PnP. No formal notes. Well balanced mature bouquet, still fruit and well integrated oak. On the austere linear side, but works fine with the roasted chicken. Drink now - onwards. Has come together considerably since last visit in 2014!
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PnP. No formal notes. Well balanced mature bouquet, still fruit and well integrated oak. On the austere linear side, but works fine with the roasted chicken. Drink now - onwards.
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Sour cherry, rose petals, and vanilla aromas. Similar palette but sweeter impression. Prominent tannins on the finish - very grippy, which plays well off the flavors. Improved since last bottle several years ago.
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This has everything I love about Chianti. 11 years o la d for an under $20 bottle. This is simply loaded with deep dark goodness. Nose of black cherry and forest with bottomless core on palate that still has some chewy tanins with several years more life ahead. Sad to see these go.
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Last of 5. Drinking beautifully. Paid $20 USD in 2014 for this. Excellent value and 92+/- non-QPR adjusted. PNP - Sour cherry, tobacco, sweet cherry & nice herbal undertones. medium body, medium+ acidity, integrated tannins and very long finish. [edit - Still rocking on night 2. Should be good for next 3-5 years at least given how the fruit held up overnight]
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Delightful bottle of wine: dark fruit and light adhesive/tar on the nose; dark fruit and cinnamon on the palate. Smooth, with a hint of grip on the finish. Excellent complement to a spicy and well-made pizza. My only bottle, unfortunately.
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This is in a terrific place. Lovely nose of deep dark fruit (prune?) with hints of tobacco. Excellent grip on the palate with structure and length. Still 1-2 years of goodness in this bottle but why wait?
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nice Chianti Classico. Ripe blackberries at the nose with consistent palate with ripe plums, blackberries and fragrant balsamic notes; suberb scents at the palate, light body. Aromatic aftertaste and well-balanced oak. Nose more powerful and complex than palate. Balanced acidity and smoothed tannins. Don't expect a complex wine, but this is pleasantly enjoyable. Hasn't improved over the last 30 months but still in its prime time.88/89
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Modern style -- too much so for me. Lots of oak and vanilla on the nose, not much acidity or tannin. In fact, not much there that says Chianti or Sangiovese at all. Disappointing, as I've really liked their basic Chianti in the past and was expecting something similar.
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PNP and needed some air and time to warm up. But nice inviting nose with deep red fruit and good acidy on the palate. Very nice and entering good window for coming 2-3 years
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Very enjoyable - has aged well - PNP into decanter and paired with chimmichurri pan roasted chicken legs. Odd pairing but the acidity in this wine made it work! Herbal, sour cherry, black cherry, menthol on nose. Very smooth on palate with nice tannic grip noticeable on long finish. Medium body, medium+ acidity. Very nice. Would buy again.
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This is drinking really well now and with enough structure and high quality friut for further development. My only concern are some drying tannins on the finish... Will they smooth out or continue to dry out. I think the former. My patience is being rewarded based on my initial tasting over 2 years ago.
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Big and lush with terrific depth and concentration. Rich, ripe and juicy with round edges, red and black cherry flavors, along with licorice and a hint of leather. Medium to full-bodied with a soft structure and less acidity than in prior bottles. I have experienced a lot of bottle variation with this wine. The flavors seem to be consistent, but the texture, structure and acidity have been different from bottle to bottle. This bottle was richer and softer than most prior bottles, but was also very good.
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I last reviewed in 2014 and have found the firm tannins have definitely softened a year on. This is a wonderful wine. I enjoyed it very much right now as it has integrated enough to drink out of the bottle. I'm sure 3-5 more years won't hurt to hold if you want to develop some tertiary flavors. This is so classic and Old World; very dry yet very structured with layers. I wish I had more!
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1st bottle 2009: very enticing Chianti Riserva which expresses its best with a suntuous 3cm Costata. Smoothed tannins and hints of dark chocolate and vanilla. Well executed although leaves poor memories. At SM's with GS and RB
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Lovely, rich, dark, slightly dry, red and black fruit along with licorice and leather. Medium to full-bodied with a firm structure and typical Chianti acidity. 90+
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Purchased at a restaurant. Terrific bottle with a more complex flavor profile than prior bottles. Cherry, leather, spice and licorice with a medium body, silky texture and very nice grip/acidity. 91-92
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Not for the faint of heart, this bottle opens up strong and forward with black fruits and a long powerful finish. Punches well above its weight and thus is a great QPR. 2nd night calms it down a little, and some licorice and cola flavors creep.
