The Chianti Classico 2023 and its Riserva 2021, soon to be released, can rightfully be considered the ambassadors of Castello di Querceto, a historic estate in Greve in Chianti (Florence), run by the François family for over 125 years.
These two key wines from the estate come from a meticulous selection across the property’s 60 hectares of vineyards, divided into more than 25 parcels located between 400 and 500 meters above sea level, on the slopes of Monte San Michele. Here, one of the coolest microclimates in Chianti Classico brings aromatic precision, tension, and depth to the wines—perfectly expressing the stylistic identity of the winery.
Castello di Querceto was one of the founding members of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium in 1924. The estate, with its agriturismo and the lush park surrounding the castle, is located in a small valley high in the hills of the municipality of Greve in Chianti. It spans a total of 190 hectares, 60 of which are under vine.
Chianti Classico is explored here in all its nuances: from the Annata to the Riserva, up to two Gran Selezione crus, Il Picchio and La Corte. The estate also produces several IGT crus, the result of pioneering zoning studies begun in the 1970s by Alessandro François.
“We have a French surname, but we’ve been Italian for 283 years. Our ancestor arrived in Tuscany from Nancy in 1739, following the Grand Duke of Lorraine who succeeded the Medici dynasty—ending with Cosimo III—and ruled the region for 120 years, until the unification of Italy,” says Alessandro François, as he recounts a rich and meaningful family history. It’s worth noting that Castello di Querceto is one of fewer than twenty historic Chianti Classico estates (out of 350 total) to have remained in the same family for over a century.
It was Alessandro’s grandfather Carlo, a lawyer passionate about viticulture and enology, who purchased the estate and planted the first vineyard in 1899. That very vineyard still produces the single-vineyard Chianti Classico La Corte. A true rarity at the time, considering Chianti Classico production followed the blend recommended by Bettino Ricasoli, combining two red and two white grape varieties.
“My grandfather wanted to make a pure Sangiovese,” adds François, “because he wanted a different wine for his family. So he decided to plant the La Corte vineyard. The first harvest was in 1904—we still have a few bottles left.”
Today, Alessandro works alongside his son Simone and Simone’s wife, his daughter Lia and her husband, and one of his grandchildren has already joined the family business.
“Our Chianti Classico wines are proud ambassadors of a land we deeply believe in,” says Simone François. “That’s why we practice respectful viticulture and vinify with the same care—we want our Sangiovese to fully express its identity.”
The Chianti Classico 2023 comes from a year that began with a dry, mild winter and a spring marked by heavy rainfall, especially in May and June. These conditions challenged the vineyard team, who worked hard to protect the vines from disease. The rains nonetheless provided enough water reserves to withstand the intense summer heat. The grapes developed well, though with slightly smaller berries than average. The harvest, limited in quantity but high in quality, started early, in the first ten days of September.
The Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 was born from a mild, rainy winter, followed by a dry and unusually warm March. This was interrupted by a sharp drop in temperatures in early April. Frequent spring rains slowed down vine development, but the hot, dry summer was balanced by well-distributed rainfall in September. The result was an excellent, slightly delayed ripening, with harvesting at the end of September.
The two wines offer authentic yet complementary interpretations:
The Chianti Classico 2023, aged for about 10 months in concrete and steel vats, is velvety and fruit-forward, with herbal notes. The freshness on the palate is sharp and well-defined.
The Riserva 2021, aged for 24 months (12 of which in second- and third-use barrels), stands out for its bold character, with bright red fruit and rich floral notes. It offers a captivating palate and a long, persistent finish.
Andrea Radic
