Monte Bernardi 2022 MB1933 Chianti Classico

Monte Bernardi 2022 MB1933 Chianti Classico

Monte Bernardi
$45.00

Grape: Sangiovese
Vintage: 2022
Type: Red

This red wine is an estate bottling of sangiovese grown in the high-altitude vineyards of Panzano. Winemaker Michael Schmelzer manages the plots under certified biodynamic guidelines on rocky shale and limestone soils. The fruit undergoes a spontaneous fermentation driven by native wild yeasts in neutral concrete vats. The wine matures in large neutral oak casks to allow the structure to settle without wood extraction.

It pours a translucent ruby color, opening with intense aromatics of thyme, wild herbs, and mint. On the palate, a medium-bodied frame pairs red plum and tart cherry fruit with a savory baseline. Firm, rustic tannins provide a solid structural grip that coordinates nicely with the fluid mouthfeel. A clean line of natural acidity cuts through the core, keeping the texture fresh and lively. Overall, it cleanly finishes long and dry, leaving a savory mineral trace.

Monte Bernardi is a biodynamic estate in Panzano, at the southern end of Chianti Classico, led by Michael Schmelzer since his family purchased the property in 2003. Schmelzer approaches the farm as a complete ecosystem and focuses on Sangiovese grown in Panzano's galestro-rich hillsides, alongside traditional regional varieties. Fermentations are spontaneous and élevage favors large, neutral vessels that frame rather than mask the fruit. Wines such as Retromarcia and Sa'etta are transparent, savory and energetic, presenting Chianti Classico through red fruit, earth and firm acidity rather than extraction or new oak.