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A terrific bottle - right from the "get go". Deep, rich, complex flavors of cherry, licorice and leather. Medium-to-full body with a lush texture and a nice acidic kick on the finish. Best with food but also good for sipping. This was a nice step up from prior bottles. 91+
Consistent with note from 3/2014 - herbal / sour cherry / tobacco flavor profile with high acidity, medium body and medium+ finish. 91+/-
great food wine. [edit] Better on night 2 but this needs food given the high acidity. Probably 90+ night one with 91+ night 2 - more complex nose (balasamic, tobacco, sour cherry) on nose on night 2 and no decline in palate - a food wine but not a crowd pleaser!
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Very nice Chianti Classico with good fruit, cherries, spices, good acidity, medium length on the finish, and light tannins. Should get better with an additional year or two of bottle age, but should probably be drunk in the next 5 years or so. Both the 2009 and 2010 were well regarded by the Wine Advocate and scored substantially higher.
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Ruby-colored in the glass. Very inviting on the nose with cherry and vanilla. Uncomplicated on the palate with predominantly sour cherry. Long, tart finish. Nice, but too sour and thin for my taste.
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Nice. You can drink it right off - it may improve with air / time but not significantly I don't think. Not too large for a riserva - I'd like to try the gran s to see how much further this can be taken
This is really nice several hours after opening. Was OK first night (first 3 hours) and then filled w/ N2 and plugged, 2 days later it had a lot of nice nuances but maybe had lost some volume. I think there's a sweet spot in there somewhere...give it some air.
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This is what you hope all Chianti Classico will be. Full, lush nose of cherries, tobacco, and asphalt. A fruit grenade explodes in your mouth, with shrapnel of earth, gravel, herbs, tar and the everlasting berries. In a perfect place really.
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This bottle needed a lot of air time. Almost undrinkable the first 30 minutes with a lot of tart green and citrus flavors. By about the hour mark it transformed into a nice wine with flavors of dark cherry, spice and dried herbs. Nice smooth texture with good acidity. 89+
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This was a pop and pour and I expect this to improve on the next day. A bit mute, when first opened, but with some air, this became a bit more expressive, with bright red fruits, spice and dried herbs. A nice cross between modern and traditional. Good acidity and seems to have the balance to be a mid-term cellar candidate.
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Dark ruby in color. Fragrant, attractive and aromatic nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, strawberries and currants with spice overtones, almonds, floral notes of roses, dusty, earthy, mushrooms, dried herbs, some anise, minerals, a touch of vanilla and toasted oak in the background. Medium-full bodied with a good concentration of balanced, still youthful, vibrant, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and dark currants with spices, herbs, minerals, a touch of vanilla and toasted oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well with decanting and airing at present and has some potential for further development with a few more years of additional aging.
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- Ruby color with fast forming legs and aromas of dusty, almond, violet, eucalyptus and asparagus. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of cedar, licorice anise and bell pepper with a medium/full body. Linear texture with a long finish - Vacuumed and tasted next day: tea and olives. Nose is much more assertive and the palate makes more sense with the added time. Probably more evidence it should have been aged longer.
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- Garnet color with fast forming legs and aromas of alcohol, blackberry, black currant, violet and rose. It's high in alcohol and has flavours of mushroom, blackberry, black currant and fig with a full body. Raw beef, beef jerky, minerality. Flabby texture with a long finish - Decanted 1 hour: Mushrooms, a bit hot, nutty, underripe blackberry, high tannins, not yet ready...opens up nicely in the glass, though ~ 1.25 hours.
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On the darker side for a Chianti, this has a little earthen basement on the nose, even after 90 minutes in the decanter. Not so much as to qualify as funky, but it adds some interest to the fruit. On the palate, it's smoother and less acidic than most of the Chiantis I drink. There's a nice mix of dried and fresh black cherry, along with a balsamic element and a mildly woody note on the finish.
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Dry riserva. Cherries, earth and tobacco dominate on the palate. The nose is still not quite developed but it is nice. Acidity is medium and tannins are also medium with a nice tasty finish. Very nice value that improves on the second night, so give it a long decant at this point.
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También necesitado de tiempo para mostrar lo que un Chianti puede verdaderamente ofrecer. Cárnica y mineral en nariz, con recuerdos a carnicería sucia de barrio. La boca es sabrosa y de buen recorrido. Vino de guarda. Me gustó de verdad.
Un Chianti correct qui ne m'a pas impressionné plus qu'il faut. Un peu mince et avec une finale aigrelette. A déjà été meilleur dans d'autres millésimes.
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Tastes much older than it is (that's a compliment in my book), luxurious on the palate, just wraps around one's tongue. The fruit is subtle yet lovely. Drinks way above its price point IMHO.
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I usually love these, but on open, it was uncharacteristically closed. It really did open after several hours as others have noted below. However, I was a little too tipsy to make a serious note. What I did get was what was expected - slightly modern approach with some oak, cherries but still some damp leaves. Perfect marriage of old and new to me. I will drink my 2007s and let these age a little.
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After opening, it smelled like warm attic and a tiny bit of dark fruit. After half an hour it was opened up, nice smell of maybe prunes. Quite balanced on the palate, fleshy, pleasant but not exciting. The finish was rather long. After two days even with the air pumped out between drinking, it had lost the crispyness, astringency turned to the foreground again and there was already a slight note of lactic acid. I'll have another one in a year or so.
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Definitely on the young side, but I can tell this is going to be great in 3-5 years. Very powerful and dense when opened, firm tannins, bramble, black fruit, leather, smoke. Earthy but seems to have an elegant finesse and balance--but just a nod to modern style. This feels old school and I will enjoy sampling the rest over next 4-5 years.
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I agree with ras2006, this has flavors of stewed cherries, herbaceous eucalyptus and a bit of smoke. on the nose I mostly get cherry and blackberry. Pleasant mouthfeel with medium tannins. I think this will improve over the next few years.
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Nice dark garnet color, good fruit (cherries), slight smokey taste, a little tannin on the finish. Overall, very nice wine - better the 2nd day. Glad I have a few more.
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Decanted for 1 hour and it needed it - continued to gain complexity with airtime. Dark reddish / black color. Underbrush, black cherry & menthol on nose. Similar flavor profile on palate with a more cherry / sour cherry. Medium body, medium+ acidity, nice tannic grip and a long finish. 91+ Good QPR and would buy again.
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D1h. Dark red. Sweetish fruity nose dominated by new oak. Fine structured palate, some tannin, acidity to give freshness. Wait 5years. Seems a bit one dimensional right now, but I reckon it will turn in to a more harmonious wine over time.
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This wine (even decanted) was overly tannic on first night, but after two nights in a sealed container it was much better. Lesson: we drank it too soon.
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No notes - but this was very nice. Lots of cherry fruit along with some earth and spice. Medium bodied with nice balance and a smooth mouthfeel. Good kick of acidity on the finish. Excellent pairing with spaghetti & meatballs.
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Great Value Chianti - more modern and less earthy, but still "of the place". Medium, mineral cherry, touch of leather… very enjoyable with medium toned italian dishes.
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First class stuff. Dark rubin at the eye, ripe blackberries at the nose and then liquorice and moka at the palate with fragrant balsamic notes and an aromatic aftertaste and a well-balanced oak. Balanced acidity and powerful tannins. Will improve still with three/four years in cellar but already a superior chianti. WA ranks higher btw
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At first was a bit flat but after about 30 min, the fruit came charging out. Medium bodied with dark fruit (primarily cherry) and hint of leather and sweet oak on the palate, leading to a long finish. Not the most complex CCR but fruit-forward and enjoyable.
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Dark fruits, herbs/underbrush and licorice on the nose. Similar flavors on the palate - and rather big, deep and rich for a Chianti. Medium bodied with a soft texture and firm structure, but also with some roughness and acidity on the finish. Overall very nice flavors and texture that improved with some time in the glass. I think it has good potential to improve with another year or two in the cellar. 89-90
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Bevuto in una trattoria a Firenze. Non male. Naso all'inizio poco definito , ma dopo 1/2 ora ribes e mora. Idem al palato. Tannino morbidi. pronto da bere. Ottimo rapporto qualità/ prezzo (30 euro). Per me non supera il 2015.
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The nose showed dark red fruits with black cherry, blackberry and citrus, followed by hints of undergrowth and herbs. On the palate, I found ripe red berries, beautiful inner floral and herbal notes with a regal structure. The lasting finish was focused, giving a slow-motion playback of its performance on the palate.
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4/12/2023 - ras2006 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dry red with good fruit, moderate tannins; Drinking over 3 days and just upgraded the rating to 90 - held up nice
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3/13/2022 - asgerG wrote: 89 Points
PnP. No formal notes. Well balanced mature bouquet, still fruit and well integrated oak. On the austere linear side, but works fine with the roasted chicken. Drink now - onwards. Has come together considerably since last visit in 2014!
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3/13/2022 - asgerG wrote: 89 Points
PnP. No formal notes. Well balanced mature bouquet, still fruit and well integrated oak. On the austere linear side, but works fine with the roasted chicken. Drink now - onwards.
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12/11/2021 - dke wrote:
Still good, but seems to be past its prime.
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4/15/2021 - goodvitis.com wrote: 91 Points
No formal notes. Surprisingly fruit-forward for its age, seems more new world styled. Likely at, around, peak.
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3/6/2021 - Doug Fir Likes this wine: 88 Points
Sour cherry, rose petals, and vanilla aromas. Similar palette but sweeter impression. Prominent tannins on the finish - very grippy, which plays well off the flavors. Improved since last bottle several years ago.
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2/3/2020 - 2caveman Likes this wine: 92 Points
This has everything I love about Chianti. 11 years o la d for an under $20 bottle. This is simply loaded with deep dark goodness. Nose of black cherry and forest with bottomless core on palate that still has some chewy tanins with several years more life ahead. Sad to see these go.
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5/11/2019 - jonaspq Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite muted nose, but this wine really comes alive in the mouth. Still lots of fruit left with a long finish that still shows some tannins.
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4/12/2019 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
Last of 5. Drinking beautifully. Paid $20 USD in 2014 for this. Excellent value and 92+/- non-QPR adjusted. PNP - Sour cherry, tobacco, sweet cherry & nice herbal undertones. medium body, medium+ acidity, integrated tannins and very long finish. [edit - Still rocking on night 2. Should be good for next 3-5 years at least given how the fruit held up overnight]
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12/24/2018 - newkid wrote: 90 Points
Delightful bottle of wine: dark fruit and light adhesive/tar on the nose; dark fruit and cinnamon on the palate. Smooth, with a hint of grip on the finish. Excellent complement to a spicy and well-made pizza. My only bottle, unfortunately.
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5/27/2018 - 2caveman Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is in a terrific place. Lovely nose of deep dark fruit (prune?) with hints of tobacco. Excellent grip on the palate with structure and length. Still 1-2 years of goodness in this bottle but why wait?
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3/25/2018 - olracx62 wrote: 88 Points
nice Chianti Classico. Ripe blackberries at the nose with consistent palate with ripe plums, blackberries and fragrant balsamic notes; suberb scents at the palate, light body. Aromatic aftertaste and well-balanced oak. Nose more powerful and complex than palate. Balanced acidity and smoothed tannins. Don't expect a complex wine, but this is pleasantly enjoyable. Hasn't improved over the last 30 months but still in its prime time.88/89
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11/19/2017 - rfras Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is drinking very nicely. Some notes of sweet red fruits and vanilla. medium bodied with a nice finish. It was good the second day as well.
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11/4/2017 - tadams66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really nice place. Continues to drink well. Really nice the second day. Well integrated. Will continue well for many years.
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9/12/2017 - CWilliam wrote:
Continues to drink well. Consistent with prior notes.
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8/23/2017 - gmbdds wrote: 90 Points
Black cherry and some darker fruit with game and savory notes. Dry and acidic and certainly heightened by food. Good value.
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6/8/2017 - tadams66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really in a nice place. Got better as it had time. Very nice the second day.
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4/12/2017 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cherry-blackberry; good structure and balance; nice acidity with a sweet integrated finish.
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4/9/2017 - Doug Fir wrote: 87 Points
Modern style -- too much so for me. Lots of oak and vanilla on the nose, not much acidity or tannin. In fact, not much there that says Chianti or Sangiovese at all. Disappointing, as I've really liked their basic Chianti in the past and was expecting something similar.
