2021 Castello di Bossi Berardo Chianti Classico Riserva Tuscany 750 ml

Castello di Bossi’s Berardo is one of the great deals in Chianti Classico Riserva. Thanks to a prime organic vineyard in Castelnuovo Berardenga and the winemaking genius of terroir-whisperer Alberto Antonini, the 2021—sporting an impressive 94-point score from James Suckling—offers the kind of ironclad value that Wine Access members can spot a mile away.

We’ve been fans since the first time we tasted the Berardo in Castello di Bossi’s stone-walled cellar and were floored by the wine’s exquisite expression of power and elegance. It’s drawn from a magnificent property set on the southernmost edge of Chianti Classico, where the sprawling estate spans several hundred acres bracketed by evergreens.

Berardo’s high-altitude vineyard is known for its particularly low yields, averaging just 1.6 tons of fruit per acre. Those meager hauls, together with a warm microclimate, lend this wine a rounded, voluptuous elegance.

We were lucky enough to catch up with Antonini, Bossi’s consulting winemaker, in Napa just last year for a fascinating discussion about his philosophy and “less is more” approach. Antonini is the kind of guy who just wants to get out of the way: He optimizes organic farming to produce pristine fruit, uses whole clusters for freshness and lift, and endeavors not to screw the wine up with overextraction or too much oak. 

Antonini told us his only goal is to make a wine you want to drink more and more of, like a scrumptious bowl of pasta you can’t help but devour—and that’s exactly what you’ll find right here. If you love great Italian red wine, do not miss out on this one.