MARCHESI ANTINORI | Pèppoli | Chianti Classico | 2021
sangiovese | merlot | syrah

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The Antinori family has been synonymous with Italian winemaking for over six centuries, known for their dedication to excellence and a pioneering spirit. All throughout its history, Antinori managed the business with innovative and oftentimes bold decisions, while upholding the utmost respect for traditions and environment. Research and development is an ongoing process, both in the vineyards and in the cellars: selecting new clones of local and international grape varieties, experimenting with new winemaking techniques and new types of oak, barrel size and age. The Pèppoli estate reflects this ethos, producing wines that not only showcase vibrant fruit but also carrying the essence of the Chianti Classico region’s terroir.
Today we are are going to review a genuine Chianti wine from the famous Tuscany region of northern Italy – Pèppoli Chianti Classico 2021 by Marchesi Antinori. This wine is a harmonious blend of three grape varieties: sangiovese, merlot and syrah, where sangiovese forms the wine’s main body and structure, merlot adds up-front richness and builds a more refined mid-palate, while syrah enhances the wine’s color depth and add more tannin extract. The final wine has been fermented in stainless steel tanks, then aged partially in slavonian large oak barrels, small oak barriques and stainless steel tanks, with some extra time of bottle ageing before it was deemed ready for market release, culminating in a wine that captures the essence of its origins.

Chianti wines can be made with grapes sourced from a vast region within Tuscany: from the foothills of the Apennine Mountains, to the flatter plains towards the Mediterranean Sea, but, in order to taste some of best expressions of sangiovese-based Chianti wines, one needs to look into higher elevations, towards the original boundaries of the Chianti region, called Chianti Classico, where wines are made in smaller quantities, with lower yields and therefore are of higher quality. The best wines from the Chianti Classico sub-region will be labelled as ‘Riserva’ or ‘Gran Selezione’.

The Chianti Classico DOCG is renowned for its diverse terroir, characterized by rolling hills, warm summers, and mild winters, providing ideal conditions for grape growing. The soils composition differ vastly, from rocky and well-drained soils around the region’s highest hills, to fertile clay-based soils at lower altitudes, supporting various root systems that enhance vibrant fruit expression. Those diverse microregions allow the winemakers to experiment with different plots in order to build a wine that truly reflects their vision or wines that are capable to reflect the footprints of local terroirs.

color: medium-deep garnet color
clarity: hazy garnet shades at the rim

In the glass, this wine showcases a medium garnet color, exhibiting hazy garnet shades at the rim of the glass, with a clear and unobstructed clarity, inviting to explore the wine’s depth and complexity.

intensity: rich & savory
fruit character: ripe

The olfactory profile is rich and savory, highlighting ripe fruit with assertive notes of sour cherry, redcurrant, and plum. The aromatic complexity also reveals hints of savory elements such as brown olive and cured meats. Earthy nuances of marl and clay, complemented by spicy oak notes of sun-dried wood, cloves, and red pepper, round out the bouquet, offering a delightful prelude to the tasting experience.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: medium+ | aftertaste: pleasantly-seedy

On the palate, Pèppoli delivers a firm, savory mouthfeel, echoing the fragrant fruit character found in its bouquet. The wine is dry, with crisp acidity that perfectly balances the natural sweetness of the fruit. Well-integrated alcoholic warmth harmonizes with seedy tannins, creating a pleasantly-seedy aftertaset. The length of the finish is persistent, indicating its promising age-worthiness.

maturity: developing | age for at least 3 or 4 years
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of premium quality with good potential

Overall, this is a textbook Chianti blend that exemplifies a well-structured, rich and complex wine with a pronounced savory character and hints of local terroir. While it is delightful today, the wine still possesses potential for development and can be aged for at least 3 to 4 more years to enhance its complexity.

MARCHESI ANTINORI | Pèppoli | Chianti Classico | 2021
variety: sangiovese | merlot | syrah
country: Italy | Toscana
region: Chianti Classico
rating: 93.8

This wine pairs exceptionally well with classic italian cuisine. Consider pairing it with a rich ragù alla bolognese or a savory bistecca alla fiorentina, as the wine’s acidity and fruit will balance the dish’s richness, creating an overall harmonious dining experience with an explosion of textures and flavours.

Located just 5 kilometers north-east of the famed Tenuta Tignanello estate, the Pèppoli estate spans 100 hectares, of which 50 hectares are dedicated to vineyards. In addition to wine production, Peppoli is renowned for crafting high-quality extra virgin olive oil and wine vinegar, utilizing traditional methods that underscore their commitment to quality and heritage.

© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!