Gran Selezione is a somewhat new classification for Chianti, and rises one step above Riserva categorically. Similar rules apply for production area limits and grape requirements (must be estate grown, and >80% Sangiovese), the bottles require 30 months of total aging, a slightly higher alcohol floor (13%), and at least three months in bottle before release.
While these rules are not too different from Riserva, they do allow for some interesting, estate grown wines all the same. Tenuta di Capraia Effe 55 was one such bottle, and the six year old bottle we opened could just as well spent another decade or so in our cellar!
So whether you enjoy this one now or hold it for later, an impressive wine is in your future.
Tenuta di Capraia Effe 55 is One Intense Chianti
This Gran Selezione Chianti was pale garnet in color with medium aromas of red cherry, cranberry, black cherry, clove, vanilla, blueberry, leather, black pepper, and dark plum.
On the palate, it was dry with high acidity, grippy and vegetal tannin, and alcohol, medium body, and medium(+) flavor intensity and finish. We had notes of red cherry, clove, cranberry, red raspberry, red plum, leather, smoke, cedar, clove, green pepper, blueberry, and sandalwood to name a few.
This bottle hit on all the notes we love from a high-end Chianti, and was even starting to show signs of age at being six years old. Still, as far as fine Chianti is concerned, this one could have also spent many, many more years in bottle before hitting its stride.
Chianti Food Pairing – Eggplant Stuffed with Cheese on Pasta
We paired this Chianti with stuffed eggplant on top of pasta with tomato sauce as well as a zucchini salad with balsamic and parmesan cheese.
The eggplant dish was likely a bit too light of flavors for this wine, and we had a splash of red fruit notes like red cherry and cranberry plus some more tomato leaf and pepper notes. Admittedly, for a tannic wine such as this, a dish with beef in it probably would’ve helped a bit more.
But the side of zucchini struck an interesting balance as it brought out more dark fruit notes like blueberry and dark cherry which balanced nicely with the tangy balsamic glaze. We wouldn’t say no to that pairing again as a side!
Score: 4 / 5
We’d buy another bottle of this one.
Overall, it is had to beat the intensity and complexity of a Gran Selezione Chianti, and even at six years old this one was only just starting to show signs of its age. We would gladly buy another bottle of this one, but admittedly would probably let it rest in our cellar for several more years before cracking it open.
Tenuta di Capraia is located at Capraia 63, 53011 Castellina in Chianti SI, Italy. We received this bottle in our Picked by Wine.com subscription and enjoyed it in 2024.
![The Price of a Coffee in Every State [MAP]](https://www.wds-media.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/price-of-coffee-in-every-state-infographic-google.jpg)
