Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2021 75 Cl

This Chianti Classico is the kind of Italian red wine that makes dinner taste like you tried harder than you did. It’s Sangiovese-led, firmly rooted in Chianti Classico (that hilly pocket between Florence and Siena), and it brings the best part of the style, juicy cherry fruit, savoury edges, and a zip of acidity that keeps it lively.

What makes it worth your time is balance. You get real fruit, but not jammy. You get structure, but not a mouth-drying lecture. It lands in that sweet spot where one glass feels great, and the next glass somehow tastes even better with food.

• Appearance: Clear ruby red with garnet hints at the rim
• Nose: Sour cherry, ripe red plum, dried oregano, a little violet, and a touch of cedar
• Taste: Bright red berries and cherry skin up front, savoury tomato leaf and herbs through the middle, then firm, food-friendly tannins (that gentle grip that loves protein)
• Body: Medium-bodied, energetic, and not heavy
• Finish: Dry and persistent, with lingering cherry, spice, and a subtle earthy note

If you’re stocking up on red wine for pizza night, this is a cheat code. The acidity cuts through cheese and rich sauces, while the tannins hold their own against grilled meats, burgers, and anything with a bit of char.

It’s also a great “gateway” Chianti Classico for people who think they don’t like Italian reds. This one isn’t all dust and leather. It’s bright, clean, and super drinkable, but still clearly Chianti Classico, meaning it has that savoury backbone that makes Sangiovese such a classic.

Give it a bit of air in the glass and it starts to layer up. The fruit shifts from fresh cherry to dried cherry, the herbs get louder, and a light spice note creeps in. That’s the fun part, it keeps changing as you go.

Fun Fact: Castello di Fonterutoli is tied to the Mazzei family, one of Tuscany’s historic wine families, and the estate sits in a seriously prime stretch of Chianti Classico hillside vineyards.