DOCG Red

San Felice Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva

Agricola San Felice

Grape
Sangiovese
Denomination
Chianti Classico DOCG
Region
Tuscany
ABV
13.5%

San Felice's benchmark Chianti Classico Riserva: estate Sangiovese from Castelnuovo Berardenga, aged in Slavonian casks and French barrels. Violet and cherry meet savoury tobacco and firm tannin, with the bright acidity Tuscan reds need at table.

Best price
£21.00

2022 · 75cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery charge shown at checkout

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Vintages 2023 2022 Not stated

Prices read daily from 5 UK retailers. We earn a commission on some links; it never changes the order.

Where to buy Il Grigio Riserva

£21.00 best price · 5 retailers in stock · checked 25 Oct 2026

Stock is shown where the retailer publishes it, offers are sorted by price, and unavailable offers can’t be clicked.

Vinatis Best price 2023 · Half bottle 37.5cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery £6 for 1 to 6 bottles, £0.50 per extra bottle
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£12.37 £32.99/L
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XtraWine Best price 2022 · 75cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery charge shown at checkout
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£21.00 £28.00/L
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Field & Fawcett Best price Not stated · 75cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery £9.99, or £14.99 for 3+ bottles, free from £175
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£22.95 £30.60/L
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Vino.com Best price 2022 · 75cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery usually £16.90, free on 6 bottles Code WINE6R8T: £17 off your first wine order with £180 minimum spend, until 13 Jan 2028
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£23.40 £31.20/L
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Vinatis Best price 2022 · 75cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery £6 for 1 to 6 bottles, £0.50 per extra bottle
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£23.83 £31.77/L
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Millesima Best price 2022 · 75cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery £20, free over £250
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£25.20 £33.60/L
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Vinatis Best price 2022 · Magnum 150cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery £6 for 1 to 6 bottles, £0.50 per extra bottle
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£45.51 £30.34/L
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Vino.com Best price 2022 · Magnum 150cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery usually £16.90, free on 3 bottles Code WINE6R8T: £17 off your first wine order with £180 minimum spend, until 13 Jan 2028
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£45.70 £30.47/L
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Field & Fawcett Best price Not stated · Magnum 150cl · checked 25 Oct · Delivery £9.99, or £14.99 for 3+ bottles, free on 4 bottles
Read from the retailer's page once a day. Confidence is low, so treat it as a guide and confirm at the retailer.
£53.45 £35.63/L
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Unavailable (1)
Vinatis Best price 2022 · Half bottle 37.5cl · checked 20 Oct · Delivery £6 for 1 to 6 bottles, £0.50 per extra bottle
Out of stock
£12.36 £32.96/L
Out of stock

Stock status is read from each retailer’s page once a day and may lag. Case and magnum listings show a per-bottle or per-litre equivalent and sit outside the best-price figure.

Tasting Notes

Tasting San Felice's Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva

Our reading of the wine, set against San Felice's own notes and its two years in Slavonian oak: violet, cherry and tobacco over firm tannin and bright acidity.

Tasted by
ItalianWines editorial
Tasted on
12 June 2026
Source
Drinker consensus · confidence Medium
Typical of Sangiovese
Body Light / Full
Tannins Smooth / Grippy
Sweetness Dry / Sweet
Acidity Soft / Crisp
Nose

Deep ruby in the glass, with the violet and wild red-berry lift San Felice names on its own notes. Air brings tobacco, sweet oak spice and tea-leaf, and oak and tobacco are what most people notice first.

VioletViolet
Black cherryBlack cherry
BlackberryBlackberry
TobaccoTobacco
LeatherLeather
Black pepperBlack pepper
LiquoriceLiquorice
VanillaVanilla
Palate

Full-bodied but lean and firm. Ripe black cherry and bramble are framed by the savoury grip of two years' wood. Around 80 percent ages in 6,000 to 9,000 litre Slavonian oak casks and 20 percent in small French oak barrels. That mix shows as well-integrated oak rather than vanilla sweetness. Total acidity near 5.8 grams per litre keeps it taut.

Finish

The close is long and savoury, with dusty tannin and a stony edge. That edge traces back to the crumbly schist-and-clay soil and alberese limestone of the estate vineyards.

Overall

This is San Felice's benchmark Riserva from Castelnuovo Berardenga, and a consistent critical performer topped by the 2021's Wine Spectator Top 100 finish. A well-liked wine: drinkers return to its oak, red cherry and value. Drink the current releases now or hold the best vintages a decade.

