Rocca di Castagnoli “Stielle” Gran Selezione 2013

94 points James Suckling
Very fine and tight with berry and chocolate character. Hints of cedar and walnut. Medium to full body, lightly chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Needs a year or two to come together but already impressive.

92 points Vinous
Succulent red cherry fruit and expressive floral notes meld together in the 2013 Stielle, Rocca di Castagnoli’s top Sangiovese. The flavors are deep and vibrant. This is in an especially supple style for the year, but it all works quite nicely.

91 points Robert Parker
Made with 100% Sangiovese, fruit is sourced from the eight-hectare Stielle vineyard located at 550 meters above sea level. Compared to the Riserva that takes a more traditional approach, the 2013 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle is a more exuberant and contemporary wine. It shows thicker extraction and more evident use of oak aging. Some 40% of the wine sees stem inclusion. As a result, its consistency is rich, plush and dark, and there is plenty of generous fruit, blackberry and sweet spice on the close. This important wine is packaged in a heavy glass bottle that communicates the fact that this is the estate’s flagship wine.

91 points Veronelli

91 points Decanter
Stielle hails from a 9ha vineyard sitting at 600 metres above sea level. The wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts and 40% stem inclusion before being aged in a combination of French tonneaux and larger oval barrels. The 2013 is open and expressive, with cherry and strawberry notes delicately framed by cinnamon and mint nuances. The wood is well-integrated, and while the tannins are already quite soft and flattering, they provide good support.