Antinori Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano 2018

JS 95 / WS 94 pts

JS : Badia a Passignano 2018 is ruby red in colour. Its complex nose presents intense notes of ripe red fruit, especially sour and black cherries, that merge with sweet hints of blueberries and apricots. Its bouquet is completed by pleasant balsamic sensations of aromatic herbs and toasted aromas of chocolate, coffee, licorice and vanilla. On the palate it’s rich, mouth filling, succulent and flavourful yet well sustained by extraordinary freshness and mineral qualities. These characteristics, combined with a sweet aftertaste, give the wine length and a lingering flavour profile.

WS: Cherry, raspberry, plum, mineral and smoky aromas and flavors 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. Give it a year or two to absorb the oak. Best from 2023 through 2033.