Drink now Best by 2034
Live UK pricing

Buying Il Grigio Riserva: UK prices and formats

The current 2021 and 2022 vintages sit around 25 pounds for a 75cl bottle, with 1.5 litre magnums near 46 pounds.

Best price · 75 cl · 2022 £21.00 at XtraWine
Price spread · 75cl · 2022 £21.00 - £25.20 Across 4 UK retailers with 75cl · 2022 in stock
Retailers · 75cl · 2022 4UK 4 in stock
Vintages live 2023 · 2022 Current release: 2023
Per-litre (75cl · 2022 basis) £28.00 Lowest current 75cl · 2022 offer
Last checked 25 Oct 2026 Refreshed once every 24 hours
Other vintages and formats: 4 price lines

Half bottle 37.5cl · 2023: £12.37, 1 UK retailer

75cl · Vintage not stated: £22.95, 1 UK retailer

Magnum 150cl · Vintage not stated: £53.45, 1 UK retailer

Magnum 150cl · 2022: £45.51 - £45.70, 2 UK retailers

Wine fit score

Il Grigio Riserva by the numbers: our fit score

How this Chianti Classico Riserva scores for food, value, ageing and occasion at around 25 pounds a bottle.

Best with food 9.0/10

Bright Sangiovese acidity near 5.8 grams per litre and firm tannin make this a textbook table red for Tuscan meats, ragu and tomato dishes.

Best value 8.4/10

At about 25 pounds for a Tre Bicchieri and Wine Spectator Top 100 Riserva, quality-to-price sits well above the Chianti Classico Riserva average.

Best for cellar 8.0/10

Riserva ageing of at least 24 months, much of it in Slavonian casks, plus firm tannin give a 10-year window in strong vintages like 2021.

Best for an occasion 8.0/10

A DOCG Riserva with Tre Bicchieri and Wine Spectator Top 100 pedigree makes a confident pick for a dinner or a gift.

Best intro to this style 7.4/10

A clear, classic Sangiovese at a friendly price: approachable for newcomers, though the firm tannin asks for food.

Best everyday bottle 4.2/10

Structured and oak-aged at around 25 pounds, this is a considered weekend red rather than a midweek pour.

Scoring is rule-based and deterministic. The model and weightings are documented in our Wine Fit Score methodology.

Denomination Compliance Snapshot

Chianti Classico in five fields

A compact view of what the Chianti Classico denomination actually requires, and how this bottle sits inside it. Pulled from the official Italian disciplinare.

Allowed grapes
1 varieties listed
This bottle: Sangiovese.
Minimum ageing
12 months minimum
No oak ageing required.
Region / area
Firenze · Siena
Source: Disciplinare.
Style
DOCG · Chianti Classico
Minimum ABV at this colour: 12.0%.
Classification
DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita)
What that means →
Vintages

Il Grigio Riserva vintage by vintage: 2021 and 2022

How San Felice's 2021 and 2022 Riservas compare, from a Wine Spectator Top 100 placement for 2021 to a warm, rain-rescued 2022 harvest.

2023 Current release
Best price
£12.37 half bottle
Retailers
1 in stock
2022 Previous release
Best price
£21.00
Retailers
6 in stock
ABV
13.5%
Window
Drink now through 2034

A warm 2022 season tempered by mid-August rains that restored balance before an early-September Sangiovese harvest. The result earned Gambero Rosso's Tre Bicchieri and 92 to 93 points from Suckling, Vinous and Falstaff: firm, savoury and built to age.

2021 Sold through
Best price
not listed
Retailers
0 in stock
ABV
13.5%
Window
Drink now through 2036

An acclaimed Chianti Classico vintage for San Felice: the 2021 Il Grigio took 24th place in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2024 on a 93-point score, with Antonio Galloni's Vinous and Robert Parker's team close behind at 92 to 93. Structured and balanced for a decade in the cellar.

Not stated
Best price
£22.95
Retailers
2 in stock
2022 Previous release
Best price
£21.00
Retailers
6 in stock
ABV
13.5%
Window
Drink now through 2034

A warm 2022 season tempered by mid-August rains that restored balance before an early-September Sangiovese harvest. The result earned Gambero Rosso's Tre Bicchieri and 92 to 93 points from Suckling, Vinous and Falstaff: firm, savoury and built to age.

Drink-now / hold guidance reflects general style cues for this wine, not a forecast for a specific bottle. Where vintage-level editorial notes exist, they appear above.