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2/26/2017 - 2caveman Likes this wine: 91 Points
PNP and needed some air and time to warm up. But nice inviting nose with deep red fruit and good acidy on the palate. Very nice and entering good window for coming 2-3 years
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2/5/2017 - jonaspq Likes this wine: 89 Points
Quite subdued nose with red cherries and glue (Björnklister). More savoury in the mouth with good acidity and structure.
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2/1/2017 - epiphany Likes this wine: 91 Points
Stellar nose after a couple hits from the Coravin.
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1/26/2017 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Very enjoyable - has aged well - PNP into decanter and paired with chimmichurri pan roasted chicken legs. Odd pairing but the acidity in this wine made it work! Herbal, sour cherry, black cherry, menthol on nose. Very smooth on palate with nice tannic grip noticeable on long finish. Medium body, medium+ acidity. Very nice. Would buy again.
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1/24/2017 - epiphany Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice blend of modern and classic.
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9/12/2016 - Doblk Likes this wine: 89 Points
The Sangiovese has softened nicely. Still prominent Italian acidity with dark fruit and some meaty notes. A bit short but very good.
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9/12/2016 - epiphany Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is drinking really well now and with enough structure and high quality friut for further development. My only concern are some drying tannins on the finish... Will they smooth out or continue to dry out. I think the former. My patience is being rewarded based on my initial tasting over 2 years ago.
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3/29/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep and licoricey; tannic; textured.
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3/15/2016 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
Big and lush with terrific depth and concentration. Rich, ripe and juicy with round edges, red and black cherry flavors, along with licorice and a hint of leather. Medium to full-bodied with a soft structure and less acidity than in prior bottles. I have experienced a lot of bottle variation with this wine. The flavors seem to be consistent, but the texture, structure and acidity have been different from bottle to bottle. This bottle was richer and softer than most prior bottles, but was also very good.
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2/28/2016 - Chiantihound wrote:
Great nose to start then like rubber. This has been like this for each bottle of 2009. No the usual IlGrigio.
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1/22/2016 - apaer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Configuré, j'ai bien aimé.
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12/18/2015 - BrunelloBob wrote: 87 Points
Disappointing even for the vintage. More than a bit green.
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11/1/2015 - Vman wrote: 89 Points
Easy drinking, not very complex but tasty. maybe too young?
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10/15/2015 - rickspicks wrote:
Something not right with this bottle - tart and a bit thin.
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9/23/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth with raisen and earth; complex, layered and lightly supple; sweet lean cherry-licorice finish.
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9/11/2015 - SexyEpicurean Likes this wine: 91 Points
I last reviewed in 2014 and have found the firm tannins have definitely softened a year on. This is a wonderful wine. I enjoyed it very much right now as it has integrated enough to drink out of the bottle. I'm sure 3-5 more years won't hurt to hold if you want to develop some tertiary flavors. This is so classic and Old World; very dry yet very structured with layers. I wish I had more!
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7/25/2015 - MattB72 wrote: 90 Points
Great wine. Always reliable.
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7/21/2015 - olracx62 wrote: 89 Points
1st bottle 2009: very enticing Chianti Riserva which expresses its best with a suntuous 3cm Costata. Smoothed tannins and hints of dark chocolate and vanilla. Well executed although leaves poor memories. At SM's with GS and RB
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7/20/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Structured; cherry-licorice-blackberry.
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7/16/2015 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
Lovely, rich, dark, slightly dry, red and black fruit along with licorice and leather. Medium to full-bodied with a firm structure and typical Chianti acidity. 90+
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5/31/2015 - rickspicks wrote: 92 Points
Purchased at a restaurant. Terrific bottle with a more complex flavor profile than prior bottles. Cherry, leather, spice and licorice with a medium body, silky texture and very nice grip/acidity. 91-92
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4/26/2015 - MattB72 wrote: 90 Points
great chianti
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4/13/2015 - Astjerne Likes this wine: 89 Points
Excellent reliable
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4/2/2015 - cwiebe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not for the faint of heart, this bottle opens up strong and forward with black fruits and a long powerful finish. Punches well above its weight and thus is a great QPR. 2nd night calms it down a little, and some licorice and cola flavors creep.
