Wines produced in Chianti Classico in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, bear the "black rooster" logo. The legend of the black rooster dates back to the 13th century. In central Italy at the time, the neighboring cities of Florence and Siena had long been locked in a territorial dispute over dominance of Tuscany. Tired of repeated bloodshed, the two cities agreed on an ingenious yet peaceful solution. A knight from each city would set off at dawn at the crow of a rooster, and the spot where the two knights met would be set as the border.
Siena chose a white rooster for good luck and carefully tended it, feeding it generously. Florence, by contrast, locked a black rooster in a narrow cage and starved it for several days to sharpen its nerves. At dawn on the decisive day, the first to cry out in the darkness from sheer hunger was Florence's black rooster. Because it crowed much earlier than the white rooster, Florence's knight was able to secure land farther ahead than Siena's knight. A story has it that this is why most of today's Chianti Classico land remains under Florence's control.
This victorious history was adopted as an official emblem in 1924 when local producers formed an association to protect the identity and quality of Chianti Classico wine. The Chianti area has eight subzones, and unlike ordinary Chianti, only Chianti Classico wines that comply with strict quality regulations can carry the black rooster logo. It serves as an institutional mark guaranteeing origin and quality, a record of victory imbued with the valor of Florence's army, and a symbol of peace that ended a bloody war.
One producer that proudly bears the black rooster's decoration is Fattoria di Lornano. Lornano is a family-run winery that has been passed down for four generations since its founding in 1904. It was one of 33 producers that led the establishment of the Chianti Classico association in 1924. It is regarded as a producer that has preserved the region's tradition and identity of Chianti Classico relatively intact.
Among the wines Lornano produces, the name "Le Bandite" carries an even more special meaning. In Italian, Le Bandite refers to an area with restricted access or use. The wine is made only from top-quality grapes selected from a protected zone where hunting was strictly banned in the past. In particular, Lornano vinifies Le Bandite with 100% Sangiovese. Generally, Chianti Classico uses at least 80% Sangiovese and allows up to 20% of other varieties, so insisting on 100% signals the producer's pride in maximizing the potential of Tuscany's native variety.
The northern hill area of Chianti Classico where Lornano is located has soils of mixed limestone and clay. This terroir plays a key role in expressing Sangiovese's characteristic acidity in a firm, balanced way. Carefully destemmed grapes undergo a 25-day maceration with skins in stainless steel tanks at about 26 degrees. After malolactic fermentation, which smooths the sharp acidity, the wine matures for 20 months in French oak and 6 months in bottle before release. By regulation, the Riserva category requires at least 24 months of aging from the harvest year, and Le Bandite exceeds that aging period.
It shows a deep, vivid ruby-red hue. Aromas of ripe wild berries such as blackberry and raspberry strike intensely at the tip of the nose. Dried flowers and licorice follow, while a subtle tobacco note adds layered complexity. A mouth-filling, solid structure, abundant tannins, and Sangiovese's refined, fresh acidity maintain tension, and an orange note at the finish leaves a long aftertaste.
The 2020 vintage received 92 points from James Suckling and 94 points from Decanter. It won the grand prize in the Old World red wine category at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. It has won the grand prize four times so far. The importer in Korea is Les Vins.