The disciplinare, the place, the label

Why San Felice sets the Chianti Classico Riserva standard

Decades of estate winemaking at Castelnuovo Berardenga under Leonardo Bellaccini, on the galestro and alberese limestone soils of Chianti Classico.

01

DOC, DOCG, IGT: what the badges mean

Italian wine law sorts bottles into a pyramid. DOCG sits at the top: tightly drawn boundaries, prescribed grapes, mandatory ageing, government tasting before release. DOC is the same idea with looser thresholds. IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) is broader still, requiring only that 85% of the grapes come from the named territory.

Chianti Classico is in the DOCG tier. That is not a quality verdict, it is a description of how much freedom the producer has at vinification and ageing.

02

The denomination rules, in detail

  • Allowed grapes. 1 varieties listed in the disciplinare
  • Yield ceiling. 7.5 tonnes per hectare
  • Minimum ABV. 12.0% vol
  • Minimum ageing. 12 months total
  • Tasting panel. Mandatory pre-release tasting commission
03

Region and area context

Chianti Classico falls within Tuscany, covering Firenze · Siena. The denomination is further divided into 11 sub-zones.

Chianti Classico DOCG zone The producer Wine route in the zone

Made at Agricola San Felice, Castelnuovo Berardenga. Directions

Wine route in the zone: Strada Chiantigiana SR 222.

04

Reading the label

  • Agricola San FeliceProducer / estate
  • SangioveseGrape varieties
  • Chianti Classico DOCGGeographic indication and quality tier
  • 2023Vintage (year of harvest)
  • Imbottigliato all’origineEstate-bottled
05

What sits behind the price of Il Grigio Riserva

Tracked from
£21.00
Direction
Mostly cost up
Drivers
5 up / 1 down
Main factor
Two years in Slavonian botti and French barriques
  1. 01

    Single-estate Sangiovese from Chianti Classico hillsides

    Cost up

    San Felice hand-selects its best estate Sangiovese at Castelnuovo Berardenga; estate-grown fruit on galestro at 350 to 400 m costs more than bought-in grapes.

  2. 02

    Two years in Slavonian botti and French barriques

    Cost up

    80 percent rests 18 to 24 months in 60 to 90 hl Slavonian oak and 20 percent in small French oak barrels, then six months in bottle: cellar capital tied up before release.

  3. 03

    DOCG Riserva ageing discipline

    Cost up

    Chianti Classico Riserva requires at least 24 months' ageing, holding stock long after harvest and adding carrying cost to the 25 pound bottle.

  4. 04

    Critical pedigree: Tre Bicchieri and Wine Spectator Top 100

    Cost up

    Tre Bicchieri and a 24th-place Wine Spectator Top 100 finish for the 2021 support pricing above an entry Chianti Classico.

  5. 05

    Made at flagship scale across five formats

    Cost down

    Produced in large, consistent volumes from 375ml to 5 litres, economies of scale keep it near 25 pounds rather than the 40-plus of boutique Riservas.

  6. 06

    UK duty and VAT on a still red wine

    Cost up

    UK excise duty of 2.67 pounds a bottle at 13.5 percent ABV plus 20 percent VAT make up roughly 6.90 pounds of the 25.20 pound shelf price before any margin.

01

Single-estate Sangiovese from Chianti Classico hillsides

Cost up

San Felice hand-selects its best estate Sangiovese at Castelnuovo Berardenga; estate-grown fruit on galestro at 350 to 400 m costs more than bought-in grapes.

Perfect Pairings

Dishes that go with this wine

Pizza Romana, plated

Pizza Romana
Food Pairing

Sangiovese tannin and Tuscan acidity: what to pour with Il Grigio

San Felice points to meat-sauced first courses, roast pigeon and grilled steak; the wine's firm tannin and 5.8 grams per litre acidity explain why.

Fat cutting Strong match

Bistecca and chargrilled Tuscan steak

Firm Sangiovese tannin and acidity near 5.8 grams per litre scrub the charred fat of a rare bistecca and reset the palate between bites. The wine's savoury, tobacco-edged core echoes the seared crust on grilled beef.

Try with: Fiorentina steak · grilled ribeye · Porchetta · More pairings →

Tannin softening Strong match

Slow ragu and meat-sauced pasta

Fat and protein in a long-cooked lamb or beef ragu bind to the Riserva's tannin and soften its grip, while the acidity lifts the tomato. This is the meat-sauced first course San Felice points to on the label.

