Deep garnet color; plum, black olive, black cherry, black currant, blackberry, raspberry, roasted tomato, balsamic vinegar, minerality, oak spices, vanilla on the nose and palate.
Dry; engaging tannins and balancing acidity. Medium body; full, rich flavors; pleasant mouthfeel. Elegant effort achieved through precision farming and careful fruit selection for this top-tier Chianti. In the late 1970s San Felice planted selected sangiovese clones and followed that with rigorous selection of top vines to make this single-vineyard, 100% sangiovese effort. 14.5% ABV
San Felice only makes this in outstanding vintages—the previous vintage was 2015. The 2018 vintage experienced an early bud break due to high temperatures in March and April, followed by a rainy May. Summer saw some temperature peaks and scattered rains. September delivered sunny days and wide temperature swings from day to night, ideal for quality wine. The harvest occurred on September 26.
The grapes spent 20-25 days fermenting on the skins at a controlled temperature. Malolactic fermentation followed, then 20 months aging in 132-gallon French oak barrels. The wine then aged in bottle for 15 months. The extended time fermenting and aging earns this the “gran selezione” designation, the highest quality designation in Chianti.
San Felice includes three famous Tuscany estates. Production reaches more than one million bottles—more than one million of Chianti (but only 6,000 bottles of this gran selezione), 80,000 of Brunello, 40,000 of Rosso de Montalcino, and 55,000 of Bolgheri. There are 16 labels in the San Felice portfolio. All San Felice wines are made using estate-owned grapes. The San Felice territory is just south of Florence, except for two vineyards that are south of Siena near the Tyrrhenian Sea.
San Felice Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2018 is rich, tasty, impressive effort. Excellent expression of sangiovese from precision-farmed single vineyard. Gran selezione is the top rung of Chianti classifications. San Felice only makes this when presented with a high quality vintage—they last made their gran selezione in 2015. The 2018 vintage has been released for less than a year because of barrel and bottle aging requirements in the Italian system. Pair with rich beef; barbecue; pasta dishes with tomato sauces; veal; pork; wild game; quail with polenta; cured meats. Cheese—hard, mature Italian cheeses; aged pecorino, parmesan, parmigiano-reggiano, asiago, provolone, fontina. $55-70
