The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Picchio opens to dark density and an inky appearance. The bouquet delivers thick fruit aromas of dried blackberry, prune and plum. You taste the heat and the sunny nature of the vintage, thanks to all that abundant and exuberant fruit. This blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% other red grapes (aged in oak for 12 months) is linear and austere in terms of palate with firm tannins and a sharp, mid-weight delivery. Some 25,000 bottles were made.