DEFENDANT: Hannibal Lecter

EVIDENCE: Frescobaldi Castiglione Chianti DOCG

SCENE OF THE CRIME: Chianti, Tuscany, IT

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Hey friend — grab a glass and pull up a chair. In this cozy, spooky episode of True Crimes Against Wine, Judge Topher and Judge Rachel uncork a breezy Chianti (Frescobaldi’s Castiglione DOCG) and take you on a trip through vineyards, vintage trivia, and one of cinema’s creepiest minds: Hannibal Lecter.

We wander through Italian wine regions, decode what “Chianti” really means (it’s a place, not a grape), and chat about Sangiovese — the grape whose name literally translates to “blood of Jove.” We taste pomegranate, raspberry, and gentle tannins, debate decanting, and marvel at how much character can come from a $15–$20 bottle.

Then the episode pivots into pop-culture mode: an affectionate, spoiler-rich deep dive into The Silence of the Lambs — Jodie Foster’s Clarice, Anthony Hopkins’ unnerving Hannibal, the iconic Buffalo Bill scene, and why the film still gives us chills. We toss in juicy behind-the-scenes bits (the director charming a singer in drag, casting what-ifs, and Ted Levine’s dance-prep), a playful Hannibal wardrobe breakdown, and a trivia quiz filled with booze-fueled misfires.

It’s intimate, funny, and a little bit creepy — like a perfect Halloween hangout with old friends who love wine and true crime-adjacent pop culture. Come for the Chianti, stay for the chilling movie talk (and the questionable life choices). Cheers — and maybe don’t let strange men into your hatchback.