Thanks for the link to Otto’s excellent post, David. I had forgotten about that one. Interesting that Tenuta di Carleone’s Il Guercio is from a vineyard in Lamole. A marriage of both producer style and place.
More producer style in this case, I would say 
Last night we had the 2016 Istine Levigne. It was lovely, a great example of Radda (and possibly Gaiole) elegance.
I have never had the patience to age the Istine CC. I will if the 21 ever reaches our market, we have had the 20 on the shelves for a couple of years now.
It was a chart illustrating what was common and what, at the extreme, was permissible as the rules changed.
If you don’t like my legends, make your own chart.
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And that could have been included in your original post. A reader shouldn’t have to suss out the details.
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I opened a 2016 Carpineto CCR last night that was right in my wheelhouse. Many of the 16s that I have opened recently have reached that point where the tannins have settled just enough to make them a pleasure to drink.
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I had this a week or so and thought the same! (Edit - oops - misread. I thought I saw Caparsa…not Carpineto). I am liking what Caparsa does.
This was maybe the first 2016 beyond the 2016 annatas (annati?) that I have tried. 2016 Bibbiano Vigna del Capannino up next. Excited to explore these 2016s.
2016 Bibbiano Vigna del Capannino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione
Drinking now. Typical sangiovese nose, mostly cherry, a bit floral, a bit of earth. but very fragrant. Wow, a ton of deep dark cherry flavor. Not plummy though. Lots of bright fruit, fleshy with a good bit of tannin. Nice dusty finish, enough acid to back up the deep fruit. Very enjoyable and drinkable now, but plenty of time left to round out also. There is a lot here, for sure, good for someone who is feeling chianti might be too thin or needs food, and wants something with more heft. Better than expected, i would say.
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Bibbiano’s CC hits well above it’s price point, which I’ve purchased as low as $13.
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This one was $30 when I ordered back in 2020. Way worth it!!
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Picked it up for $10/btl in the underground cellar closeout, need to crqck one open
Le Vigne is a blend of the Cavarchione, Istine, and Aia vineyards. So both Radda and Gaiole.
A couple quick thoughts from tastings last week at Tenuta di Carleone, Castell’in Villa, and Istine. These guys are putting out beautiful, classy wines. The 2022’s from Istine and Carleone were excellent. Castell’in Villa’s current vintages are 2020 for the Classico, and 2019 for the Riserva. No suprises there - fantastic wines.
I also tasted at I Fabbri, a winery that is new to me. The wines were soulful and good, though for me, not quite at the same level as those above - at least yet. Susanna’s vineyards were impeccable and are positioned nicely with high elevation vineyards in Lamole. She is also building a new winery which should make things easier and better for her. I am curious to see what the next vintages bring here.
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Three of my favourites Jeff. Thanks for the note.
I have a 2021 Castello Verrazzano CC in the decanter for tonight. Great to hear some Chianti chatter.
I know they put out a lot of different wines, but I’m rarely disappointed with anything Bindi Sergardi.
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The 2016 Selvapiana [Chianti Rufina] has been an absolute delight the last two nights, with foods that do not conventionally pair well. (First meal was home made scallion pancakes, second was samosas and chicken curry). I am familiar with the estate, but had not picked up the 2016 normale until a few years ago, when Corti Bros. put some out on the shelves, along with the 1983 (!). The robe is on the pale side, while the body is at best medium, but there is a fleshy, ripe character to the 14% abv (mostly) sangiovese. For my tastes, I find it low acid, but in a good way – perhaps it had more zip on release. As it approaches its first decade of age the bouquet shows black tea, saddle, incense with a palate of pomegranate, then cherry. This Chianti shows fruitier and friendlier than prior years, but perhaps that is the fortunate circumstances of 2016 coming through. What I really love about this - as a Francophile - is how different it is than my usual vinuous feedstock, Bordeaux & Rhones. It has a short, layered (?) cork, but the wine is more complex than its stature, price suggest. Perhaps if fates had introduced me to wine a generation later, I might have focused on Tuscany rather than Bordeaux. When I was younger Chianti of this ilk would not have been rich/round enough for my palate, but a few decades of global climate improvement have been revelatory.
Easy A- for my tastes; I wish I had put away more of this and 2010.
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2015 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva
I previously had the 2006, 2009 and 2018 vintages of this wine and this was clearly the best bottle of this wine. Not decanted. 2015 was an excellent year in the Chianti region and this wine demonstrated that quality. I’ve had about a dozen 2015’s and am down to my final couple bottles. This wine was a reddish purple color. Aromas of violets and cherries. Medium bodied and well balanced. Notes of plums and black currants. 94 points.
VM
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I’ve finished working my way through my 15’s,but I’m holding on to several from 2016. I’ve got a case+ from 2020 which I think will drink well earlier. I’m looking forward to stocking up on 2021, but they have been slow to arrive in my area.
I’m down to one '15 but still have 8 x '16s. For me, the '16 has been much fresher and brighter, with the '15 veering a bit into overripe territory, if not fully there. I also plan to grab some '21s but have not yet done so.
I haven’t tried one yet, but 20 may be like 15, only on a slightly lesser stage. Unfortunately, I never saw a bottle of 2019.