2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Arceno 

Tenuta di Arceno is situated just northeast of Siena and south of Florence in the Municipality of Castelnuovo Berardenga in the Chianti Classico region. The area is picture book Tuscany with rows of vines, orchards, and a relentless daubing of Cyprus trees completing every perspective of the landscape. The estate of  Tenuta di Arceno was among the first vineyards purchased by Jess Jackson and Barbara Bank outside of the United States. Their portfolio today is enormous and there is an embedded consciousness across the business for taking decisive action on climate change and respecting nature. Despite this broader international perspective, that they work with a great deal of autonomy to achieve the best they can from learning and experience. 

Chianti Classico Riserva comes from some of the warmer, south-facing blocks at the estate. It is composed almost entirely of Sangiovese and spends one year in small French oak barrels. This is the epitome of modern Chianti with its dark color, pure fruit, balance, power and velvety tannins. The dominant flavors include violets, plums, cherries, orange peel, earth, licorice, cedar and smoke.

HARVEST NOTES

2017 was a one-of-a-kind vintage. A tremendously hot August almost fully ripened the fruit, but two days of needed rain came in early September and cooled temperatures. A long harvest began earlier than usual and created a complex blend of Sangiovese.

TASTING NOTES

Legendary small yields for the 2017 vintage produced intense, concentrated, and powerful wines with vibrant acidity, despite such a warm year. The aromas are dominated by ripe raspberry fruit and candied apples, followed by floral notes and nutmeg. The powerful nose gives way to an elegant balance of expressive fruit. The palate follows with tart cherry pie, red licorice, and sweet tobacco. A long finish shows hints of cedar and cypress. It will be extraordinary to experience this wine’s evolution in the cellar and it is expected to age gracefully.

ACCLAIM

2017 VINTAGE

TRE BICCHIERI - Gambero Rosso, 2021

93 POINTS - James Suckling

Lawrence Cronin came from California to Tenuta di Arceno to be consulting winemaker and never left. https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmariani/2021/01/21/the-wines-of-tenuta-di-arceno-are-changing-outmoded-views-of-tuscanys-chianti/?sh=2d259d13639e