Opened 5 hours before dinner. On the nose nice Sangiovese typicality with prune, dark berries (elderberry) and first shy tertiary notes, on the palate fresh and dry, a bit straight forward, medium+ bodied and long finish with still some edges.
Old school Riserva, a bit on the rustic side and best with food. In a good place now but with enough structure for 6 to 10 more years. Superb price to quality relation for 12 sFr/€.
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An excellent Riserva Ducale from a great vintage. Lots of berries and some plum, followed by cedar, tobacco and oak notes. Juicy and round as one would expect from a Riserva in an outstanding vintage. Now definitely reaching its plateau but no rush, this baby can age for several years.
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I opened for a last minute pairing with pasta. Cherry and blueberry fruit with earthy accents. Fresh acidity and a nice finish. Not a deep wine, but undoubtedly charming and a good bit better than expected.
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Some grape and berries on the nose, some sweetness and candy. Alcoholic. Very flat and empty on the palate. Slight taste of petrol. Quite some acidity and tannins. Some bitterness at the end. Very disappointing, maybe I caught a bad bottle.
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Complex, well balanced, and nice backbone. Earthy dark fruit, stewed tomatoes, and fresh herb notes are bolstered by brightness, style and finesse. A hint of rose petals on the juicy finish.
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Nothing special to me. Could be because I am a newbie in Italian wines. When leaving it in the glass it opened up but still not triggering me to buy it again. Very little first node, the same for the second nose and in taste few notes of cherries. No or very little notes of rhe wooden barrels.
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Brought to Keef the Beef. One of the better Ruffino Ducale’s I have had so far - this was a real testament to the strength of the 2016 vintage. The nose had a touch of woody oak framing ripe notes of red berries, cherries and smoked straw, all this with a crown of wild herb, smoky spice and some dried earth hanging around. Very attractive. The palate was a tar simpler than the nose promised, but still quite pleasing, with juicy Sangiovese acidity and a teeth-coating chew of well-shaped tannins framing decent flavours of sweet red berries and dark cherries, again touched with a nice bit of spice and herb, and then more savoury earth notes past the midpalate. Finish was just a touch truncated, otherwise, this was a pleasing wine that went well with the beef we had. Overall, simple, but very decent indeed. While drinking well young, it will probably improve over the next few years too.
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Mucha fruta en nariz, fresas y ese deje de chianti al que me estoy acostumbrando. Poca complejidad en nariz, sencillo pero honesto. En boca es ligero, recto y listo para beber.
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A bit simple for the price point, but well balanced and decent structure. For less there are far better CCR available For $8 more the Oro version seems to me to be well worth it. At least the 2014 is.
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Haven’t had a Ruffino wine in ten years. Probably 15 for the Ducale, as it was always a meh to me. My wine store guy said this years was solid, and he’s correct...nice bright cherry nose with some dark fruit smell and a bit of leather. Darker look than the smell would suggest, as it’s quite balanced with some decent body. More cherries and some earth on the palate. This is pretty good, I must say for a modestly priced Chianti.
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Very atypical for Ruffino, yet the best Riserva Ducale in many years. Softer, lighter and ready to go. Already drank through 7 or 8. A couple of bottles were corked.
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Ruby color with some brownish hues. Traditional cherry and leather nose. Nice cherry flavors. Approachable now and enjoyable. Not normally a big fan of this producer, but 2016 is such a great year that all producers can produce great wine.
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2/16/2024 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Opened 5 hours before dinner. On the nose nice Sangiovese typicality with prune, dark berries (elderberry) and first shy tertiary notes, on the palate fresh and dry, a bit straight forward, medium+ bodied and long finish with still some edges.
Old school Riserva, a bit on the rustic side and best with food. In a good place now but with enough structure for 6 to 10 more years. Superb price to quality relation for 12 sFr/€.
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12/7/2023 - winesnout Likes this wine: 92 Points
An excellent Riserva Ducale from a great vintage. Lots of berries and some plum, followed by cedar, tobacco and oak notes. Juicy and round as one would expect from a Riserva in an outstanding vintage. Now definitely reaching its plateau but no rush, this baby can age for several years.
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10/4/2023 - DH13 wrote: 88 Points
Flavour was quite earth - could have a little more acidity for me. Short/medium finish
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10/1/2023 - gmbdds wrote: 89 Points
I opened for a last minute pairing with pasta. Cherry and blueberry fruit with earthy accents. Fresh acidity and a nice finish. Not a deep wine, but undoubtedly charming and a good bit better than expected.
