Il Poggio, a 13-acre single-vineyard that sits about 1,000 feet above sea level, is the source of Monsanto’s flagship wine. The 2009, from a ripe vintage, is positively explosive with a captivating smoky and mineraly quality. Racy acidity balances the ripeness so there’s no mistaking it for anything but great Chianti Classico. Monsanto’s Il Poggio has a track record of evolving beautifully over a decade and more with bottle age so I’d put this one in the cellar instead of on the dining table.
Castello di Monsanto, Chianti Classico Riserva (Tuscany, Italy) 2009
By Michael Apstein