TENUTA DI LILLIANO-TUSCANY (Castellina in Chianti)

"Castellina in Chianti is one of the highest points in all of Chianti Classico. At more than 2000 feet above sea level the sense of a balcony over the entire appellation could not be stronger. The eye ranges all the way to Poggiobonsi and well beyond as though searching to rejoin the sea. The beauty is uncanny and magical. The township sprawls over a large territory with a series of altitudes. A large number of these sites are entirely capable of producing wines of character and finesse. This lengthy descent, a constant downward sloping, brings altitudes to a perfect level for Sangiovese, and the southwest exposures, along with the protection from the cold and wind offered by the upper slopes give Sangiovese rare purity and expressiveness.The property has belonged to the Ruspoli family for close to a century.The wines which began to be bottled in the late 1950's have always been an important presence in national and international markets. Legendary oenologist Guilio Gambelli was  long in charge of the winemaking. His place has now been ably assumed by Lorenzo Landi. Lorenzo has maintained Guilio vision of maintaining a real sense of place and tradition in the wines."DT

"Tenuta di Lilliano has played an important role in Chianti Classico’s recent history. Today they have adopted some key modern elements in their production philosphy, all the while respecting the Chianti tradition. The Ruspoli family make wines with a generally austere style, with highlights from generous fruit. Supporting this is a balanced use of small and large oak; it is the aging that guarantees their wines’ character and complexity.”-Gambero Rosso-2018