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3/27/2015 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
A terrific bottle - right from the "get go". Deep, rich, complex flavors of cherry, licorice and leather. Medium-to-full body with a lush texture and a nice acidic kick on the finish. Best with food but also good for sipping. This was a nice step up from prior bottles. 91+
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2/14/2015 - brobert2 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Très bon,
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2/12/2015 - CWilliam wrote:
Consistent with note from 3/2014 - herbal / sour cherry / tobacco flavor profile with high acidity, medium body and medium+ finish. 91+/-
great food wine. [edit] Better on night 2 but this needs food given the high acidity. Probably 90+ night one with 91+ night 2 - more complex nose (balasamic, tobacco, sour cherry) on nose on night 2 and no decline in palate - a food wine but not a crowd pleaser!
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1/10/2015 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very nice Chianti Classico with good fruit, cherries, spices, good acidity, medium length on the finish, and light tannins. Should get better with an additional year or two of bottle age, but should probably be drunk in the next 5 years or so. Both the 2009 and 2010 were well regarded by the Wine Advocate and scored substantially higher.
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1/5/2015 - Hanz Likes this wine: 89 Points
intense blackberry nose
A bit watery on the palate.
Long and thick tart finish which I enjoyed.
Decant for several hours!
Update: On the third night, the nose was gone flat, but the wine was fun on the palate, with some steely orange juice action on the tip of the tongue.
Went well with pesto-gratinated point steak and celery mash.
Did not go well with Parmigiana di Melanzane.
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12/19/2014 - texanoblues wrote: 83 Points
Ruby-colored in the glass. Very inviting on the nose with cherry and vanilla. Uncomplicated on the palate with predominantly sour cherry. Long, tart finish. Nice, but too sour and thin for my taste.
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12/11/2014 - shellylowen Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice wine, medium body, sweet cherry, medium finish, drink now.
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12/9/2014 - Encinitas_Joe wrote: 89 Points
Nice overall but likely needs more time. We'll wait a year or two before opening the next one.
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12/4/2014 - Charogers Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice. You can drink it right off - it may improve with air / time but not significantly I don't think. Not too large for a riserva - I'd like to try the gran s to see how much further this can be taken
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11/1/2014 - Bumbanian wrote:
This is really nice several hours after opening. Was OK first night (first 3 hours) and then filled w/ N2 and plugged, 2 days later it had a lot of nice nuances but maybe had lost some volume. I think there's a sweet spot in there somewhere...give it some air.
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10/8/2014 - steinbrl12 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good fruit/acid balance. Med. fruit with some tobacco. Needs to breathe-better on day two.
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10/5/2014 - keepitreal wrote: 89 Points
This is what you hope all Chianti Classico will be. Full, lush nose of cherries, tobacco, and asphalt. A fruit grenade explodes in your mouth, with shrapnel of earth, gravel, herbs, tar and the everlasting berries. In a perfect place really.
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9/30/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rubber nose; nicely integrated blackberry-raisen-blueberry; textured with good balance; long finish; well done.
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9/21/2014 - gordoyflaca wrote: 91 Points
Cherry skins, cedar
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9/13/2014 - rickspicks wrote: 89 Points
This bottle needed a lot of air time. Almost undrinkable the first 30 minutes with a lot of tart green and citrus flavors. By about the hour mark it transformed into a nice wine with flavors of dark cherry, spice and dried herbs. Nice smooth texture with good acidity. 89+
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9/5/2014 - steinbrl12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Vibrant smooth medium body fruit. Good balance of acid to fruit. Good sipping or with pasta.
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9/1/2014 - Astjerne Likes this wine: 89 Points
Excellent Chianti.
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8/7/2014 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
This was a pop and pour and I expect this to improve on the next day. A bit mute, when first opened, but with some air, this became a bit more expressive, with bright red fruits, spice and dried herbs. A nice cross between modern and traditional. Good acidity and seems to have the balance to be a mid-term cellar candidate.
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8/4/2014 - yofog wrote: 89 Points
Lots of coffee and old wood, nice concentration but a little ripe and chewy.
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7/30/2014 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark ruby in color. Fragrant, attractive and aromatic nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, strawberries and currants with spice overtones, almonds, floral notes of roses, dusty, earthy, mushrooms, dried herbs, some anise, minerals, a touch of vanilla and toasted oak in the background. Medium-full bodied with a good concentration of balanced, still youthful, vibrant, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and dark currants with spices, herbs, minerals, a touch of vanilla and toasted oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well with decanting and airing at present and has some potential for further development with a few more years of additional aging.
