Cultusboni 'RS' Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy 2020

Winemaker: Roberto Stucchi

Farming: Sustainable, Organic practices

Grapes: 100% Sangiovese

Terroir: Chalky marl soil

Vinifiction: This bottling of 100% Sangiovese is made from hand selections of the best grapes in the best Chianti Classico zones. The selected grapes ferment separately and are then aged for several months in French oak casks and barriques followed by aging in the bottle.

Tasting Notes: Expressive and welcoming, this wine has aromas of ripe red fruits as well as slightly jammy plums. On the palate it screams Tuscany, with its warm dusty flavor, peppery tannins, olives and finish of perfectly ripened red berry fruits.

Critical Acclaim:

92 POINTS, VINOUS
90 POINTS, WINE ENTHUSIAST
90 POINTS, WINE SPECTATOR

FROM OUR JANUARY 2023 EXPLORER CLUB NOTES:

Badia A Coltibuono Cultusboni RS Sangiovese, Chianti Classico, Italy 2020
Located outside the city of Siena, in the heart of Tuscany, Badia a Coltibuono is a 2,000-plus acre estate that has been farmed for over 1,000 years. Today, the Chianti estate is owned and operated by the Stucchi Prinetti family, who has looked over the property for six generations. Amazingly, Badia a Coltibuono, or "Abbey of the Good Harvest," has the unique claim of being the oldest continuously operating winery in the world, with over 1,000 years of recorded viniculture. Archaeological digs on the property have uncovered evidence of grapeseeds and amphorae dating back to the first century AD, during the Roman period. Today the property is planted with 150 acres of vines and 50 acres of olive groves, and also operates a full-time restaurant and hotel within the historic monastery.

These wines are truly classical expressions of Chianti wine from Tuscany's heartland. By law, Chianti Classico DOCG wines must be composed of at least 80% Sangiovese, whereas the neighboring Chianti DOCG mandates a 70% minimum. Cultusboni, Badia a Cultibuono's second label, is devoted to more contemporary expressions of Chianti Classico's terroir and is made of 100% Sangiovese. The wine is mostly derived from estate vineyards, but also contains a portion of purchased fruit so that the wine can reflect an ample variety of terroirs from around the DOCG, giving a more holistic view of the appellation's complex character in just one glass. The wine takes its name 'RS' from the winemaker Roberto Stucchi's initials, as it's typically his favorite production each vintage!

This wine ferments in steel before aging in barrel and rests a short time in bottle before release. It's a deliciously drinkable Chianti Classico, with dense aromas of dusty red cherry, crushed ripe strawberry, fennel seed, bay leaf, and hints of damp clay. The palate is inviting and soft, ripe with juicy red berries and just a hint of herbal tannin. It's a perfect accompaniment to a lean steak or a hearty, simple bowl of pasta Pomodoro. Drink it now, and enjoy! —Simi Grewal