2016 Castello Monterinaldi Chianti Classico Riserva 750 ml

It had been a long February day in Chianti, overbooked with tastings, and we were glad to be settling in Panzano for a relaxing evening before another day rushing from appointment to appointment. Frankly, the day had been a bit of a disappointment, with dud wines or laughably high prices (or both)—the unfortunately common price to pay in the 20,000+ miles we travel annually on the hunt for hidden gems.

So that night, over a platter of bistecca alla Chianina and meltingly tender white beans crowned with olio nuovo, we tried to put the disappointment behind us and focus on the next day. Our waiter didn’t even bother hiding his eavesdropping, and with typical Tuscan pride announced that we would be visiting Castello Monterinaldi tomorrow, whether we had planned on it or not. “Really?” we asked, “what makes you so sure?” But there was no reply—he was already off to the cellar to grab a bottle of their 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva for us to try.

These sorts of things normally don’t go well, no matter whose friend or cousin is recommending the bottle. Still, we never say no to a local’s recommendation, and when the ruby liquid hit our glasses it was apparent the stuff was classic, traditionally made Chianti.

What we weren’t prepared for was the wine’s transformation over the next hour. 

It went from good to gloriously expressive, with a beautiful nose of roses, lavender, and spice overlayed on black cherries. The palate lit up as well, displaying bright black and red currant flavors with spice tones and exquisitely structured tannins. This was easily the quality of a $60 wine on par with Felsina Rancia or Isole e Olena’s Cepparello, yet we’re able to offer our members this 96-point wine for just $34 per bottle.

We cleared our schedules for the next morning and met up with Daniele, the owner and winemaker, at their beautiful estate between Radda and Panzano, in the heart of Chianti Classico. Driving up to the winery, the organically-farmed vineyards were clearly expertly managed—everything was starting to make sense, except why Monterinaldi wasn’t well known in the US.

We tried to hide our glee when tasting through the barrels, as it became clear that our experience the previous night was not an accident. This was top-flight Chianti Classico from prime terroir, and they didn’t even have a US importer. How could this be?

We turned a corner and it became obvious: a wall of cases waiting to be picked up by private clients, including some of the best restaurants in Tuscany. They didn’t need the US market—there was enough demand in Europe.

Nevertheless, this was an opportunity we had to deliver to Wine Access members… and so we went to work, securing the US’s only allocation of their 96-point 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva—at a price far below what this wine should command on the open market.

Normally, when you have a wine like this at a restaurant in Panzano, you’ll only dream of finding it again when you get back to the US. Luckily, we’ve got the power to make that happen.