Crafted from the finest plots of the Panzano UGA, Monna Lisa stands as a structured, harmonious Gran Selezione – the result of a balanced vintage and perfectly matured fruit
Greve in Chianti, 9 October 2025 – Vignamaggio (link) presents the 2018 vintage of its Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione Monna Lisa, pinnacle of the estate’s production and crafted only in the finest vintages from the estate’s most expressive parcels in Vitigliano, Prato and Querceto, in the heart of the Panzano UGA. A historic wine estate located between Greve and Panzano in Chianti, Vignamaggio is one of the founding members of the Chianti Classico Consortium. With over six centuries of documented agricultural tradition, it follows a polycultural approach that integrates vineyards, olive groves, woodland, crops and hospitality.
“The Gran Selezione Monna Lisa 2018 (link) reflects the vintage’s rhythm with elegance and balance,” comments Francesco Naldi, Head of Agriculture at Vignamaggio. “The wine shows an excellent color, with fresh and spicy aromas, where the oak is perceptible but never predominant. On the palate, it is intense, with a smooth tannic texture and a rather persistent finish. It is a wine that combines depth and refinement, capable of telling the story of its origin and evolving gracefully over time.”
The 2018 vintage was defined by a steady climate and a dry September with strong diurnal shifts, leading to full phenolic ripeness and yielding a wine of balance, structure, and excellent aging potential.
After a surprisingly cold winter, spring brought generous rainfall. Summer alternated warm days with moderate rainfall, avoiding any significant hydric stress. September offered perfect harvest conditions – dry, sunny days and cool nights – which favoured aromatic and phenolic maturation.
A RIGOROUS SELECTION FROM THE FINEST PARCELS
The grapes are sourced from vineyards in Vitigliano, Prato, and Querceto, located on the left bank of the Greve River. The soils belong primarily to the Sillano geological formation, rich in stones, low in limestone, and well-draining. In some areas, galestro (schistose clay) and Pietraforte soils are also present. Yields are deliberately kept low, at 33 hl/ha, to promote aromatic concentration and structure.
HARVEST AND AGING
The grapes are hand-harvested with a double selection, both in the vineyard and later in the cellar, using an optical sorting system. Sangiovese (95%) was harvested between September 28 and 29, 2018, under ideal dry conditions with excellent diurnal variation. Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) was harvested between October 3 and 4. The two varieties were vinified separately in stainless steel, with around 12 days of maceration, accompanied by targeted pump-overs and délestage.
The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in stainless steel before aging 18–20 months in French oak barriques and large casks, followed by at least 6 months in bottle. Total maturation exceeds 30 months, and production is limited to around 15,000 bottles.
ABOUT
A new vision of Chianti Classico: this is Vignamaggio (link), a 400-hectare estate located between Greve and Panzano in Chianti. A place that is in harmony with the surrounding landscape, inserted within a polyculture vision that considers the centrality of wine and includes tending to the forests, cultivating olive groves, cereals, vegetable gardens, and the breeding of Cinta Senese pigs and sheep. Vignamaggio is one of the oldest agricultural estates in Italy and is among the founding companies of the Consorzio del Chianti Classico, which it proudly represents all over the world thanks to excellent products such as Chianti Classico Riserva Gherardino and Gran Selezione Monna Lisa. Vignamaggio’s widespread hospitality is an immersive experience where guests can enjoy every element within a harmonious system designed to “make the day wonderful”: a celebration of the pleasure found in the little things and the great gifts of nature.
