Antinori - Pèppoli : Chianti Classico 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for Antinori - Pèppoli Chianti Classico 2020

Tasting

Color

This Chianti Classico displays a bright ruby-red hue, enhanced by subtle violet highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals fine aromatic intensity, dominated by red-fruit notes, notably cherry and strawberry. Floral nuances of violet and lavender add a touch of elegance, while delicate spicy hints of licorice harmoniously round out the bouquet.

Palate

The attack is supple, followed by refreshing vibrancy. The palate shows a medium body, carried by ripe, well-integrated tannins that bring structure and finesse. The balance between freshness and fruity intensity extends into a persistent finish with savory, spicy accents.

Food and wine pairings

This Chianti Classico is an ideal match for grilled red meats, game dishes, as well as pasta with meat-based sauces. It also pairs very well with Italian cured meats and aged cheeses such as pecorino.

Serving and cellaring

This Chianti Classico 2020 can be served at a temperature of around 18°C. Opening the bottle one hour before serving or giving it a brief decant will allow the wine to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to develop until around 2030.

A precise, intensely fruity Tuscan Chianti Classico

The estate

Acquired in 1985 by the Antinori family, the Pèppoli estate spans 100 hectares, including 50 hectares of vines, in the commune of San Casciano Val di Pesa, in the heart of Tuscany and the Chianti Classico DOCG appellation. Now run by the three sisters Albiera, Allegra, and Alessia Antinori—the first women to lead the family business in twenty-seven generations—the estate expresses a contemporary vision of the vineyard while preserving its historic heritage. Its galestro-rich soils and sheltered microclimate give predominantly sangiovese wines a distinctive fruity and floral expression. Pèppoli also stands out for its production of certified organic extra virgin olive oil since 1996 and for adopting precision viticulture technologies, including autonomous robots and multispectral drones, in support of sustainable, terroir-respectful Tuscan viticulture.

The vineyard

The vines of Chianti Classico Pèppoli are planted on loam-clay soils rich in galestro, five kilometers northeast of the Tignanello estate. This geological composition, characteristic of the appellation, promotes slow, gradual ripening of sangiovese, allowing the development of fine aromatic complexity while preserving the grape’s natural freshness.

The vintage

The year 2020 in Tuscany began with a mild, dry winter, punctuated by a brief cold spell at the end of March that did not affect vegetative growth. Budbreak occurred earlier than usual. The second half of spring, marked by cool, rainy conditions, encouraged optimal vine growth. Summer brought high temperatures without excess, accompanied by beneficial intermittent rainfall. September precipitation, particularly during the second half of the month, helped achieve ideal phenolic ripeness. Harvest took place from September 17 to early October.

Winemaking and aging

Each grape variety in the 2020 Chianti Classico was vinified separately after destemming and gentle crushing. Alcoholic fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks between 26 and 28°C. Maceration lasted around ten days for sangiovese and up to two weeks for merlot and syrah, favoring gentle tannin extraction. After malolactic fermentation was completed at the end of winter, the blend was made and then aged for nine months, mainly in 55-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks, with a small proportion in American oak barrels.

Grape varieties

Sangiovese (90%), merlot and syrah (10%).