Deep garnet color; cherry, black plum, orange oil, blackberry, raspberry, graphite, pencil shavings, earth, black pepper, juniper berry, oak on the nose and palate.
Dry; dusty tannins, vivid acidity. Medium-plus body. Round, becomes more so with exposure to air; consider decanting. Full flavored, classic Chianti riserva (penultimate classification, 2 years of oak aging; gran selezione is the ultimate with 2.5 years of aging). Field blend of at least 80% sangiovese; some canailo and other red grape varieties. Vineyards in olive and cypress-studded countryside between Florence and Siena. Winery in Greve, 19 miles south of Florence, 26 miles north of Siena. Fermentation in temperature controlled tanks. Aged in Slavonian and French oak barrels of assorted sizes. Bottle aged in temperature-controlled cellars. 13.5% ABV
Carpineto was founded in 1967 by Giovannni Sacchet and Antonio Mario Zaccheo in the small town of Dudda within the municipality of Greve. Quality was emphasis from beginning, with careful selection of sites, clonal selection, and low yields to concentrate flavor. The website notes: “On the oenological front, too, they will prove to be pioneers of cutting-edge techniques-which will mark the oenology of the modern era-such as controlled malolactic fermentation, the use of indigenous yeasts, cold and carbonic macerations, and barrel aging.”
The winery has a strong commitment to responsible winemaking. Thanks to land management, including a wildlife and forest preserve, extensive use of renewable energy, and reduction of bottle weight. By 2017 they achieved carbon positive certification—meaning they reduced the carbon footprint of their operation to capture 25% more carbon than they produce. The website has several good videos explaining their operation and commitment to ecological responsibility.
The website continues: “Today the Sacchet and Zaccheo families work together managing five estates, 500 hectares of land, all cultivated in a sustainable way and with very low environmental impact with zero emissions. Caterina Sacchet is the winemaker who inherits from her father not only a great wealth of knowledge but also a strong passion for the land. Carpineto is the story of two friends and their families, united by a common love for Sangiovese and a strong desire to participate in the renaissance of wine in Tuscany. Today they continue their dream of producing the wines they love, appreciated in 70 countries around the world.”
Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2019 is a classic Chianti experience from a very responsible wine operation, a product cooperation between two families now into the second generation. Good fruit from a field blend of mostly sangiovese is framed in the vineyard by an emphasis on quality and innovation going back to the winery’s founding in 1967 by two visionary entrepreneurs. Pair with hearty beef dishes; pasta dishes with meat and tomato sauces; veal; wild game—venison, boar, wild turkey; cured meats. Cheese—parmigiano-reggiano, pecorino toscano, aged cheddar, aged gouda, manchego; in general, go with harder, aged cheese for this versatile wine. $25-29
