Recommended by the New York Times, Wine Spectator, Food & Wine, and Many More. Check out our recent press.

Award-winning SF wine shop – free local delivery & fast nationwide shipping. Learn more

Caparsa Chianti Classico Riserva Caparsino 2021

$5999

Caparsino is Paolo Cianferoni's top Riserva — the more refined of his two single-vineyard bottlings, drawn from older vines on alberese, galestro, clay, and sand at around 450 meters in Radda. After spontaneous fermentation in cement, it ages roughly fifteen months in large 18hL oak casks, the kind of patient elevage that lets terroir, not wood, do the talking. Expect macerated dark cherry, pine, lavender, and a thread of espresso, with the cool-climate tension Radda is famous for. Built to age, but already articulate.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


Add your content here

Antonio Galloni

95 points

"The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Caparsino is plush and wonderfully deep right out of the glass. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark red cherry/plum fruit. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, mint, new leather and blood orange all envelop the palate. Readers will find a Riserva of uncommon character and distinction. Floral overtones extend the potent, layered finish." —Antonio Galloni

More about Caparsa

There is often a misconception that "Old Fashioned" or "Traditional" implies something rustic—a wine that is rough around the edges. But if you have ever tasted the great traditional wines of Italy—like a Soldera Brunello or a classic Monfortino—you know that the opposite is true. When executed perfectly, traditional methods don't create roughness; they create profound transparency. They allow a wine to have power without weight.

Caparsa doesn't cost hundreds of dollars a bottle, but spiritually at least, it belongs in that same conversation.

The estate is run by Paolo Cianferoni, a man as rugged and honest as his vines. He was just seven when his father bought the farm, and Paolo claims to have worked the very first vintage that they produced and all 55 vintages since then! The farm is in Radda in Chianti, the highest and coolest zone of the appellation. In recent years, Radda has become the most sought-after terroir in the region because its altitude preserves acidity and freshness even in warmer years. It is sometimes called the "Chambolle-Musigny of Chianti" for its tendency to produce ethereal, red-fruited wines.

But Caparsa adds a bass note to that Radda treble.

Paolo’s winemaking is unhurried and confident: organic farming, spontaneous fermentations in cement vats, and aging in cement casks. The result is a Chianti with far more presence than is typical at this price point. It feels "gutsy"—with a wild, savory soul—but because of the Radda terroir, it remains incredibly refined. It is structured but not stern; generous but never heavy.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Sangiovese

  • Vintage

    2021

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Earthy , Fruity

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Florentine steak, braised short ribs, wild boar ragu, aged Parmigiano, or roasted lamb with rosemary.

Tasting Profile

Structured and savory with macerated dark cherry, pine, lavender, and espresso, framed by firm tannins and cool acidity.

More wines from Caparsa

View all