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Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico
Grapes — Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Pugnitello
Region — Gaiole in Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
Tasting Notes — Vivid ruby with an expressive, perfumed nose — tart cherry, raspberry, lavender, dried rose petal, and a whisper of white pepper and baking spice. The palate is suave and balanced, with bright acidity, lively minerality, and fine tannins that frame the fruit without dominating it. Deep, complex, and wonderfully drinkable — one of the finest expressions of Sangiovese in Chianti Classico, vintage after vintage.
The Wine — A blend of Sangiovese with small additions of Canaiolo and Pugnitello — the latter a rare indigenous Tuscan variety that adds aromatic complexity and depth — from estate vineyards in Monti in Chianti, one of the finest micro-areas within the Gaiole commune. Vineyards sit between 340 and 510 meters of elevation on soils of alberese (limestone) and galestro (schist) with clay — the combination that gives Chianti Classico from this corner of the appellation its signature elegance, intense perfume, and minerality.
Farming — Certified organic. All vineyard work is carried out by hand, with harvest done in three separate passes to ensure each cluster is picked only at perfect ripeness. Grapes are collected in small baskets. No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. The estate extends over 100 hectares, with 20 planted to vine, 20 in olive groves, and the remainder woodland — a genuinely integrated agricultural landscape farmed with care for the whole ecosystem.
Winemaking — Hand-harvested and vinified traditionally, with aging in oak casks before bottling. The approach honors the Chianti Classico tradition — no shortcuts, no modernization for its own sake, no sacrifice of place for points.
The Producer — The story of Rocca di Montegrossi is, in many respects, the story of Chianti Classico itself. The Ricasoli-Firidolfi family has been cultivating these hillsides since the 10th century, when the Rocca — a strategic hilltop fortress — was established by the family's founder Geremia during the Longobard period. It was Marco's great-great-great-grandfather, Baron Bettino Ricasoli — the "Iron Baron" and future Prime Minister of a united Italy — who created the original formula for Chianti Classico's grape blend in the 19th century, laying the foundation for an entire appellation. Today, Marco Ricasoli-Firidolfi, the 37th generation of his family on this land, crafts what Antonio Galloni calls some of the most brilliant wines of his illustrious career. Despite this extraordinary pedigree, Rocca di Montegrossi remains one of the most under-the-radar estates in Chianti Classico — which is exactly what makes finding it on a shop shelf feel like a small discovery.
Drink It With — Wild boar ragù, bistecca alla Fiorentina, pappardelle with porcini, aged Pecorino Toscano, or any meal worthy of one of Italy's great appellations.
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico
Grapes — Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Pugnitello
Region — Gaiole in Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
Tasting Notes — Vivid ruby with an expressive, perfumed nose — tart cherry, raspberry, lavender, dried rose petal, and a whisper of white pepper and baking spice. The palate is suave and balanced, with bright acidity, lively minerality, and fine tannins that frame the fruit without dominating it. Deep, complex, and wonderfully drinkable — one of the finest expressions of Sangiovese in Chianti Classico, vintage after vintage.
The Wine — A blend of Sangiovese with small additions of Canaiolo and Pugnitello — the latter a rare indigenous Tuscan variety that adds aromatic complexity and depth — from estate vineyards in Monti in Chianti, one of the finest micro-areas within the Gaiole commune. Vineyards sit between 340 and 510 meters of elevation on soils of alberese (limestone) and galestro (schist) with clay — the combination that gives Chianti Classico from this corner of the appellation its signature elegance, intense perfume, and minerality.
Farming — Certified organic. All vineyard work is carried out by hand, with harvest done in three separate passes to ensure each cluster is picked only at perfect ripeness. Grapes are collected in small baskets. No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. The estate extends over 100 hectares, with 20 planted to vine, 20 in olive groves, and the remainder woodland — a genuinely integrated agricultural landscape farmed with care for the whole ecosystem.
Winemaking — Hand-harvested and vinified traditionally, with aging in oak casks before bottling. The approach honors the Chianti Classico tradition — no shortcuts, no modernization for its own sake, no sacrifice of place for points.
The Producer — The story of Rocca di Montegrossi is, in many respects, the story of Chianti Classico itself. The Ricasoli-Firidolfi family has been cultivating these hillsides since the 10th century, when the Rocca — a strategic hilltop fortress — was established by the family's founder Geremia during the Longobard period. It was Marco's great-great-great-grandfather, Baron Bettino Ricasoli — the "Iron Baron" and future Prime Minister of a united Italy — who created the original formula for Chianti Classico's grape blend in the 19th century, laying the foundation for an entire appellation. Today, Marco Ricasoli-Firidolfi, the 37th generation of his family on this land, crafts what Antonio Galloni calls some of the most brilliant wines of his illustrious career. Despite this extraordinary pedigree, Rocca di Montegrossi remains one of the most under-the-radar estates in Chianti Classico — which is exactly what makes finding it on a shop shelf feel like a small discovery.
Drink It With — Wild boar ragù, bistecca alla Fiorentina, pappardelle with porcini, aged Pecorino Toscano, or any meal worthy of one of Italy's great appellations.