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7/21/2014 - rickspicks wrote: flawed
After several very nice bottles, this one was over-oaked and somewhat astringent.
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7/16/2014 - Wallacmb wrote: 91 Points
- Ruby color with fast forming legs and aromas of dusty, almond, violet, eucalyptus and asparagus. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of cedar, licorice anise and bell pepper with a medium/full body. Linear texture with a long finish - Vacuumed and tasted next day: tea and olives. Nose is much more assertive and the palate makes more sense with the added time. Probably more evidence it should have been aged longer.
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7/15/2014 - Wallacmb wrote: 90 Points
- Garnet color with fast forming legs and aromas of alcohol, blackberry, black currant, violet and rose. It's high in alcohol and has flavours of mushroom, blackberry, black currant and fig with a full body. Raw beef, beef jerky, minerality. Flabby texture with a long finish - Decanted 1 hour: Mushrooms, a bit hot, nutty, underripe blackberry, high tannins, not yet ready...opens up nicely in the glass, though ~ 1.25 hours.
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7/12/2014 - Brunello2375 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had with eggplant Palermo.
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7/9/2014 - EMTAME wrote: 90 Points
On the darker side for a Chianti, this has a little earthen basement on the nose, even after 90 minutes in the decanter. Not so much as to qualify as funky, but it adds some interest to the fruit. On the palate, it's smoother and less acidic than most of the Chiantis I drink. There's a nice mix of dried and fresh black cherry, along with a balsamic element and a mildly woody note on the finish.
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7/5/2014 - dke Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dry riserva. Cherries, earth and tobacco dominate on the palate. The nose is still not quite developed but it is nice. Acidity is medium and tannins are also medium with a nice tasty finish. Very nice value that improves on the second night, so give it a long decant at this point.
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7/4/2014 - Brunello2375 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had with deninos pizza
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7/3/2014 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
New Italian Wines in Madrid by Meregalli; 6/27/2014-7/3/2014 (Restaurant La Piperna - Madrid): Also needing time if you wanted to know what a Chianti truly can develop.
On the nose meaty and mineral, with smells of a local dirty butchery.
Quite tasty in the mouth with a good length.
To be holder. Really liked it.
También necesitado de tiempo para mostrar lo que un Chianti puede verdaderamente ofrecer.
Cárnica y mineral en nariz, con recuerdos a carnicería sucia de barrio.
La boca es sabrosa y de buen recorrido.
Vino de guarda. Me gustó de verdad.
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6/28/2014 - poste244 wrote: 88 Points
Un Chianti correct qui ne m'a pas impressionné plus qu'il faut.
Un peu mince et avec une finale aigrelette. A déjà été meilleur dans d'autres millésimes.
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6/28/2014 - Brunello2375 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had with pizza and salad.
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6/21/2014 - Chip Merlot Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tastes much older than it is (that's a compliment in my book), luxurious on the palate, just wraps around one's tongue. The fruit is subtle yet lovely. Drinks way above its price point IMHO.
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5/29/2014 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 87 Points
Very quaffable. Deeper and fuller than the non-riserva bottling. Unfortunately, the finish is quite short.
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5/17/2014 - epiphany Likes this wine: 91 Points
SEXYEPICUREAN hit the nail on the head. Great note
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5/16/2014 - Chiantihound wrote:
I usually love these, but on open, it was uncharacteristically closed. It really did open after several hours as others have noted below. However, I was a little too tipsy to make a serious note. What I did get was what was expected - slightly modern approach with some oak, cherries but still some damp leaves. Perfect marriage of old and new to me. I will drink my 2007s and let these age a little.
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5/14/2014 - Fraxinus wrote: 92 Points
give it six hours or so of air and decant it. very very good for the price.
1 - 2 hours is not anywhere near enough air at this point.
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5/13/2014 - Hanz wrote: 88 Points
After opening, it smelled like warm attic and a tiny bit of dark fruit. After half an hour it was opened up, nice smell of maybe prunes. Quite balanced on the palate, fleshy, pleasant but not exciting. The finish was rather long. After two days even with the air pumped out between drinking, it had lost the crispyness, astringency turned to the foreground again and there was already a slight note of lactic acid.
