This is a reoffer... our backorder arrives tomorrow and we have a dozen or so extra cases...

“Hey, Todd… why no Italian wine in the Case of the Year? You got a problem with Italian wines?”

Uh, no Mr. Soprano… not at all…

In fact, I wanted this one for the Case of the Year, but couldn’t get it here in time because… well… the dock workers were on a smoke break for like 3 weeks…

But it’s here now!

Villa Trasqua Chianti Classico 2016

Regularly $19.99
Buy six or more - $13.99 - save 30% and Best US Price
All Else Sale $14.99

92 pts James Suckling

A number of factors conspire to make this the best quality/value in Chianti Classico I have had in quite some time.

To start, the wine is brought in by our friends at MISA Imports. You may heard us talk at length about them regarding our French and Spanish offerings. They work on a ridiculously low markup, as does our distributor, trading off for large volume and fast pickup by us. So we can deliver incredible values to you!              

2016 is regarded as the best vintage EVER for Tuscany by every major critic who publishes vintage charts: Wine Advocate, Vinous and Wine Spectator. So, naturally, we are expecting excellent value from the less expensive wines. Actually, scratch that… we “expected” excellent value. Past tense. Because virtually every 2016 Chianti Classico is long gone. 2018 is the currently released vintage, with 2019s due to arrive in just a few months. But just because that is the current vintage doesn’t mean it is ready to drink! The realities of business force wineries to rush wines to market simply to slake the thirst of customers. Here, the owners are diversified in other businesses so they can release the wines at a more appropriate time.

Yeah, the owners are not the winemakers. Don’t freak out… it is more common than the reverse! And here, that makes for another factor in this wine’s outrageous quality. Legendary winemaker Franco Bernabei is the consulting winemaker. Bernabei is the man behind the launch of legendary wines such as Fontodi Flaccianello, Felsina Fontalloro and Selvapiana Bucerchiale.

Legendary winemaker playing around with a legendary vintage…. Should be good! (Understatement)

The wine is aged in 5,000 liter barrels. That’s huge; so big they have a manhole entrance for the cellar “rats” to climb in for cleaning the barrels between vintages. Okay… so what? So most entry-level Chiantis are made using stainless steel tanks. They are great at preserving the fruit character of the wine and delivering a pure product, but often result in austere, tannic wines that are a bit bracing to drink. With these large barrels, there is no oak influence on flavor, but the wine does evolve differently thanks to the micro effect of the wee bit of oxygen it comes in contact with through the barrel. The end product is fruit-forward, but possesses silky smooth tannins.

And finally, Mr. Bernabei “cheats” (legally) by adding 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot to the 80% Sangiovese. In the old days, this would make it a “Super Tuscan”. But the laws were changed a long time ago to allow for such a thing, and Chianti has never been better for it! The two “Bordeaux” grapes add richness and structure to the wine, without obscuring the floral aromas and tart cherry fruit from the Sangiovese.

At the end of the day, I think you will be suitably impressed with this little gem…


Or reply. The wine is available now in Chapel Hill. Friday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.