All the new Chianti Classico Grand Selezione tasted blind

All the new wines of the Gran Selezione Chianti Classico tasted blind. This is a level above Riserva in the hierarchy of Chianti Classico, and most wines seems to be a level above on quality as well as by name. Chianti and Tuscany on the whole also seems to go in a fresher and more detailed direction with purer fruit and more elegant and fresher wines with less oak and extraction. A most welcome change back to the more traditional taste from my point of view.

Gran Selezione blind tasting

2011 Fattoria di Lamole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Grospoli:
1500 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, some cherries and liquorice nose, quite fresh. Not to intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity but wood shows through on the palate, bit dry, good length. 88

2011 Fattoria Viticcio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Beatrice:
10.000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, slightly scented and floral notes, elegant nose, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, bit woody but refreshing red berries fruit that seems to be able to handle it, quite refreshing palate, long. 90

2011 I Fabri Chianti Classico Gran Selezione I Fabri:
2500 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, slightly scented and toast and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rounded and fresh palate, fruity and red berries, quite elegant, bit biting finish. 91

2011 San Vincenti Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Tenuta San Vincenti:
6600 bottles made. Ruby. Somewhat scented, red berries, quite seductive nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, quite refreshing and playful, red and darker berries palate, fairly nuanced, long. 92

2011 Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione La Forra:
4500 bottles made. Ruby. Wood, spices, herbs, some red berries behind. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner body and structure, bit oaky palate, good length. 88

2010 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Brolio:
88.000 bottles made. Ruby. Spicy, some oak, red berries and blackberries, anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fairly fresh, bit lean and dry finish. 89

2010 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colledilà:
20.000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, bit more subdued nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rounder but bit oaky, somewhat woody palate and texture, but seems to manage, good length. 88

2010 Bibbiano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Capannino:
20.000 bottles made. Ruby. Scented, floral, raspberries nose, refreshing. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity and quite lively, almost delicate, refreshing, raspberry notes on the palate as well, long. 91

2010 Bindi Sergardi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Mocenni Particella 89:
5000 bottles made. Ruby. Vanilla, dark berries, barrel spices on the nose. Fresh acidoty, ripe tannins, fruity, bit woody texture, seems to handle, good length. 89

2010 Castello d'Albola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Solatio:
3000 bottles made. Ruby. Spices, vanilla, red berries in the background. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, bit oaky texture, fruit comes back in the finish, good length. 89

2010 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Ama:
100.000 bottles made. Ruby. Herbs, wood spices and dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, softer and sweeter fruit on the palate, on the richer side, good length. 89

2010 Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello Fonterutoli:
60.000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, slightly scented and vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, quite fresh palate, red berries, very long. 93

2010 Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Belezza:
12.000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, scented and fruity nosequite intensely scented even. Fresh acidoty, ripe tannins, woody palate, almost creamy with spices, everything packed in oak, nicely packed yes, but packed. Good length. 89

2010 Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Meleto:
4000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, some scented and fruity notes nose. Anise. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, quite refreshing and playful, raspberries notes, long and refreshing finish. 92

2010 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Puro:
2000 bottles made. Ruby. Scented, spices, some herbs and dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fairly lively palate, quite refreshing, bit lean and could be more nuanced, but fairly elegant, bit woody finish. 90

2010 Castello La Leccia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Bruciagna:
4000 bottles made. Ruby. Scented, coffee, some herbs, darker berries nose. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, bit boring palate. 89

2010 Castello Vicchimaggio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna La Prima:
9000 bottles made. Ruby. Floral notes, lavendel, red berries and cherries nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fairly rounded, vanilla and liquorice, good length. 89

2010 Colle Bereto Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colle Bereto:
15.000 bottles made. Ruby. Some figs, prunes and warm cherries nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresher palate, more delicate and reder berries, good length. 89

2010 Fattoria di Corsignano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione L'Imperatrice:
1500 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, some herbs, vanilla and liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, livelier palate, quite refreshing, long. 90

2010 Antico Lamole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Lama della Villa:
1000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, light mineral note, delicate, nuanced, scented, lovely nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, leaner palate, quite delicate, refreshing, red berries. 92

2010 Fontodi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo:
5000 bottles made. Ruby. Scented, red berries, slight floral note, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, quite lively, fairly elegant, refreshing and long finish. 92

2010 Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Margone:
N/A. Ruby. Red and darker berries, vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, some oak and vanilla, bit hollow finish. 89

2010 Lornano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Lornano:
10.000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, nettles, fresh nose, bit spicy behind. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fairly fruity and fresh, bit drying palate, good length. 89

2010 Luiano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Ottantuno:
3000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries and warmer notes, some prunes and liquorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, sweeter notes, anise, more rounded, long. 90

2010 Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Sergio Zingarelli:
5700 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, slightly scented, dark berries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, fairly refreshing, long finish. 91

2010 Ruffino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Riserva Ducale Oro:
500.000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, scented, darker notes, liquorice and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively, fresh, lquiorice finish, long. 91

2010 San Fabiano Calcinaia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Cellole:
18.000 bottles made. Ruby. Dark berries, rich, liquorice, plums and coffee nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fairly fresh, fruity, quite lively, good length. Oaky. 89

2010 San Felice Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Grigio:
40.000 bottles made. Dark berries, vanilla, liquorice, spicy nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, softer palate, quite refreshing, good length. 89

2010 Tenuta di Lilliano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Lilliano:
5000 bottles made. Ruby. Scented, vanilla, spices, some coffee nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, rounded, not much going on, good length. 86

2010 Villa Calcinaia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna Bastignano:
1500 bottles made (not the 800 stated in the official papers). Ruby. Red berries, floral, slight mineral note and somewhat scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, quite refreshing, long and playful finish. 92

2010 Antinori Nel Chianti Classico Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Badia a Passignano:
92.000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, darker fruits, some prunes and liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, somewhat richer, liquorice palate, good length. 88

2010 Casaloste Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Don Vincenzo:
4000 bottles made. Ruby. Red berries, vanilla, scented and slightly floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rounder palate, fresh, fairly nuanced, bit rich, long. 90

2010 Fattoria di Montemaggio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Montemaggio:
9000 bottles made. Ruby. Some herbs, red berries, vanilla and cherries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, quite refreshing, good length. 89

2009 Vignole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vignole:
6000 bottles made. Ruby. Vanilla, figs, prunes, anise and cherries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, some coffee and spices, fresher finish, long. 91

2007 Losi Querciavalle Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Losi Millenium:
2000 bottles made. Ruby. Some wood, liquorice and dark cherries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fairly fruity, good length. 89

Seems to be very fine fruit on most, fresher than only a few years ago, that could be the vintage off course, but the fruit seems brighter, cleaner and the wines very well made on the whole. Some has issues with to much oak and toasting of the oak, but some markets still embrace this, so it will probably be a market for all of them. Most of these wine swill benefit from five to fifteen years of ageing.