2015 Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di San Niccolo Toscana IGT 750 ml

We’ve known for years that Castellare’s I Sodi di San Niccolò is one of the best-kept secrets in the high-class ranks of Toscana IGT reds. Despite consistently earning 94+-point scores from major wine critics, this purebred Tuscan star continues to fly under the radar.

But that’s all about to change, because Antonio Galloni of Vinous just honored the 2015 Castellare I Sodi di San Niccolò with 98 points, the highest rating he’s ever given the wine. That ranks this Tuscan red side-by-side with Galloni’s other 2015 icons like Solaia ($360) and Tignanello ($130). 

In the words of Galloni, “The 2015 I Sodi di San Niccolò is just stratospheric. That's pretty much all there is to it.” He doesn’t make that declaration lightly, either; Galloni tasted a complete retrospective of I Sodi from 1979 to 2007, and he has never rated a vintage this high. James Suckling was also enamored with the 2015 vintage of this wine, giving 96 points to the “explosive fruit on the nose,” and a palate that is “pure and focused, the driven acidity providing a welcome counterpoint to the layers of rich, dark fruit.” 

Though the I Sodi di San Niccolò may not be one of Tuscany’s household names, it regularly shines above famous Super Tuscans like Ornellaia and Sassicaia. It was the first Italian wine to make Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list, and has earned Gambero Rosso’s prestigious Tre Bicchieri award every single vintage for the past decade.

And that’s exactly what owner Paolo Panerai set out to do when he created Castellare’s flagship cuvée in the early 1980s: to prove that Tuscany’s native grapes could produce a show-stopping wine. From the low-yielding, back-breaking soil in the heart of Chianti Classico, Castellare blends 85% Sangioveto—the traditional name for the local Sangiovese—with 15% Malvasia Nera, before aging the wine in 50% new French oak for 24 months. Polished yet powerful, the opulent fruit and dark, smoky soil meld with energetic accents of herbs and anise in this deep and striking wine. This is one worth cellaring, too—after a decade or two, the 2015 I Sodi will still be singing.

As more critics and savvy wine lovers call attention to Castellare’s I Sodi di San Niccolò, the secret of this wine’s incredible quality is starting to leak out. Prices are climbing and allocations are dwindling, particularly for a vintage that is just this magnificent. We’ll savor every drop of our supply of 2015 I Sodi while it lasts, but that might not be for very long.