Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva 2022 is 100% Sangiovese from Fèlsina's estate at Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the south-east of Chianti Classico. Kerin O'Keefe rated it 95 POINTS for its "great precision and poise", and Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls it "classic Fèlsina to the core". Expect dark plum, licorice and tobacco.
In the glass it shows game, incense and scorched earth, with bold tannins that will soften over the next few years.
It's a good weekend wine for anyone who likes their Tuscan reds with some muscle, and a great match for a slow-cooked beef ragù.
What it tastes like
This wine has dark fruit and floral notes on the nose, with plenty of spice and a mineral edge.
The palate is fresh and spicy, with real depth of fruit. The tannins are firm but well built, and the finish is long and savoury.
It's impeccably made Chianti Classico Riserva.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium to full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh
- Tannin: Firm and fine-grained
- Oak: French oak tonneaux (500-litre barrels), which add spice without masking the fruit
- Style: Bold, savoury, classic Sangiovese
Food to enjoy this with
- Slow-cooked beef ragù over pappardelle
- Peposo, the Tuscan peppery beef stew
- Grilled Italian sausages with fennel and white beans
- Roast pork belly with sage and garlic
- Mushroom and taleggio risotto
- Something unexpected: a wood-fired pizza with nduja and honey. The heat and sweetness work with the wine's dark fruit and spice.
Who makes it
Fèlsina sits at Castelnuovo Berardenga, near Siena, where Chianti Classico meets the Crete Senesi clay hills. Domenico Poggiali and his son Giuseppe turned the estate's focus to Sangiovese in the 1970s. Giovanni Poggiali has led Fèlsina since 1990, and the vineyards have been farmed organically since the early 2000s.
The Riserva comes from south-west facing, well-ventilated slopes at 320 to 420 metres. Higher up, the soils are sandstone and mixed alluvial clay. Lower down, layers of sandstone and silt run towards the Crete Senesi.
The grapes are fermented in stainless steel for 14 to 16 days with daily pump-overs. Fèlsina then ages the wine in French oak tonneaux for 12 to 16 months, and gives it 3 to 6 months in bottle before release.
The previous vintage, 2021, was ranked number 13 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 wines of 2024. Fèlsina also makes the single-vineyard Rancia Gran Selezione.
About the vintage
According to the Chianti Classico consortium, 2022 brought no spring frost and no significant hail. A long, warm, dry summer followed, but water stored from spring rain carried the vines through. Cool nights after hot days helped the Sangiovese ripen evenly, and rain in mid-August arrived when it was needed.
Picking across the region started around 10 September, about 2 weeks early, though Fèlsina's harvest extended into October. The consortium describes the 2022 wines as very well balanced, with ripe, sweet tannins.
Critic scores and ratings
- 95 POINTS – Kerin O'Keefe – kerinokeefe.com
"The Felsina 2022 Berardenga Riserva shows great precision and poise, starting with its aromas of red berry, dark spice, violet and lavender. Still young and primary, the elegant palate features ripe Marasca cherry, orange peel, star anise and mentholated notes accompanied by coiled, fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Give this time to fully unwind. Drink 2029–2037."
- 92+ POINTS – Antonio Galloni – Vinous, July 2025
When to drink it
Antonio Galloni suggests giving it a few years to soften, then drinking it from 2027 through to 2042. It's the sort of wine you buy a case of and open over the years.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Fèlsina |
| Wine: |
Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva |
| Vintage: |
2022 |
| Variety: |
100% Sangiovese |
| Region: |
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Chianti Classico, Tuscany |
| Country: |
Italy |
| Classification: |
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG |
| Vineyards: |
320 to 420 metres, south-west facing |
| Fermentation: |
Stainless steel, 14 to 16 days at 28 to 30°C |
| Oak: |
French oak tonneaux, 12 to 16 months |
| Cellaring: |
2027 to 2042 (Vinous) |
Where to buy
The Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva 2022 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.
Questions we are often asked
What grape is Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva made from?
Fèlsina's Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva is 100% Sangiovese, grown at Castelnuovo Berardenga near Siena.
Should I decant Felsina Riserva 2022?
Yes. Antonio Galloni of Vinous describes the tannins in Fèlsina's 2022 Riserva as formidable today, so an hour in a decanter helps it open up while it is young.
How long will Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva 2022 age?
Antonio Galloni of Vinous gives Fèlsina's 2022 Riserva a drinking window of 2027 to 2042.
What does Berardenga mean on the Felsina label?
Berardenga refers to Castelnuovo Berardenga, the village in the south-east of Chianti Classico where Fèlsina is based.
Where can I buy Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva 2022?
The Winery sells Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva 2022 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
