Antinori Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 75cl

The nose offers a wide range of fruity aromas as well as hints of liquorice and ripe blackberries. The complex, elegant palate shows plenty of fruit alongside savoury flavours, finishing long and vibrant.

Cherry, raspberry, plum, mineral and smoky aromas and flavours are deftly framed by spicy oak in this lush, harmonious red. There is plenty of structure, including vibrant acidity, for balance and energy on the lingering aftertaste

This wine was made in the monastery cellars in the abbey at the heart of the property. The grapes were destemmed, carefully selected, then lightly crushed and transfered to tank for ten days’ fermentation. There was then a further 10-12 days’ skin contact, after which the wine was moved to Hungarian barrels of 225, 300 and 500 litres for malolactic fermentation and eighteen months’ ageing.

The Antinori family have been producing wine in Tuscany for six centuries, and exporting it for four. The purchase of the Tignanello estate in 1900 marked the beginning of a remarkable period of expansion which shows no signs of abating. Through judicious acquisition of vineyards and an uncanny knack for developing iconic wines, Antinori has become Tuscany’s – arguably Italy’s – pre-eminent wine producer, with an important presence in Piedmont, Lombardy, Umbria and Puglia as well as their Tuscan heartland.