Isole e Olena 2016 Chianti Classico

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Tasting notes
Crimson in colour with typical sour cherry and bramble notes. The palate has a supple, lithe character full of perfumed fruit and is given depth by a mineral vein. Structure comes from the taut acidity and tannin structure. Ideal with winter stews and roasts and hard cheeses.

Why we recommend this wine
Olena’s Chianti Classico comes as a reminder of the reasons we remain in love with Tuscany.

The wine
A blend of approximately 83% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 2% Syrah. Estate-grown, hand-harvested grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with approximately 15 days maceration. During fermentation, delestage and pumping-over takes place twice a day. After the malolactic fermentation, the wine is racked into barrels and 4,000 litre casks where it matures for about a year.

The wine estate
Isole e Olena, the emblematic Chianti Classico estate painstakingly built up by Paolo De Marchi over the last 45 years. A fourth-generation winemaker Paolo De Marchi studied Agriculture at the University of Turin and worked several harvests in California and France. In 2022 the estate was acquired by the EPI Group, owners of Charles Heidsieck champagne.

Perched atop the hillsides of western Chianti Classico, just north of the village of Castellina, halfway between Florence and Sienna, Isole e Olena lays claim to some of the most prized vineyards in the region. Its 50 ha of vines reach altitudes of about 400 m above sea level and receive an average of 35 inches of rainfall annually. The soils consist of a mix of limestone, clay slate and sandstone, which allow for sufficient drainage in times of heavy rain and retain moisture during droughts.

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Food and wine
Full bodied red with plenty of fruit and tannins so a good accompaniment to rich foods – meats with rich fats, hard cheeses. Refer also to our food and wine pairing guide, click here.

Did you know?
The traditional Chianti Classico regulations required a white grape variety into the final blend. When Tuscans produced 100% Sangiovese they had to be called a “Super Tuscan”. White grapes were banned in 2006. Now Chianti Classico must contain at least 80% Sangiovese, the balance being other red grapes such as Colorino, Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.