2017 Vallone di Cecione Chianti Classico DOCG 750 ml

It’s easy to imagine that we discover a stunning new wine at every dinner and every winery visit—but the reality is that most meals in France and Italy are good, but not great, with tasty, but immediately forgotten bottles... and most winery visits are about the same. You don’t log 20,000+ miles per year if every wine’s a winner. 

So, we were quite skeptical when the waiter at a killer trattoria in Panzano announced he would go ahead and fetch two bottles of Vallone di Cecione’s ‘17 Chianti as we ordered the first. “You’re going to want a second bottle, trust me,” he said with typical Tuscan pride.

And he was right—which is how we found ourselves knocking on the door of their tiny, organic farm the next day, months before Antonio Galloni described their 2017 Chianti as “gorgeous” and “a jewel of a wine” while crowning it with a 93-point score. The connection we formed with the Anichini family that day allowed us to secure an allocation before the rest of the world came calling—meaning you have access to this stellar, archetypical Chianti for just $20 per bottle.

The wine that completely changed our Tuscan tasting schedule was brilliant, with a ruby-garnet color that could only come from Sangiovese. The nose was classic, full of bright cherry fruit that was garnished with a bouquet of dried violets and roses. The palate, likewise, was old-school and compelling, with a plummy core that was accented by hints of tobacco, balsamic, and exotic spices. The acidity was mouthwatering—something we always look for in great Chianti—and it paired perfectly with white beans and the boar ragu.

When we pulled into Vallone di Cecione, it was immediately apparent that this wasn’t like most wineries in Chianti. This wasn’t some grand, noble estate, but rather a working, polycultural farm. Of their eight hectares, only four were planted to grapes—it began to make sense why we hadn’t heard of the estate: they barely made any wine.

With olive and fruit trees dotting the property and biodynamic practices in the vineyard, the Anichinis are committed to creating the best wines possible by using traditional techniques to create vibrant soils and an ecosystem that naturally promotes healthy grapes.

That commitment to tradition means that only native Tuscan varieties, Sangiovese and Canaiolo, are planted, and the grapes are fermented with native yeasts for added complexity. Aging is done solely in old, large, oak casks which allow for the gentle aging and softening of the wine without any obtrusive woody flavors.

Antonio Galloni described this Chianti Classico as “easy to like” and “a real sleeper in 2017,” an excellent year for Chianti. A warm summer and ideal fall lead to wines with richer-than-usual fruit and charming, early-drinking personalities—perfect to complement the natural brightness that Vallone di Cecione gets in their wines.

It’s an easy wine to order a second bottle of at dinner, certainly, and also a wine that’ll improve over the next five years in your cellar. Trust us, you’ll want another.