Castello d’Albola Chianti Classico 2021

In Tuscany, that task is becoming a little bit trickier with each passing vintage. Have you seen the prices on Barolo and Brunelli? They’re not cheap!

Still, it’s possible to find juicy, silky, exceptionally good Sangiovese at prices that don’t break the bank. You just gotta know where to look.

One of those places is in the medieval village of Castello di Abola, where the rolling hills of Chianti are in abundance. This tiny village has earned a reputation for its unique landscape and agrarian context of unrivaled harmony.

Dating back to the 16th century, the Zonin Family has been planting grapes and building the amazing facilities surrounding the vineyards. It’s a massive estate that stretches 900 hectares in total, though “only” 125 of those are under vine with another 4,000+ olive trees planted on the property.

The magic trick here is the Chianti Classico they make and how good it is for the price. Because the family brings in a lot of fruit and sells off any they don’t want, they’re able to make an estate grown Chianti Classico that somehow retails for less than $15/bottle. They’re essentially in a league of their own!