Brancaia is the story of a Swiss family, the Widmers, who in 1981 bought an abandoned farm in the heart of Chianti Classico and turned it into one of the area's most admired estates; today it is run by Barbara Widmer. The vineyards lie between Castellina and Radda in Chianti, with a further estate in the Maremma. The Chianti Classico is, in the winery's own words, a tribute to the territory.
It is pure Sangiovese from vineyards in Castellina and Radda. The only red of the house that sees no oak, it matures 12 months in steel and concrete vats: a deliberate choice to let the fruit, freshness and character of hillside Sangiovese speak.
The 2022 earned 92 Falstaff points: bright ruby with a faint garnet tinge, a fine, dark nose of chocolate-coated cherries with clove and rose; silky on the palate, precise in its fruit, with fine tannins, freshness and persistence. Excellent with cured meats, cheeses, pasta, poultry and grilled meats – and, according to the winery, with a buffalo-mozzarella margherita pizza. The magnum slows its evolution and extends its life: the ideal format for a convivial table.
At a glance: Sangiovese 100% · 14% ABV · 1.5 l · Brancaia, Chianti Classico (Castellina and Radda)