2013 Querceto di Castellina L’aura Chianti Classico

Region: Chianti < Tuscany < Italy  
Grapes: Sangiovese
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: certified organic, clay and limestone soil, hand harvested; minimal SO2 at bottling
Winemaker: Jacopo di Battista

This is classic, clean Chianti from a small family producer near Panzano in Chianti.  I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the proprietor, Jacopo di Battista, over the past two years, and stay with them for a few days last summer.  His family has farmed the small hilltop estate without chemicals since inception in 1998, and has been certified organic since 2012.  They’re equally low-intervention in the cellar, using only native yeast and a small amount of sulfur at bottling.  The L’aura Chianti Classico, named after Laura, Jacopo’s mama, is their entry-level wine, easy and delicious – 100% Sangiovese, all estate fruit, stainless steel fermentation, aged 14 months in barrel.  Earthy, savory and a bit rustic, it’s made for food – spicy pasta, tomato-based stews or these Turkey Meatballs.