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Many are the medals won by the Chianti Classico this year. Now that the grape harvest is over, we have a look at all the prizes that have been awarded to Chianti Classico wines by international critics.

Famous wine critic James Suckling published the world’s 100 top wines list on November 2nd – out of over 16,000 evaluated last year – and he has included a Gran Selezione, the Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Gran Selection Colledilà 2015, which gets 97 points among the greatest world’s wines.

International experts seem to especially appreciate the Gran Selezione wines. According to Wine Advocate, 78 Gallo Nero labels are worthy of receiving a score which is higher than the ‘excellent score of 90 points’ .

16 Gran Selezione wines get the highest rating, including the Félsina Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia which gets 97 points.

Wine Spectator rewards well over 144 Chianti Classico labels, giving 77 of them a score of 90 points or more. The highest score goes to another Gran Selezione, the Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Vigneto La Casuccia Gran Selezione, which gets 96 points.

For years Wine Spectator has been including Chianti Classico wines in the ‘top 100 wines’ list and has recently selected 12 Chianti labels which were presented to the New York Marriott Marquis in the heart of Manhattan.

The United States is an important market for Chianti Classico: three bottles out of ten which are produced in the Chianti hills – Chianti is the oldest denomination (300 years celebrated in 2016) – end up on American tables.

The Doctor Wine classification, an Italian guide that evaluates wines according to international standards, also includes the Gran Selezione amongst the world’s top wines.

There are 20 Gallo Nero labels that score between 95 and 98 points. The highest score goes to Chianti Classico 2015 of the Querciabella winery, with 98 points.

97 points go to three Gran Selezione wines: Badia a Passignano 2012 of Antinori, the Puro 2013 of the Castello di Volpaia and the Sergio Zingarelli 2013 of Rocca delle Macìe. We also find here the much-awarded Felsina Gran Selezione Colonia 2013.

In Italy, the prestigious Italian Gambero Rosso guide recognizes the Chianti Classico’s value: the Gallo Nero gets 21 awards (28%) out of 75 Tuscan wines.

12 Chianti Classico wines are awarded by Slow Wine, while the Espresso’s guide selects 51 Tuscan wines, of which 14 are produced in the Chianti Classico territory.

Same for the Touring guide, while Bibenda gives 5 “grappoli” (grapes) to 12 Chianti Classico labels, half of which are Gran Selezione.

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