Castello di Monsanto has been a reference point in Chianti Classico for several decades. I have tasted these wines since the 1990s, including pretty much every vintage of the flagship Il Poggio going back to the inaugural 1962. None of that experience prepared me for the 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna il Poggio, a wine I have not been able to stop thinking about since I tasted it for my annual Chianti Classico round-up. If anything, I may be underestimating it. Readers will find a Sangiovese of extreme purity and beauty. The 2020 is a towering effort from proprietor Laura Bianchi and her team.

The 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Il Poggio is a total stunner. What a wine. Elegant and translucent, the 2020 impresses with a sublime, finessed personality that is impossible to miss. Fine tannins and lifted, sensual aromatics immediately announce a wine of utter class. On the palate, the 2020 is wonderfully deep and layered, with mind-blowing balance and exceptional pedigree. The 2020 is one of the very finest Il Poggios ever made. It has been nothing short of breathtaking on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. Don't miss it!

Antonio Galloni
Vivous