🇮🇹 Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico (Castelnuovo Berardenga) 2022

This is Chianti Classico with a passport stamp from the serious side of Tuscany, Castelnuovo Berardenga. Marco Bacci keeps it dialed, all Sangiovese, all attitude, and somehow still insanely drinkable. 

Wine Description 

Castello di Bossi sits in the southern stretch of Chianti Classico where the landscape gets a little more dramatic, and the reds tend to feel a little more grown up. The 2022 is 100% Sangiovese, grown on chalky, clay-heavy soils, then handled with a detail-obsessed approach that shows up in the glass as structure, freshness, and that “one more sip” pull. 

Marco Bacci is both owner and winemaker here, and that matters because this wine is not trying to be a fruity party trick. It is polished without being precious, with bright acidity and a savory finish that makes food taste better and makes you look like you have your life together. 

Aged in a mix of barriques and larger casks with used French oak, it lands in that sweet spot where you get texture and depth without tasting like a lumber aisle. 

Vine-To-Table: Meet the Winemaker 

Marco Bacci bought Castello di Bossi in 1984 and has been shaping it into a modern-classic Chianti Classico estate ever since, with a focus on precision and estate identity. His broader Bacci Wines world also includes projects like Renieri in Montalcino, and the common thread is a clean, deliberate style that lets place do the talking. 

The Vibe 

Think “Tuscan leather jacket,” not “tourist Chianti in a straw fiasco.” It is confident, a little spicy, and very good at making a random Tuesday dinner feel like you made a reservation somewhere with terrible parking and excellent pasta.

What it tastes like 

Ripe cherry and red plum lead the way, with a floral edge and a gentle toasted vanilla note from the aging, then it finishes savory and clean with that Chianti Classico snap. If you like reds that feel energetic instead of sleepy, this is your lane. 

Pairing + When to drink it 

This is built for food, especially grilled meats and rustic vegetable dishes, and Winebow specifically calls out grilled steak tips and ratatouille. Drink it now with a short decant if you want it extra smooth, or hold it a bit if you like more earthy Sangiovese character to develop. 

Quick Specs 

• Producer: Castello di Bossi 

• Winemaker: Marco Bacci 

• Region/Appellation: Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (Castelnuovo Berardenga area) 

• Grapes: 100% Sangiovese 

• Vintage: 2022 

• Farming: Organic 

• Winemaking/Aging: Stainless steel fermentation; aged 12–18 months in French oak (225L barriques and 50HL casks, second and third use), then bottle aged ~3 months 

• ABV: 14%

• Bottle size: 750ml 

• Importer: Selected & Imported by Winebow Inc., New York, NY 

Critic Reviews

James Suckling | JamesSuckling.com | 93 points | Reviewed vintage: 2022 | Date: Jul 2, 2024 
Excerpt: “Dried cherries, orange peel, cedar… medium-bodied… crunchy fruit…” 

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate | Wine Advocate | 89 points | Reviewed vintage: 2022  
Excerpt: “Nice jump forward in intensity… good cherry fruit, pressed flower and red earth.” 

Jancis Robinson | JancisRobinson.com | 16.5/20 | Reviewed vintage: 2022 
Excerpt: Notes cited include cherry fruit and a savory, fresh profile.

FAQs

Q: Why does Chianti Classico use the black rooster (Gallo Nero) symbol?
A: The black rooster is the historic emblem tied to Chianti Classico’s identity and protection, used today as a trademark for the denomination. It is essentially the region’s way of saying “this is the real deal.” 

Q: What makes Castelnuovo Berardenga different inside Chianti Classico?
A: Castelnuovo Berardenga sits in the southern part of Chianti Classico and shows notable geological variation, including Alberese limestone and, around Bossi, areas where “tufo senesi” and Pliocene sands are discussed. In plain terms, it is one of the zones where structure and savory nuance often show up naturally. 

Q: Who is Marco Bacci and why is his name on this bottle’s story?
A: Marco Bacci is listed as both owner and winemaker for this Chianti Classico, and he acquired Castello di Bossi in 1984. That owner-winemaker overlap usually means fewer committee decisions and more consistent house style. 

Q: Is Chianti Classico required to be mostly Sangiovese?
A: Yes, the production rules specify Chianti Classico must be based on Sangiovese from 80% up to 100%, with the remainder coming from approved red varieties. This bottling is labeled 100% Sangiovese in the tech sheet. 

Q: What are the official minimum aging rules for Chianti Classico “Annata”?
A: The Consorzio’s style guide lists Chianti Classico Annata with a minimum aging requirement of 12 months and a minimum alcohol level of 12% vol. This wine’s aging regimen in the tech sheet exceeds that minimum. 

Q: What is a real, verifiable “Castello di Bossi” fact that is not just marketing fluff?
A: The estate describes a documented site history reaching back centuries, including a tower dated to 1099, and also states the property is run fully organic today. Those are big claims, and they are published directly by the producer.