decisive tannins. Wood accents are well-placed throughout, and hints of mint and minerals linger on the finish. Above all, it retains freshness and vibrancy."
When to drink it
It drinks well now: Raffaele Vecchione says drink now, and Kerin O'Keefe gives it until 2035, so enjoy it now and through to 2035.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Fèlsina |
| Wine: |
Berardenga Chianti Classico |
| Vintage: |
2023 |
| Variety: |
100% Sangiovese |
| Region: |
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Chianti Classico, Tuscany |
| Country: |
Italy |
| Classification: |
Chianti Classico DOCG |
| Alcohol: |
13.5% |
| Oak: |
12 months in medium-size Slavonian oak barrels |
| Fermentation: |
12 to 15 days in stainless steel |
| Closure: |
Cork |
| Cellaring: |
To 2035 (Kerin O'Keefe) |
| Organic: |
Farmed organically since the early 2000s |
Where to buy
The Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 2023 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.
Questions we are often asked
What grape is Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico made from?
It is 100% Sangiovese, grown on Fèlsina's own vineyards at Castelnuovo Berardenga.
Is Felsina organic?
Yes. Fèlsina has farmed its vineyards organically since the early 2000s.
Is Felsina Chianti Classico 2023 ready to drink?
Yes. WinesCritic.com says drink now, and Kerin O'Keefe expects it to keep improving until 2035.
Where is Castelnuovo Berardenga?
It is in the south-east of the Chianti Classico zone, close to Siena, where the appellation meets the Colli Senesi.
What food goes with Felsina Chianti Classico?
Grilled steak, pasta with meat ragù, roast pork and pizza all suit its fresh acidity and firm tannins.
Where can I buy Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 2023?
The Winery sells Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 2023 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
