96pts Wine Advocate
This is the wine that blew me away last year (when I tasted the excellent 2019 vintage) and assured me of the innovative work now underway at Barone Ricasoli. Today, tasting the 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Brolio Roncicone, I am reminded of the quality fruit obtained from this special 10-hectare site with marine fossils mixed within its sandy topsoil. Showing brilliant clarity and focus, this carefully oak-aged Sangiovese offers rose, dried cherry, campfire ash and delicate mineral tones. This wine paints a beautiful portrait of this grape. Production is 10,000 bottles. Drink Date: 2024 2042
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
These are exciting years at Castello di Brolio and the Barone Ricasoli estate headed by the charming Francesco Ricasoli. There is an exciting new addition to the portfolio, the 2020 Castello di Brolio Sanbarnaba, that Francesco describes as “the realization of a dream to make a great white wine.” The focus is on Trebbiano, and indeed, there are elements of this wine that remind me of the regional benchmark for this thick-skinned variety made over in Radda in Chianti by Monteraponi. The styles are different, with the Sanbarnaba showing more primary intensity, but I think its cellar aging potential is comparable. Published:Sep 21, 2023

SOIL
The soil of the vineyard of the same name consists of marine deposits of Pliocene origin, with the presence of sandy deposits and stones smoothed by the sea, while lower down there is clay. Good organic matter content. Marine fossils and lignite emerge on the surface. The slopes are gentle and the vineyard is located in the central part of the property, to the south of the clayey-limestone soils.

HARVEST
Harvesting and selection of the best grapes in the vineyard by hand on September 14 and 15, 2022.

WINEMAKING
Fermentation temperature 24-27C with daily punching.Duration of fermentation and maceration on the skins about 14-16 days.

AGEING
22 months in 500-litre tonneaux of which 30% new and 70% second passage.

BOTTLING
December 19, 2024.