Where Great Chianti Begins in Castelnuovo Berardenga
In Castelnuovo Berardenga, the historic southern heart of Chianti Classico, Podere Lecci e Brocchi produces wines that embody the power, structure, and longevity that have made this subzone legendary among wine lovers. Castelnuovo Berardenga is widely regarded as the source of some of Chianti Classico's most profound expressions. These are wines with greater depth, firmer structure, and remarkable aging potential. Its distinctive red soils, rich in iron and limestone, create wines of exceptional character that stand apart from those produced elsewhere in the DOC.
The story of Lecci e Brocchi began in 1970 when founder Vasco Lastrucci purchased the property from a local parish priest. At the time, the land was planted primarily to wheat, but Vasco recognized the extraordinary potential of the estate's rocky, mineral-rich soils. Also, it’s hard to farm wheat in rocky soils, in my personal experience; I’m convinced that was part of the calculus. Convinced that great wine could be made here, he planted the first vineyards and was immediately rewarded with wines that were fragrant, expressive, and uniquely tied to the land. Encouraged by those early results, he expanded vineyard plantings across the estate.
For decades, the family's fruit was sold to some of Chianti Classico's most prestigious producers, quietly contributing to celebrated wines throughout the region. Everything changed after the 2011 harvest, when Vasco's daughter Sabrina Lastrucci took over the estate alongside her husband Giancarlo and son Giovanni. Rather than continue selling wine in bulk, the family made the courageous decision to bottle their own wines and share the true identity of Lecci e Brocchi with the world.
Today, the estate remains entirely family-run. Every step from farming the vineyards to bottling the finished wine is managed by the Lastrucci family. Farming follows organic principles, with full certification currently underway, while the winemaking remains refreshingly traditional. Ambient fermentations, gentle extraction, and aging in neutral oak allow the vineyards and vintage to speak for themselves without excessive intervention.
The 2022 Chianti Classico is a classic blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Colorino, offering vibrant aromas of red cherry, wild herbs, dried flowers, and earthy mineral notes. I really enjoyed the texture as the richness fanned across the palate. Fine tannins, lively acidity, and a long, savory finish make this a wine that is equally rewarding today and capable of evolving beautifully over the coming years. I thought that this wine was the perfect kind of Chianti. It’s deliciously medium bodied and refreshing while offering the promise of ageability in the medium term if you have more patience than I do.
91 Points, James Suckling
Bright aromas of cherries, currants, summer herbs, iodine, wet stones and a touch of spices. Medium-bodied, juicy and energetic, with dense acidity forming the backbone. Lingering and savory. Drink or hold.