Livernano, Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, 2013

The Livernano estate traces its origins back to the Etruscans, but gained a new lease of life in 1990 as a luxury holiday village with working farm and winery. The first vineyards were planted 15 years ago, surrounded by olive groves and woodland. Livernano makes a range of wines, including Chianti Classico and Chianti Classico Riserva. This Gran Selezione is aged in oak barrels for a minimum of eight months. Andrea Briccarello: Quite a vinous style on the nose, unfolding onto dark stone fruits and plenty of dark spices at the back of the wine. Elegant and seductive with generous amounts of red forest fruits. Susan Hulme MW: Ripe red fruits and berry jam, with attractive wild strawberry notes. Perfumed fruit character. Super-smooth and seamless palate. Definitely not a loud wine, but has lots of understated grace and elegance. Andrew Jefford: Exuberant aromas of enticing fruits. Concentrated and satisfying flavours; brisk dark spice tannins at the end. A truly excellent Gran Selezione which will probably be even better in a year or two.