We have lost the first position conquered last year, but we can console ourselves: Italy is classified in third place this year in the prestigious Wine Spectator list the most authoritative world wine magazine which every year elects the best labels in the world. On the podium he rose after a selection of the greatest wines from the five continents, the Chianti Classico 2016 from the San Giusto estate in Rentennano.
The Fattoria San Giusto, owned by the Martini di Cigala family since 1914, today owned by the brothers Anna, Lucia, Elisabetta, Francesco, Alessandro, Luca, is housed in an ancient Cistercian monastery (for this reason already called San Giusto alle Monache), later a fortress of which the Guelph crenellations of the boundary wall remain, and the underground cellars, still used today for the maturation of wines in barrels. Agricultural processes are still mainly manual. The vinification takes place exclusively on grapes from owned vineyards. The production of grapes per plant is reduced by thinning the bunches, carried out in a first passage between the month of July/August and in a second passage at the end of August, beginning of September.
The Chianti Classico of Fattoria San Giusto is produced from Sangiovese (95%) and Canaiolo (5%) grapes harvested by hand when perfectly ripe and fermented in enamelled cement and/or stainless steel tanks for about 14 days, during which various pumping over and punching down After racking, the marc is pressed in a horizontal press and the wine is returned to the press. The malolactic fermentation is favored by the heating of the room where the wines are stored. Decanted a few times (on the lees) it ages in barrels, 500 Lt oak tonneaux, for about 10-12 months. Once bottled, it ages for 6 months before being marketed.
Winner of Wine Spectator: Bordeaux Château Léoville Barton St.-Julien 2016
As mentioned last year, the first place in the standings went to the Sassicaia 2015 of Tenuta Bolgheri, this year the winner's palm went to a Bordeaux Château Léoville Barton St.-Julien 2016 with a very high score 97/100, produced by a historic winery in the region, managed by the Barton family since 1800 but which even earlier in the 700th century was trading wines. It is a blend of 86 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, the remainder is Merlot.
In second place we find Mayacamas 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder 2015 from Napa Valley in California which obtained the vote of 96/100.
In third place went the Chianti Classico Fattoria San Giusto (for the record, last year too the bronze medal went to an Italian wine, the Chianti Classico Riserva 2015 by Castello di Volpaia).
Fourth classified with a score of 96/100 it is a Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve 2016 from the Groth winery. We are still in Napa Valley California. 5 bottles are produced.
In fifth place is Brut Anderson Valley L'Ermitage 2012 by Roederer Estate made in Mendocino California.
In sixth place we return to France for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016 of Château de Beaucastel. A Californian white takes seventh place, the Chardonnay Napa Valley Carneros Hyde Vineyard 2016 from the Ramey winery with a score of 95/100.
Again France puts its flag on eighth place with the Pauillac 2016 of Château Pichon Baron produced in Bordeaux with a score of 96/100.
It crosses the Indian Ocean for the ninth place awarded to the 798 Shiraz Barossa Valley Rwt Bin 2017 built in Australia from Penfolds cellar rated 96/100.
The top ten closes with a Chilean wine, the red Puente Alto 2016 by Viña Almaviva, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere rated 95/100.
The United States triumphs in the top ten places
To conclude, it can be observed that at least as regards the top ten of Wine Spectator (the list of all 100 wines is communicated only on Monday) are the United States the winners of this year having placed four of their labels in the top ten. France follows closely with three labels. Italy, Chile and Australia stop at one label. Another peculiarity is that 8 out of ten awarded wines are reds. Finally, which is of no small importance to enthusiasts, none of the award-winning wines exceeds 150 euros in price.
