Istine Chianti Classico Riserva Levigne 2021

96pts VinousThe 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Levigne is fabulous. Bright, punchy and vibrant, the 2021 is fabulous. Bright acids lift a core of red/purplish fruit, while floral and spice notes appear later and add freshness. This is the first vintage with a dollop of whole clusters (10%), an approach that works beautifully here. I also find the oak better integrated than in the past. I especially admire the wine's translucent energy. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2036 - By Antonio Galloni on June 2024 Angela Fronti presented a fabulous set of wines. Istine fans will note the introduction of new offerings from vineyards and in Lamole and Vagliagli. Fronti’s transparent, nuanced wines remain some of the finest examples of the artisan vigneron spirit in Chianti Classico. The wines see 45 days in cement, with submerged cap maceration and aging in 30hL casks, 18 months for the single-vineyard Gran Seleziones and 24 months for the Riserva. One of the recent developments here has been the inclusion of a touch of stems in the Riserva with the 2021 vintage. “I like a touch of whole clusters for freshness, as long as whole clusters don’t mask the personality of Sangiovese and of site,” Fronti explained. Readers will not want to miss these superb wines.