Terroir-istes International - Italy, Chianti Classico

A run through the Chianti Classico region with some Rufina. Mostly Riserva wines and tasted between 2001 and 2006

• 2006 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rùfina Riserva Bucerchiale 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rùfina

  Light to medium garnet with an orange rim. Perfumed nose, like a Pinot Noir with flavours of red plum, Rainer cherry, mineral, woodsmoke and rusty nail with a tertiary twist.
  A good palate with a chalky texture and fresh, integrated acidity. Quite a polished wine with strawberry, sour cherry, crushed rocks and intriguing ferruginous quality, the wine remains elegant and sophisticated. A dense, puckering tannin gives plenty of structure and a slightly spicy and smoky edge towards the back palate. Medium to long finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rùfina Riserva Bucerchiale 95 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rùfina

  A delightful bouquet with worn leather jacket and spice intermingled with brown spices, cigars and red plum.
  Medium-bodied, the entry is silky textured, with vibrant, almost piercing acidity and incredible depth of flavour.
  A sensual wine that is lithe and delicate but athletic in its gait, displaying remarkable depth of flavour and layers of complexity. The finish is long and dusted with fine chalky tannins that seem to go on forever and lingering tertiary notes. Everything seems to be moving in step - a classic wine from a classic vintage beautifully weighted with lots of depth. Stunning!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico 86 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  80% Sangiovese, 12% Malvasia Nera and Merlot, 8% Canaiolo. Matured 25% new and the remainder 1-3 years old for 12 months. Alcohol: 12,76. Medium cherry red to narrow orange rim; the nose is heady and perfumed with red cherries and raspberry.
  Full-bodied with ripe fruit flavours and solid texture going to softer furry tannins. Flavours of wild strawberry, tar and hung game. A strange wine, it lacks elegance and feels a little brutish yet retains a freshness to the wine. Not that charming, and there is little depth of flavour; the finish veers to a burnt jam element. Short to medium length.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo 86 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  The attractive nose displays ripe red plums, red berries and sour cherries, undergrowth, and some tertiary characteristics.
  A crisp, crunchy acid on entry with somewhat drying tannins and a few nutty notes? There is hotness to the wine, the alcohol protruds whilst it also feels extracted.
  There is dry earth, undergrowth, wood smoke and red and black fruits, yet the wine has a plush, polished feel even though, for me, it seemed a little over-ambitious and lacking charm in the process. there is a pinch of Chinese 5 spice and a vegetal feel that gave an unripe quality to the wine. A wine of contrasts, the wine felt like it had interest but all the elements were falling over each other to show themselves. Perhaps an awkward stage. Certainly, the firm tannin suggests some unripe characters, whilst the finish lacked persistence.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo 87 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Light to medium ruby with a slightly dull intensity and some residue on the glass with a wider orange rim.
  Quite a stinky nose showed hung game and leather along with barnyard elements.
  Full-bodied with a sweet note, there is some evolution here. Yet, it still retains pleasant fruity notes of wild strawberry, black cherry, cough syrup, white pepper and baking spices with a lick of vanilla. Furry texture.
  A lovely breadth of fruit showcasing a fairly complex wine with warming alcohol notes. The tannins feel a little dry and roughshod, slightly blunting the finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Castello Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva 85 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Light to medium cherry red; the nose is attractive with ripe strawberry, raspberry and Bing cherry.
  The entry starts a little funky with more tertiary notes creeping in whilst there is more raspberry fruit-wise.
  Supple textured with fresh acidity, this is a lighter-bodied example that seems more delicate. Medium depth, medium length with gentle furry tannins. The brighter red fruits start to fade a little in the glass and the tertiary increases. Seemed a little ethereal but still enjoyable.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Chianti Rùfina Nipozzano Riserva 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rùfina

  Medium blood red towards a narrow orange rim.
  The nose is exuberant with red cherries, Victoria plum, tinned prune, tilled soil, fresh leather and heady, intense notes. seems to get better in the glass.
  Some felt the entry a little reductive at first, but to me it opened quickly to reveal an expressive range of attractive flavours. Deeply concentrated, full-bodied, the wine is filled with redcurrants, pressed red flowers, plum and bing cherry, again with a twist of vanilla.
  Well-balanced with medium length, richness is offset by a lively acidity made in a more modern, approachable style. Flattering to deceive? Perhaps lacks a little depth.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Chianti Rùfina Castello di Nipozzano Montesodi 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rùfina

  Medium, blood red colour; the initial notes are heady (good) towards volatile (bad), resin, and spicy oak. Youthful and heady, this has an attraction with some cherry and hung game qualities. The open-knit style has a cigar box, mocha chocolate, vanilla extract and a black plum quality (aka Rioja) but far more full-bodied and assertive.
  A modern interpretation of Chianti and more Brunello in approach the flavours stay quite secondary with mocha, spice, vanilla and chocolate-coated plums. Smooth textured, this is more expressive and broad rather than deep but a well-made wine. The finish shows some drier, furry tannins and an element of bitter chocolate. long finish. Arguably quite oaky and there is an alcohol burn that rises towards the finish too.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Castello di Nipozzano Mormoreto Toscana IGT 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Light garnet to browning rim with a bouquet of marmite/yeast extract, forest floor and earthy truffle notes. There are some sweet red fruits and a little volatility.
  Light-bodied, the wine has a crisp attack with freshness despite its age. Flavours copy nose with their tertiary notes, spice, tar and wet chalk. Some richness to the texture leads to svelte tannins and medium length. Not that much depth nor that complex, but this is still a smart drinkable wine with an accent on sweet fruits but needs a little more structural components as well as be more compelling.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  [Some of my note got lost!] [blind tasting] There are plenty of spices on the nose, melted tar, pressed red flowers and Bing cherry. Bright, almost strident acidity, there is a rich and soft texture but firm, tighter tannins. Chocolate and baking spice, this is a more modern interpretation - excellent length.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue