Ricasoli Chianti Classico Colledila 2018

Ricasoli Chianti Classico Colledila 2018 is a 100% Sangiovese Gran Selezione from a single vineyard in Tuscany's Chianti Classico DOCG, bottled at 13.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This cru-level expression has earned widespread critical acclaim, including 98 points from Tony Wood Italian Wine and 97 points from WinesCritic.com, cementing its status among the finest wines Chianti Classico produces.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy  |  Gran Selezione  |  Winery: Barone Ricasoli

Production & Heritage

Barone Ricasoli traces its roots to 1141, making it one of the oldest wine-producing estates in Italy. The family's legacy is inseparable from Chianti itself — Baron Bettino Ricasoli formulated the original Chianti blend in 1872. The Colledilà vineyard sits at 380 meters above sea level on a southeast-facing slope of clayey-limestone soil rich in calcium carbonate and notably poor in organic matter — a terroir considered among the most representative in all of Chianti Classico. Planted in 1997 at a density of 6,600 vines per hectare using Sangiovese clones VCR23, VCR5, and the estate's own Brolio selection, the 7.62-hectare plot is trained on spurred cordon. Fermentation occurs at 24°–27°C with daily punch-downs over a 14- to 16-day maceration period. The wine then ages for 22 months in 500-litre tonneaux, of which 30% are new oak and 70% second passage.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with juicy blood orange and wild strawberry before layering in red rose petals, sandalwood, and hints of fennel pollen. Deeper in the glass, toasted hazelnut, white smoke, and Mediterranean notes of juniper berry and fresh marjoram emerge.

Taste: The entry is exuberant and highly expressive, immediately presenting morello cherry and plum alongside salted licorice and cinnamon. At mid-palate, velvety tannins with a chalky texture integrate seamlessly with lively acidity, revealing a distinctive mineral core rooted in the vineyard's limestone-rich soils. The wine feels full-bodied yet polished, with a roundness that keeps it decidedly approachable despite its concentration.

Finish: Long and radiant, carrying lingering impressions of sweet cherry, clove, and crushed stone. The tannins melt gradually, leaving a clean mineral signature and gentle warmth that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Colledila 2018

This Gran Selezione is at its most revealing served neat in a large-bowled glass at around 16–18°C; a 30-minute decant allows the layered aromatics to fully unfold. The wine's structure and acidity also make it an outstanding food wine — think of it as a complement to the table rather than a cocktail ingredient. A Negroni Sbagliato could be built around a similar Sangiovese if you want a spritz-style aperitif that echoes its bitter-cherry character, though this particular bottle is best reserved for the dinner course.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Italian wine collector or Sangiovese enthusiast
• Anchoring a Tuscan-themed dinner with aged cheeses and cured meats
• Cellaring as a reference-point Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (drinking window through 2035+)
• Celebrating a milestone alongside bistecca alla fiorentina or slow-braised lamb

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Colledila 2018 taste like? It leads with morello cherry, plum, and salted licorice wrapped in velvety, chalky tannins, followed by cinnamon, clove, and a pronounced mineral finish driven by the vineyard's calcium-carbonate-rich soil.

How does Colledila 2018 compare to Castello di Ama Gran Selezione? Both are single-vineyard, 100% Sangiovese Gran Selezioni from Chianti Classico, and critics have noted that wines at this level rival Brunello di Montalcino in structure and depth. Colledila tends toward a rounder, more mineral-driven profile shaped by its limestone soils, while Castello di Ama's La Casuccia often shows a more taut, floral character.

Is Colledila 2018 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — it is designed as a contemplative, food-friendly wine best appreciated neat with a short decant to let the aromatics open fully.

Where is Colledila 2018 made? It is produced by Barone Ricasoli at their historic Brolio estate in the heart of the Chianti Classico DOCG in Tuscany, Italy, from the single Colledilà vineyard at 380 meters elevation.

What foods pair well with Colledila 2018? Bistecca alla fiorentina highlights the wine's tannin structure and acidity. Pappardelle with wild boar ragù mirrors its earthy depth. Aged Pecorino Toscano echoes its savory, mineral side. Herb-roasted lamb shoulder complements the juniper and marjoram aromatics. Grilled portobello mushrooms with rosemary work as a vegetarian option that matches its full body.

What sizes does Colledila 2018 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle; larger formats have not been widely documented for this vintage.

Is Colledila 2018 worth the price? Colledila positions as a premium-to-ultra-premium expression within the Chianti Classico hierarchy, sitting at Gran Selezione — the appellation's highest tier. With multiple scores at 95 points and above, it delivers critical performance that competes with Tuscan wines at significantly higher price points.

Why Colledila 2018?

Gran Selezione is the pinnacle classification in Chianti Classico, and Colledila consistently ranks among its finest examples. The 2018 vintage channeled a warm, balanced growing season into a wine of remarkable concentration and polish, earning 98 points from Tony Wood Italian Wine and 97 from WinesCritic.com. What truly sets it apart is provenance: a single southeast-facing vineyard on stony, calcium-carbonate-rich soils that impart a chalky mineral signature nearly impossible to replicate elsewhere in the appellation. Produced by a family that has shaped Chianti's identity for nearly nine centuries, the Colledila 2018 stands not just as an exceptional bottle but as a direct expression of one of Tuscany's most storied terroirs.