Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 MG

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015 in magnum is a benchmark Tuscan red that captures the estate’s top parcels and finest barrels in one striking bottling. Conceived essentially as a selection of the best Cepparello lots, this Gran Selezione shows just how much depth and refinement Paolo De Marchi coaxed from a challenging vintage. The addition of Petit Verdot to Sangiovese adds further structure and complexity, resulting in a wine of power, polish and impressive longevity.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2015 Gran Selezione is a deep, vibrant ruby with garnet highlights, hinting at both concentration and emerging maturity. The nose is intense yet precise, with layers of dark cherry, black plum and wild strawberry intertwined with notes of dried violets, tobacco leaf, cedar, graphite and a distinct, savory, saline minerality. On the palate, this is dense and beautifully textured, with ripe but finely etched tannins framing flavors of black cherry, amarena, forest berries and blood orange zest. Hints of licorice, cocoa, leather and dried herbs unfold with air, while a lively, mouthwatering acidity keeps the wine focused and graceful despite its power. The finish is long, mineral and slightly saline, echoing spice and dark fruit. In magnum, the 2015 has excellent aging potential: it is already highly enjoyable but should continue to develop complexity over the next 10–15 years or more, especially in this large format.

Production
The fruit for Isole e Olena’s Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is sourced from some of the estate’s best-exposed, higher-altitude vineyards in the hills between the villages of Barberino Val d’Elsa and Castellina in Chianti, where a mix of galestro and alberese soils lends both structure and mineral finesse. Yields are kept low, and the grapes are harvested by hand to ensure only perfectly ripe clusters reach the winery, a crucial factor in a vintage marked by rain during harvest. Vinification typically involves temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, followed by extended maceration to gently extract color, tannin and aromatic complexity from the Sangiovese and the portion of Petit Verdot. The wine is then aged in small oak barrels—largely used French barriques and tonneaux—to polish the tannins and add subtle spice, before the best barrels are selected and blended to create the final Gran Selezione cuvée.

Food & Serving
This is a serious, food‑driven Chianti Classico that shines alongside rich Tuscan fare: think bistecca alla fiorentina, slow-braised beef or lamb, wild boar ragù over pappardelle, or aged pecorino with truffles. Its balance of dark fruit, acidity and firm tannin also works wonderfully with roasted game birds, mushroom dishes and herb-crusted pork. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F); given the structure and youthfulness preserved in magnum, decanting for 1–2 hours is recommended to allow the wine to fully open and show its aromatic depth.

Producer
Isole e Olena is one of the great names of Chianti Classico, widely credited with helping to redefine the region’s modern identity while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. The estate, formed in the 1950s by the merger of the neighboring hamlets of Isole and Olena, rose to international prominence under Paolo De Marchi, who took over in the late 1970s and introduced a rigorous vineyard-focused philosophy. Located in the western part of Chianti Classico, Isole e Olena has become known for its pure, expressive Sangiovese and for iconic wines like Cepparello, which have earned consistent critical acclaim and a devoted following among collectors. The Gran Selezione bottlings underline the estate’s status as a reference point for elegant yet powerful Tuscan reds.

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