Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di San Niccolo 2016 (750ML)

98 VM / 95 JS

Located in the Chianti Classico commune of Castellina, this Castellare offering is comprised primarily of the local Sangiovese grape, Sangioveto. Research begun in the late 1970s allowed Castellare to isolate this clone and enabled the winery to make this very unique style of a Tuscan classic. 95% Sangioveto and 5% Canaiolo

Castellare's I Sodi di San Niccolò is the single most overlooked high-end wine in Tuscany today. The 2016 picks up where the 2015 left off. A rush of inky dark fruit, lavender, spice, licorice, gravel, blueberry and menthol builds as the 2016 shows off its exceptional balance and pedigree. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 needs a few years in bottle to fully come together. Even so, the 2016 has been nothing less than spectacular on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. In a word: monumental. -- Antonio Galloni – Vinous Media

A full, layered red with blueberry and blackberry character and hints of walnuts. It’s rich and juicy. Very tight style with depth and polish at the end. Still needs time to open. Try after 2022. James Suckling