Try with: Agnello Ragu Lucano · pappardelle al cinghiale · tagliatelle al ragu · More pairings →

Aromatic bridge Good match

Truffle, porcini and earthy autumn plates

Leather, tobacco and forest-floor notes, the earthy side of this wine, bridge to the umami of mushroom and truffle. Sangiovese acidity keeps a creamy risotto from turning heavy.

Try with: Truffle risotto · Porcini mushroom risotto · Tagliatelle al tartufo di Acqualagna · More pairings →

Salt balance Good match

Aged pecorino and hard Tuscan cheese

The salt and fat of a mature pecorino press against the wine's tannin and acidity, each tempering the other. Aged sheep's cheese is the classic Tuscan partner for a Sangiovese of this structure.

Try with: Pecorino sardo e pan carasau · aged pecorino toscano · Parmigiano Reggiano · More pairings →

Body matching Good match

Roast pork, lamb and game birds

A full-bodied Riserva carries the richness of porchetta, roast lamb or pigeon without being swamped, while its tannin cuts the fat. Producer and UK importer both point to roast meats and wildfowl.

Try with: Porchetta · Roast Duck · roast pigeon

Avoid Clash

Chilli heat and sweet-sour glazes

Tannin and alcohol amplify chilli burn, and a structured Riserva turns metallic against sweet-sour or heavily spiced dishes. Keep it for savoury salt-and-fat plates rather than fiery ones.

Skip with: vindaloo · crispy chilli beef · szechuan beef · sweet-and-sour pork · Pairing guide →

Drinking + cellar

Cellaring San Felice Il Grigio Riserva

Riserva ageing of at least 24 months, much of it in 6,000 to 9,000 litre Slavonian casks, underpins a decade-long window in vintages like 2021.

Decanting
1 hour

A short splash decant softens the first-pour edge and opens the aromatics.

Serving temperature
16-18°C

Aim for the cooler end on a warm day; warmer end opens up more aromatics.

Cellar potential
High

Riserva ageing of at least 24 months, much of it in Slavonian casks, plus firm tannin give a 10-year window in strong vintages like 2021.

Buy now or wait?
Buy now

£21.00 for a 75cl bottle of the 2022, at XtraWine, is the best price we track, and we have no signal of further discounting.

Sources & trust

Sources behind this Il Grigio Riserva page

Prices & stock

Read directly from each retailer’s public product page once a day. Last refresh: 25 Oct 2026, 03:23 BST. We do not hold stock and we do not accept payment for placement.

Confidence · High
Tasting notes

Drawn from what drinkers consistently report on Vivino, summarised in our own words. A crowd read across many tasters, not a single critic. Drinkers score it 3.9 out of 5 from 31,355 ratings on Vivino.

Confidence · Medium
Appellation rules & ageing

From the official Italian disciplinare for this denomination, cross-checked against the Ministry of Agriculture register.

Confidence · High
Why it costs what it costs

Our reading of the price, drawn from the disciplinare, public UK duty rates, and typical landed-cost benchmarks. Not a quote from the producer or a retailer.

Confidence · Medium
Drink window & cellar potential

Style guidance for this kind of wine at this price point. Treat it as advice, not a forecast for the bottle in your hand.

Confidence · Medium
Related

Explore San Felice, Sangiovese and Chianti Classico

Producer
Agricola San Felice Tuscany
Grapes
Sangiovese
Denomination
Chianti Classico DOCG
Region
Tuscany Region guide
Cuisine
Italian Cuisine 1 dishes paired

Common Questions

It is a full-bodied, dry Tuscan red led by violet and wild cherry, with savoury tobacco, leather and a stony edge from oak ageing. Firm tannin and bright acidity make it lean and structured, finishing long and savoury.

It is essentially 100 percent Sangiovese, selected from San Felice's estate vineyards at Castelnuovo Berardenga in Chianti Classico. The wine ages roughly 80 percent in large Slavonian oak casks and 20 percent in small French oak barrels.

Sangiovese tannin and acidity suit grilled and roast meats, meat-sauced pasta and aged pecorino. San Felice names meat-sauced first courses, roast pigeon and grilled steak; try bistecca, ragu, porchetta or truffle risotto.

Yes. The 2021 took 24th place in Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2024 with 93 points, and 92 to 93 points from two other leading critics. It is structured for up to a decade of cellaring.

Strong vintages will hold and improve for about ten years, while staying enjoyable on release. The 2021 has the structure for the longer end of that window; the 2022 is best from 2025 onward.

UK specialists list the current 750ml vintages around 25 pounds a bottle, with magnums near 46 pounds. It is strong value for a Chianti Classico Riserva of this critical standing.

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Il Grigio Riserva
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