| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.2 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 99 notes) - hiding notes with no text |
| | Tasted by Jarndyce on 12/5/2021 & rated 92 points: Bought at auction. Cork was in great shape. 20 minute decant, lovely nose, great bottle of chianti that i picked up for a song. On the lookout for more. (1253 views) |
| | Tasted by bhouk on 6/16/2019: Sweet cherry, grippy tannin, blood/iodine. A very solid wine and shows good complexity for the price. Failed to consult my previous note and thought it probably needed to be drunk, but it definitely didn’t. Last bottle unfortunately. (2001 views) |
| | Tasted by winemaker on 4/29/2018: Last bottle. I felt this was very good. Easy drinker. Tannins and acids have softened. Time to drink these. (2373 views) |
| | Tasted by winemaker on 1/30/2018 & rated 93 points: This is a terrific CCR! Love this wine. This will hold for several more years. Floral aromas, sappy, dusty on the nose. Sweet cherry fruit. Balanced nicely by the acids and tannins. Medium bodied. Long finish. I only have one more left. (2403 views) |
| | Tasted by bhouk on 4/30/2017: Dense and structured, with dark chocolate, cherries, iron filings, tangy acidity and grippy tannin. Seems quite youthful at 13. Better with some air. Can drink now for sure, but holding seems a better option. (3050 views) |
| | Tasted by winemaker on 9/10/2015 & rated 93 points: This is in a fantastic place right now. Bold sour cherry fruit, rich on the mid palate with plenty of grip via acids and tannins. Long finish. Glad I have a few left! (3939 views) |
| | Tasted by John Nezlek on 2/17/2015 & rated 89 points: My bottle was not quite as stellar as those recently described by other CTers. Nevertheless, it was well balanced, flavorful (clearly Italian), and generally very enjoyable with pasta with a red sauce -- what else :-)? (3509 views) |
| | Tasted by JSOL on 11/1/2014 & rated 95 points: Almost perfect Sangiovese. Perfectly aged and perfectly balanced. Complex, lengthy and racy. Not heavy for a riserva. Very nice indeed. (3543 views) |
| | Tasted by grizzlymarmot on 10/13/2014 & rated 93 points: Greatly benefited from decanting (aeration), the wine was free of sediment. Youthful color despite the 10 years of age. Aroma - black cherry, baking spice. Flavor follows the nose. Finish medium and restrained. Excellent balance with the body. (3542 views) |
| | Tasted by dbormolini on 8/30/2014 & rated 84 points: Good but definitely at end of life (3124 views) |
| | Tasted by CPA_SLP on 1/10/2014 & rated 91 points: Nose- earthy, flagstone, dark berries
Taste- dark berries, chocolate, earthy, minerality, dry finish (2697 views) |
| | Tasted by plitton on 3/15/2013 & rated 89 points: Lovely earth. A little too tannic but still enjoyable. Best with food. (3538 views) |
| | Tasted by h2o on 12/29/2012 & rated 90 points: with duck confit (3226 views) |
| | Tasted by mcsac67 on 11/20/2012 & rated 87 points: Red cherry, currant and a bit of earth in the nose. Good balance of acid and ripe tannins. Flavors of red fruit, earth and a bit of stone. Good Chianti flavors. Exceeded my expectations and is sitting in a very nice spot right now. Last bottle found hidden in the cellar. (3352 views) |
| | Tasted by winemaker on 10/16/2012 & rated 92 points: This wine is just starting to take on a bit of brown with its vibrant red color. Gorgeous aroma of pure cherry and menthol. This wine is fantastic. Pure cherry flavors with grip and a long finish. The Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva drinks well with air on release and really ages beautifully. I have 3 more of these left. It will be interesting to continue to follow the wines evolution. (3444 views) |
| | Tasted by Armando B on 9/21/2012 & rated 91 points: Wonderful bottle. Red fruit, leather, earth. Great texture with slightly grippy tannins. Nice acid. Super QPR for $18. Wish I had bought more. (3059 views) |
| | Tasted by gromi on 8/18/2012 & rated 91 points: Drinking very smooth right now. Paired with a vegi pizza and it went nice. (2460 views) |
| | Tasted by wine4me2 on 11/26/2011 & rated 90 points: Very nice Chianti drinking very well. Bright, just the right amount of ripe fruit coming through with nice acidity making for a nice finish. They made this one just fine for the price point and I an impressed with the value here. Some wines you open up and the next day drink poorly...not here...this wine was singing on day 2 and 3. I would say this wine has the ability to go another 3-5 years but why wait....I wish I had more. (3292 views) |
| | Tasted by Armando B on 7/26/2011 & rated 89 points: Day 1--popped and poured; very,very tight and showing little. days 2 & 3--much better; red cherry sangio fruit with abundant earth; tannins still very firm; medium weight; what I typcially expect of a good CCR. Looking forward--leave remainining obttle for a year or 2 (or alt least give it a long decanting). (3637 views) |
| | Tasted by winemaker on 6/18/2011 & rated 92 points: Medium red, transparent. Muted nose of tuscan brush with a hint of hidden cherry fruit. This is a big wine with firm tannins. I need to remember to hold the rest of these for another 3 years plus. Really delicious and complex. Classic Sangiovese. Dark cherry fruit, damp earth, bright acids. Long finish. (3793 views) |
| | Tasted by CCestaro on 5/21/2011 & rated 90 points: Dark cherry, cedar, and spice nose.....a raisin and cherry palate....with some nice mouthfeel....wine drinking fine...solid chianti (3972 views) |
| | Tasted by photonwine on 2/16/2011 & rated 90 points: Dark cherry and leather notes on the nose along with some kirsch, floral and even some hints of hard candy. Nice mid weight palate with dark cherry. Tannins still have a little grip on the finish. Nice with a good amount of life left. (4212 views) |
| | Tasted by schliecker on 10/25/2010 & rated 90 points: Ruby red color with red fruit, spice, and light cedar notes. I'm also getting a bit of minerality coming through. Nice acidity. A little chewy with a medium long finish. Very nice and enjoyable. I don't tend to hold on to these for too long and think this is drinking great right now. (4792 views) |
| | Tasted by photonwine on 9/29/2010 & rated 90 points: Still on the young side. Reticent nose, dense dark cherry palate with hints of raspberry and cedar and minerals. Good length. Decanting opened it nicely. Better length and nice cherry vanilla notes that linger with hints of mineral. (4764 views) |
| | Tasted by photonwine on 9/21/2010 flawed bottle: Corked. Still shows good intense dark cherry. Decent length but a little clipped. (4745 views) |
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