The wines of Istine with winemaker Angela Fronti show a fine-boned, red-fruited prettiness and purity of terroir expression that convey an image of some historic, essential Chianti Classico estate such as Montevertine. Yet the estate is a fairly recent creation; the first vintage produced here was 2009. Their single-vineyard wines are made from mere 10-15 year-old vines with a depth and minerality one wouldn't expect from vines that young.

Chalk it up to great terroir. All the vineyards are located in Chianti Classico, in and around the villages of Radda (also home to Montevertine) and Gaiole. They're pretty steep, at high elevation, and super-rocky. This explains why these young vines can give such complexity and stoniness; they don't need years to for their roots to hit bedrock – they're planted directly on it!

In addition to the cool microclimates, Angela's commitment to organic viticulture and low-intervention winemaking must contribute to the jewel-like radiance and purity of the wines; it tastes like nothing is getting in the way, and that's because nothing is.