In her annual review of Chianti Classico, Monica Larner chooses Querciabella as one of the top-scoring producers.
When Monica Larner joined The Wine Advocate as the Italian reviewer, she hoped to communicate what she sees as Italy’s competitive advantage – its many grapes, traditions and incredibly diverse territories. Since joining the publication in 2013, she has never made a secret of her appreciation for Chianti Classico. Most importantly, she has been a keen observer of the collective efforts, orchestrated by the Consorzio Chianti Classico, to overhaul the appellation and a respected voice in the ongoing discussion to render greater territorial identity.
The Chianti Classico review 2021
For the first time this year, rather than group the nearly 500 wine reviews into a single article, she has presented a series of Spotlights, one for each of the seven comuni, or villages, that together form the Chianti Classico appellation. Querciabella features in the final chapter in this discovery series, the one dedicated to Greve in Chianti. Located in the northeast of the appellation, this comune represents the largest geographic area to define, and the largest group of samples tasted for this comprehensive review.
Camartina 2015 · 94/100
The generous wines of the vintage of 2015 speak of the enormous amount of sunlight and warmth during the summer. According to Larner, they show an extra plump and succulent quality of fruit that is especially well suited to the lean and naturally acidic Sangiovese grape. Among them, Camartina 2015 strikes for its remarkable finesse.
Camartina 2015 is a finely streamlined wine that emphasizes freshness and linearity despite the more robust fruit profile so easily obtained in this warm and sunny vintage.
—Monica Larner
Querciabella Chianti Classico Riserva · 93+/100
There is little doubt that the 2016 vintage is gearing up to be one to remember for a long time. The near-perfect weather conditions steadily built up excellent phenolic potential leading to the harvesting of perfectly ripe grapes. Querciabella Chianti Classico Riserva is the perfect expression of that balance and harmony.
Querciabella Riserva is a spectacular wine with lots of bright fruit, bold cherry and dried blackberry. Those fruity tones cede to smoke, tobacco and warm earth.
The effect is balanced and beautiful.
—Monica Larner
While stock lasts, Camartina 2015 and Querciabella Riserva 2016 are available to buy.