I'll have another one in a year or so.
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5/5/2014 - SexyEpicurean Likes this wine: 91 Points
Definitely on the young side, but I can tell this is going to be great in 3-5 years. Very powerful and dense when opened, firm tannins, bramble, black fruit, leather, smoke. Earthy but seems to have an elegant finesse and balance--but just a nod to modern style. This feels old school and I will enjoy sampling the rest over next 4-5 years.
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4/15/2014 - ICaWineGuy wrote: 89 Points
I agree with ras2006, this has flavors of stewed cherries, herbaceous eucalyptus and a bit of smoke. on the nose I mostly get cherry and blackberry. Pleasant mouthfeel with medium tannins. I think this will improve over the next few years.
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4/12/2014 - tbone wrote:
Tight on P&P and decanting helps. Dry and earthy with plenty of power in reserve. Will be great in 5 years.
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4/10/2014 - ras2006 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice dark garnet color, good fruit (cherries), slight smokey taste, a little tannin on the finish. Overall, very nice wine - better the 2nd day. Glad I have a few more.
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3/27/2014 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1 hour and it needed it - continued to gain complexity with airtime. Dark reddish / black color. Underbrush, black cherry & menthol on nose. Similar flavor profile on palate with a more cherry / sour cherry. Medium body, medium+ acidity, nice tannic grip and a long finish. 91+ Good QPR and would buy again.
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3/25/2014 - asgerG wrote: 86 Points
D1h. Dark red. Sweetish fruity nose dominated by new oak. Fine structured palate, some tannin, acidity to give freshness. Wait 5years.
Seems a bit one dimensional right now, but I reckon it will turn in to a more harmonious wine over time.
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3/16/2014 - VoVo wrote: 90 Points
This wine (even decanted) was overly tannic on first night, but after two nights in a sealed container it was much better. Lesson: we drank it too soon.
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2/24/2014 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
No notes - but this was very nice. Lots of cherry fruit along with some earth and spice. Medium bodied with nice balance and a smooth mouthfeel. Good kick of acidity on the finish. Excellent pairing with spaghetti & meatballs.
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1/26/2014 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Good QPR. Opened up over the course of the meal. Served with pasta and it was a good pairing. No other notes. Jet lagged.
Will buy again.
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1/4/2014 - Mark Brandon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great Value Chianti - more modern and less earthy, but still "of the place". Medium, mineral cherry, touch of leather… very enjoyable with medium toned italian dishes.
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12/15/2013 - olracx62 wrote: 91 Points
First class stuff. Dark rubin at the eye, ripe blackberries at the nose and then liquorice and moka at the palate with fragrant balsamic notes and an aromatic aftertaste and a well-balanced oak. Balanced acidity and powerful tannins. Will improve still with three/four years in cellar but already a superior chianti. WA ranks higher btw
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12/1/2013 - Eye Drink Reds Likes this wine: 90 Points
At first was a bit flat but after about 30 min, the fruit came charging out. Medium bodied with dark fruit (primarily cherry) and hint of leather and sweet oak on the palate, leading to a long finish. Not the most complex CCR but fruit-forward and enjoyable.
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11/22/2013 - rickspicks wrote: 89 Points
Dark fruits, herbs/underbrush and licorice on the nose. Similar flavors on the palate - and rather big, deep and rich for a Chianti. Medium bodied with a soft texture and firm structure, but also with some roughness and acidity on the finish. Overall very nice flavors and texture that improved with some time in the glass. I think it has good potential to improve with another year or two in the cellar. 89-90
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11/21/2013 - Euge67 Likes this wine: 85 Points
Bevuto in una trattoria a Firenze. Non male. Naso all'inizio poco definito , ma dopo 1/2 ora ribes e mora. Idem al palato. Tannino morbidi. pronto da bere. Ottimo rapporto qualità/ prezzo (30 euro). Per me non supera il 2015.
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3/21/2013 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose showed dark red fruits with black cherry, blackberry and citrus, followed by hints of undergrowth and herbs. On the palate, I found ripe red berries, beautiful inner floral and herbal notes with a regal structure. The lasting finish was focused, giving a slow-motion playback of its performance on the palate.
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