Pooneet K

9.1

Quite nice, even on cork pop. Doesn’t have quite the refined minerality of some of the wines from Radda that we have enjoyed, but still hits all the right notes for a seamless Sangiovese with great fruit, earth, and acid. Had at the site of production - Il Borro in Tuscany. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Good through throughout, but probably best on Day 1. The 2022 pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and loads of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, red flowers, red rope licorice, fresh basil and dried green herbs, dried gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and mineral laden. This is a delicious and winsome Chianti Classico from Radda. Day 1, it reminded me a little of Montevertine “Pian del Ciampolo”. Drink now through 2042.  — 4 months ago

Pooneet K

9.0

Nice radda Chianti riserva but at this point at least not worth the $45+ price point over things like Istine or Tenuta Carleone at ~half the price or Boncie il Cinque at about the same price. Maybe in several years if it evens out? Gave it 3+ hours of air. Really a wonderful nose but the fruit doesn’t express that well and the tannins are a bit muddled. Nice refreshing acid on the finish though. — a year ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Believe it or not, in the early 1970’s there were less than a handful productive wineries in the Radda UGA; Castello di Volpaia was one of those. Radda was simply remote and difficult to get to. However, times have changed and today, there are more than 40 active wineries! Volpaia is somewhat unique in that its vineyards are some of the highest elevation in the entire Chianti Classico zone.

Popped and poured, the 2021 “Chianti Classico” pours a light ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with light notes of cherry, orange pith, dried green herbs and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. If Radda has a reputation for more elegant wines, then Volpaia is a leading example. While it’s more “reserved” than many others, there is substance and has a story to be shared. Drink now with some patience but I think this will be even more enjoyable in the next 5-10 years. — 2 years ago

Deborah M

9.3

2017 Castello di Ama L’Apparita was the wine that I pulled for the evening. Italian Merlot. Ama is an old, fortified village situated near Radda and Gaiole in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. On the nose, intense dark berries. A full bodied wine with layers of beautiful ripe fruit. Perfect balance. Stellar finish. Stunning. — 3 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.2

N: Cherries, that you know you’re in Tuscany now w Radda lightness. Iron and bit o’ funk. Barnyard but very light.
P: Beautiful Cherries, iron, cinnamon, spice, great acidity. A great food wine.
Outrageous qpr. — 5 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Piaggia Carmignano Riserva 2021
Carmignano DOCG – Tuscany – Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A compelling Tuscan blend composed primarily of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, crafted by Piaggia, one of Carmignano’s benchmark estates, recognized for low yields, concentration, and precision-driven winemaking while preserving regional identity. The 2021 vintage beautifully captures the structured, terroir-focused soul of Carmignano without leaning into excessive ripeness or modern exaggeration.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, ripe plum, dried herbs, tobacco leaf, cedar, earthy undertones, and subtle graphite unfold with remarkable balance and restraint. Dark fruit remains fresh and vibrant rather than jammy, allowing savory and mineral nuances to shine through.

Mouthfeel
Medium+ bodied with elevated tension, polished yet firm tannins, and beautifully integrated acidity. Structured and intentional, carrying both power and elegance through a long, refined finish.

Food Pairings
Excellent with bistecca alla Fiorentina, grilled lamb chops, wild boar ragù, roasted meats, or aged cheeses such as Pecorino Toscano or Parmigiano Reggiano.

Verdict
A serious and historically compelling Tuscan red that feels refreshingly authentic in a world often dominated by overhyped “Super Tuscans.” Piaggia delivers structure, terroir expression, and sophistication without sacrificing regional character. This is Tuscany speaking fluently through discipline and balance rather than sheer opulence.

Did You Know?
Long before the “Super Tuscan” movement emerged, Carmignano producers were already legally blending Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon as far back as the 1700s, after Cabernet vines were introduced to Tuscany under the Medici family. In many ways, Carmignano quietly pioneered the concept centuries earlier.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of under-the-radar Tuscan wine that rewards drinkers looking beyond prestige labels and chasing authenticity, structure, and historical soul instead. Cheers! — 3 months ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Nice Chianti. A bit feral at first - 45 mins in the decanter and a slight chill bring things into more balance. Obviously could take more time in bottle but expressing pretty well overall even at this point. Has that great Radda lifting acid finish. Nice pairing with chicken scarpariello. — 6 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2021 Chianti Classico, 100% Sangiovese from Radda, is sublime. Aromatic and delineated, with terrific energy, the 2021 soars out of the glass. Dark cherry fruit, lavender, spice, licorice and new leather all come alive in the glass. The 2022 spent two to three months on the skins, with about 40% whole clusters. Aging was done in a combination of vessels with the goal of building complexity in the final blend. It is an exceptional wine in every way. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2024)
— 2 years ago

Jess

9.1

Medium-deep ruby color.
Aromas of dried cherry, tomato leaf, spice.
Dry. Flavors of morello cherry, clove, licorice, tomato leaf, black pepper, stewed tomato, herbal finish.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 4/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 4/5 — 3 years ago

Kamall

9.0

Further west in Radda, a touch of the brightness of the Casanova but ultimately not as unique for me. Still very good. — 4 years ago

Marc o'meara

9.1

Regional wines — 5 years ago

Vitaly Domnenko

8.9

Bm. Tm. Am+. Fm. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2020 Riserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe Morello cherry, red rope licorice, dried red flowers, saltwater taffy, Twin Bing, dried green herbs, cedar box and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really freaking good. Drink now with patience and through 2040. — 4 months ago

Mike Miller

9.5

Breezy and pleasant and absolutely a wonderful #opentuesday wine on a Tuesday — 5 months ago

with Jason

Anthony De Blasi

9.3

Enjoyed this over the weeks with Coravin. Good but I remember that I liked previous bottles more — 8 months ago

Pooneet K

9.0

Solid 2021 Chianti from Radda. Decanted an hour and gave a slight chill which helped. Excellent with kinderhook pork chops with tutto porchetta seasoning. Great acid and finish. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

This used to be Montevertine’s “second” wine (after Pergole Torte, obviously) but the vineyard was torn out and replanted in 1998. After that, their eponymous bottling was elevated to take its place while “Pian del Ciampolo” eventually became the “third” wine. Truthfully, they are all three different expressions of Radda so don't take my numerical rankings as a hierarchy of quality (though one could certainly make arguments in terms of importance). I digress, “Il Sodaccio” is producing fruit once again however, the singular expression is now history. This bottle represents “Il Sodaccio’s” swan song.

From magnum. Opened about four hours prior to service. The 1997 “Il Sodaccio” pours a garnet color moving to a slightly orange rim. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous but surprisingly spry given it’s a quarter century old. The fruit is more or less a mix of ripe and dried cherries, red plums, curaçao, cacao, porcini, dusty earth and some warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins that have well integrated but still there. Acid is medium as well. Confirming the notes from the nose. The fruit is round while the finish is long and a touch savory. A lovely expression of Montevertine that extolls the virtues of the 1997 vintage with its abundant fruit and soft, friendly character. I mentioned to our guests that this bottle gave me the feeling of a warm hug from an old friend. Drinking well now and while I don’t expect further positive development, this magnum certainly has the legs for another 10 years. — 3 years ago

Mark Dodds

9.9

Love this one. Really light and is great when slightly chilled — 4 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

8.9

2015 Piaggia “Il Sasso” Carmignano. Made with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot. It’s dark ruby red in color, rich & plump in flavor. Aromas of lavender, spice, & tobacco please your senses. Firm tannins here hence plenty of life ahead. A very dark fruit-driven wine. Cheers🍷 — 5 years ago