This 470 hectare estate is located northeast of Siena, in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga on the southern border of the Chianti Classico production area. Fèlsina epitomises the powerful style of southern Chianti, where the wines are stylistically more akin to those from Montalcino than their fellow Chianti from Fontodi or Isole e Olena. Giuseppe Mazzocolin ran the estate from the end of the 1970s until 2011. He is now less involved in the day-to-day management, while consultant oenologist Franco Bernabei is still very much at the helm of the winemaking team. Their barrel-fermented Chardonnay ‘I Sistri’ is made from 60% free-run must and combines a ripe, buttery nose with a touch of tropical fruit on the palate, while maintaining a fresh finish. The Fèlsina Chianti Classico is fresh and vibrant with remarkable elegance. ‘Rancia’ is a six hectare Sangiovese vineyard on sandstone, chalk and galestro soils. The wine is aged for 18 – 20 months in oak and is concentrated yet elegant with black and red berry fruit and a fine character. The ‘Fontalloro’ is made solely from Sangiovese grapes grown on three vineyards, two of which sit just outside the Classico border. It has a powerful structure and great concentration of tannins. The Gran Selezione ‘Colonia’ is made from Sangiovese grapes grown on a vineyard that was finally replanted in 1993, after many years of extremely hard work on this difficult but rewarding site. Aged for 30 months in French oak and only produced in very small quantities, it displays a unique complexity and intensity which justifies its position at the apex of premium Chianti Classico wines. This was an unusual vintage. Winter was cold, with several days when the temperature dropped below freezing, followed by a mild spring. In March, warm temperatures (over 20°C) favoured early budding but a cold snap in April saw frost damage some vines, leading to reduced yields. May began with thunderstorms, then conditions improved with above average temperatures through the summer months, including a record hot spell in late July. A return to normal temperatures with some rainfall from mid-August reinvigorated the vines and harvest was brought forward by about 15 days. The warm dry September ensuring the harvest was completed in two passes. Yields are lower but quality this year is excellent. Deep ruby red in colour, this wine is rich and spicy on the nose, with wild berry and floral notes. The palate is framed by tight knit tannins with opulent ripe berry fruit on a long, spicy finish.