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10/24/2021 - extrafd wrote: 89 Points
Very closed and no nose. Needed decanting to open up. Probably should drink now
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10/23/2021 - surlemur Does not like this wine: 78 Points
Some grape and berries on the nose, some sweetness and candy. Alcoholic. Very flat and empty on the palate. Slight taste of petrol. Quite some acidity and tannins. Some bitterness at the end. Very disappointing, maybe I caught a bad bottle.
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5/7/2021 - Baron Slick wrote: 92 Points
Complex, well balanced, and nice backbone. Earthy dark fruit, stewed tomatoes, and fresh herb notes are bolstered by brightness, style and finesse. A hint of rose petals on the juicy finish.
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5/5/2021 - maxima wrote: flawed
Bouchonnée!
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3/20/2021 - jamokebob Likes this wine: 88 Points
Pretty good with lamb chops. A little hint of sweetness adds to the meal.
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11/27/2020 - Moreki01 wrote: 80 Points
Nothing special to me. Could be because I am a newbie in Italian wines. When leaving it in the glass it opened up but still not triggering me to buy it again. Very little first node, the same for the second nose and in taste few notes of cherries. No or very little notes of rhe wooden barrels.
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11/25/2020 - Paul S wrote: 91 Points
Brought to Keef the Beef. One of the better Ruffino Ducale’s I have had so far - this was a real testament to the strength of the 2016 vintage. The nose had a touch of woody oak framing ripe notes of red berries, cherries and smoked straw, all this with a crown of wild herb, smoky spice and some dried earth hanging around. Very attractive. The palate was a tar simpler than the nose promised, but still quite pleasing, with juicy Sangiovese acidity and a teeth-coating chew of well-shaped tannins framing decent flavours of sweet red berries and dark cherries, again touched with a nice bit of spice and herb, and then more savoury earth notes past the midpalate. Finish was just a touch truncated, otherwise, this was a pleasing wine that went well with the beef we had. Overall, simple, but very decent indeed. While drinking well young, it will probably improve over the next few years too.
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11/16/2020 - CAJR Likes this wine: 82 Points
Cherry plum violet rosemary
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10/27/2020 - GonzaloManzaneda Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mucha fruta en nariz, fresas y ese deje de chianti al que me estoy acostumbrando. Poca complejidad en nariz, sencillo pero honesto.
En boca es ligero, recto y listo para beber.
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10/6/2020 - KVM wrote:
mex+ red
Sweet fruit and almond nose. Sweet cheery and leather with a refreshing then sour finish. Better with time in the decanter.
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8/31/2020 - umazz wrote:
might have been a little off.
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8/13/2020 - Yagil wrote: 87 Points
Ramat-Aviv Boys meeting (at Arnoldo's): basic but good Chianti Classico Riserva
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6/3/2020 - Kevinpdp wrote: 91 Points
Great tasting chianti; works especially well with bolognese or hearty red sauces.
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5/13/2020 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 87 Points
A bit simple for the price point, but well balanced and decent structure. For less there are far better CCR available For $8 more the Oro version seems to me to be well worth it. At least the 2014 is.
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5/13/2020 - CAPEX Likes this wine: 94 Points
Strawberry nose, Fruit forward, nice finish. Great everyday wine.
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5/2/2020 - CCestaro wrote: 90 Points
Haven’t had a Ruffino wine in ten years. Probably 15 for the Ducale, as it was always a meh to me. My wine store guy said this years was solid, and he’s correct...nice bright cherry nose with some dark fruit smell and a bit of leather. Darker look than the smell would suggest, as it’s quite balanced with some decent body. More cherries and some earth on the palate. This is pretty good, I must say for a modestly priced Chianti.
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3/23/2020 - Eantnay Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very atypical for Ruffino, yet the best Riserva Ducale in many years. Softer, lighter and ready to go. Already drank through 7 or 8. A couple of bottles were corked.
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3/5/2020 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Top quality chianti, classic style...!
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2/7/2020 - KSWinegeek wrote: 90 Points
Ruby color with some brownish hues. Traditional cherry and leather nose. Nice cherry flavors. Approachable now and enjoyable. Not normally a big fan of this producer, but 2016 is such a great year that all producers can produce great wine.
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