Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015 is a deeply expressive, top-tier Chianti that showcases the very best parcels normally destined for the estate’s flagship Cepparello. Crafted only in the finest vintages and from a strict selection of barrels, it represents the pinnacle of Isole e Olena’s Sangiovese in a single, profound bottling. The 2015 stands out not only for its intensity and refinement, but also for the way it triumphs over a challenging harvest season, earning high praise from critics for its depth, texture and aging potential.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2015 Gran Selezione shows a deep, vibrant ruby core with garnet highlights forming at the rim, a sign of both concentration and graceful evolution. The nose is complex and layered: ripe wild cherry, blackcurrant and plum mingle with notes of dried rose, violet, sweet tobacco, cedar wood and a distinct salty-mineral edge. With air, nuances of leather, baking spice, graphite and a subtle hint of dark chocolate emerge, adding extra dimension. On the palate, this is dense yet beautifully balanced, with a refined, mouthcoating texture. Juicy Sangiovese fruit – red cherry, blood orange and blackberry – is wrapped in firm but polished tannins, supported by lively acidity that keeps everything fresh and linear. The Petit Verdot component adds darker fruit tones, color and structure, contributing to the wine’s power and length. Flavors of savory herbs, licorice, warm stones and a lingering, saline minerality carry through the long, persistent finish. Still youthful and tightly knit, this 2015 has the structure to age gracefully for well over a decade from release; at its best between now and roughly 2030+, depending on cellar conditions.

Production
Sourced from Isole e Olena’s higher-altitude vineyards in the heart of Chianti Classico, this Gran Selezione reflects the estate’s classic Tuscan terroir of galestro and alberese (friable schist and limestone-rich marl). The combination of rocky, well-drained soils and marked diurnal temperature swings yields Sangiovese of great aromatic lift, precision and minerality, with Petit Verdot contributing additional depth and backbone in 2015. Grapes are hand-harvested parcel by parcel at optimal ripeness, then carefully sorted to ensure only pristine fruit makes it into the final blend. Fermentation typically takes place in temperature-controlled tanks with gentle extraction to preserve finesse, followed by an extended maceration on the skins for added complexity and structure. The wine is then aged in a mix of French and Slavonian oak barrels and casks, with a judicious use of new oak, allowing the pure character of the fruit and the underlying terroir to shine through before a further period of bottle aging prior to release.

Food & Serving
This Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is an outstanding partner for refined Tuscan and other Mediterranean dishes: think bistecca alla fiorentina, roasted lamb with rosemary, braised beef, game birds, wild mushroom risotto, or aged pecorino and other hard cheeses. Its structure and savory complexity also make it a strong match for truffle dishes, slow-cooked ragù over pappardelle, and grilled vegetables dressed with olive oil and herbs. Serve at 16–18°C (about 60–64°F) in large, Bordeaux-style or Burgundy-style stemware to let the bouquet fully develop. Decanting for 1–2 hours is recommended, especially in its youth, to soften the tannins and allow the wine’s floral, spicy and mineral nuances to emerge more clearly.

Producer
Isole e Olena is one of the benchmark estates of Chianti Classico, located in the hills between Barberino Val d’Elsa and Castellina in Tuscany. Under the visionary leadership of Paolo De Marchi, who took over in the 1970s, the estate helped redefine what Chianti could be, shifting the focus toward low yields, Sangiovese purity and meticulous vineyard work at a time when quality in the region was uneven. Isole e Olena’s wines, particularly Cepparello and the Gran Selezione, have become reference points for collectors and critics, consistently earning top scores and playing a key role in elevating the global reputation of Chianti Classico. Today, the estate is celebrated as a standard-bearer for terroir-driven, ageworthy Tuscan reds that blend tradition with thoughtful modern craftsmanship.

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