2018 Castello di Querceto "Il Picchio" Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (750ml Bottle)

93 Points from Decanter Magazine: "The Picchio vineyard is encircled by forest which protects it from cold northern winds. Planted on poor schistose soil, the vines are now 30-plus years old. Exuberantly youthful, aromas of blackberry, smoke, wild herbs and flinty stone are immediately captivating. It's full and quite fruity in expression, especially for a Gran Selezione. Crunchy red plum and black cherry are backed by fresh grape tannins. It becomes quite dense on the backend without sacrificing delightful freshness. This sees just eight months in barriques, of which 10% are new." (3/26/21)

92 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "This wine was first produced in 1998. It was classified as a Riserva until 2011 when it was promoted to Gran Selezione status. A blend of 95% Sangiovese with a tiny 5% addition of Colorino from a single vineyard, the Castello di Querceto 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Picchio offers rich fruit weight and saturated aromas of blackberry and dark plum that come from reddish, iron and magnesium-rich soils. Il Picchio is a bigger wine compared to La Corte. The fruit essences in this wine recall pomegranate, orange skin and apricot. There also is grilled herb and crushed mineral.

Il Picchio is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino from a 4.5-hectare parcel facing southeast. In 1988, the wine became a Riserva, and in 2011, it was elevated to Gran Selezione status. This site has darker, mineral-rich soils for more concentrated wines." (2/9/23)

91 Points from Vinous: "The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Picchio is a powerhouse. Black cherry, smoke, scorched earth, licorice and mocha give this potent Gran Selezione its virile personality. There is plenty of structure too, although the tannins aren't as forbidding as they have been in the past. Even so, this is a decidedly dense, concentrated style." (9/2021)