I Fabbri di Susanna Grassi - Chianti Classico Riserva 2020

The Grassi family has called the tiny hilltop village of Lamole home since the 1600s, cultivating vines and producing wine from their Casole estate while also serving the community as its blacksmiths—i fabbri in Italian—a name that ultimately became the family's winery. Although the estate began selling its wines commercially in the 1920s, its vineyards were largely abandoned during the mid-20th century. In the late 1990s, sisters Susanna and Maddalena Grassi revived the historic property, painstakingly restoring its vineyards and establishing I Fabbri as one of Lamole's benchmark producers, while becoming two of the pioneering women winemakers of Chianti Classico.

Today, Susanna Grassi farms nine hectares of certified organic vineyards between 550 and 650 meters above sea level, making I Fabbri one of the highest-elevation estates in Chianti Classico. Often referred to as the "roof of Chianti," Lamole's cool climate, ancient sandstone and sandy soils, dramatic diurnal temperature shifts, and centuries-old terraced vineyards combine to produce wines of remarkable perfume, precision, and mineral character. The estate's Sangiovese Grosso di Lamole and Canaiolo are cultivated according to biodynamic principles, hand-harvested, and fermented with indigenous yeasts before aging primarily in concrete and large French oak tonneaux to preserve purity and site expression. Sustainability extends beyond the vineyard through lightweight glass bottles, photovoltaic energy production, and the thoughtful reuse of winemaking by-products, ensuring every bottle reflects both the authenticity of this singular terroir and the Grassi family's enduring stewardship of the land.

I Fabbri's Chianti Classico Riserva is made from 100% Sangiovese fermented with native yeasts in cement and aged for 12 months in 500 liter French oak tonneaux. In the glass the wine shows a beautiful light ruby color with a slight tawny hue at the rim. Pronounced aromas of ripe dark cherries pierce the senses with supporting notes of stones, purple flowers and dried herbs. The palate is impeccably balanced with strong, mouthcoating tannins; a long, fine acidity; and persistent, complex finish. This is a Riserva that showcases more structure and power without sacrificing any of the purity and elegance Lamole Sangiovese is known for. A beautiful Riserva to enjoy with a wide array of full-flavored, traditional Tuscan dishes.