# Casaloste Chianti Classico (2016)

- **Producer:** Fattoria Casaloste d’Orsi Giovanni Battista
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Sangiovese, Merlot
- **Region:** Toscana, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €35
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 15–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** red cherry, red plum, black plum, black cherry, vanilla, chocolate, cedar, cloves, leather, tobacco, wet leaves, earth

## About this wine

Casaloste Chianti Classico 2016 is a red wine from the Chianti Classico DOCG appellation in Tuscany, Italy, produced by Fattoria Casaloste d’Orsi Giovanni Battista. The winery is recognized as the first certified organic estate in Panzano. Giovanni Battista d'Orsi, an agronomist and enologist, personally oversees winemaking, guided by the principle 'Be small to make great wines.' The vineyards are situated in the Greve valley within Panzano, at a specific altitude that influences the wine's character. The 2016 vintage benefited from favorable weather conditions, allowing the primary grape, Sangiovese, to develop exceptionally.

## Interesting facts

- First certified organic winery in Panzano.
- Vineyards are at a slightly lower altitude than some Panzano neighbors.
- Small production of around 60,000 bottles annually.
- Winemaker is also an agronomist and enologist.

## Food pairing

The wine's firm tannins and lively acidity are well-suited to cut through the richness of red meats and fatty dishes. The savory notes and earthy undertones of the wine complement dishes featuring mushrooms, herbs, and slow-cooked meats.

## Wine making process

Fattoria Casaloste employs organic farming practices in its vineyards. The grapes are fermented in small wooden vats or stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, with a focus on soft extraction of polyphenols. Following fermentation, the wine undergoes aging for several months in French oak barriques, with a proportion of new oak used alongside one-year-old barrels.