Fonte Alla Selva Gran Selezione
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2035
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Classic Tuscan Bistecca alla Fiorentina, slow-roasted wild boar ragù over pappardelle, or aged Pecorino Toscano cheese.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic Fonte alla Selva estate in Castellina in Chianti—a property whose name translates to 'fountain in the forest' in a nod to the ancient natural springs and dense woodlands surrounding the vineyards—this Gran Selezione represents the pinnacle of Banfi's Chianti Classico production. Sourced exclusively from the estate's finest parcels rich in Galestro and Alberese soils, this wine is crafted predominantly from Sangiovese. To meet the rigorous standards of the Gran Selezione classification, the wine undergoes a minimum of 30 months of aging, including significant time in oak casks and bottle. This patient maturation coaxes out a complex profile of ripe dark cherries, violet, leather, and earthy spice, underpinned by the vibrant acidity and refined tannins characteristic of Castellina's high-altitude terroir.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1978 by Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani alongside consulting enologist Ezio Rivella, Banfi transformed the viticultural landscape of southern Tuscany. Centered around the medieval fortress of Castello di Poggio alle Mura in Montalcino, the estate spans over 2,800 hectares, with approximately one-third under vine. The soils present a complex mosaic of calcareous clay, sand, and marine deposits along the Orcia and Ombrone river valleys, exposed to warm Mediterranean breezes and balanced diurnal shifts. Pioneers of rigorous Sangiovese clonal zoning, Banfi has expanded beyond Montalcino into classic regions across Tuscany and Piedmont. Certified sustainable under the Equalitas standard, the producer combines technological precision with meticulous parcel selection. While renowned globally for benchmark Brunello di Montalcino, Banfi exhibits equal dexterity across diverse white and sparkling expressions, ranging from traditional-method Alta Langa and Cuvée Aurora sparkling cuvées to coastal Vermentino like La Pettegola and crisp, mineral-inflected Cortese from Piedmont.
🍇 Grapes
Sangiovese (min 80%), Canaiolo, Colorino, Cabernet Sauvignon