PnP that improved, if slightly, with each successive glass. Good soil, red fruit, loam and forest notes predominate. Medium-bodied, avg+ acidity, with good freshness and focus. A consistently good entry-level CC. Now and the next several years. Easily recommended+
Medium ruby red in color. Fragrant & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, plums & strawberries with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes with dried herbs, spices, minerals & a hint of cedar. Medium bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, plums & strawberries with dried herbs, minerals/earthy & a slight hint of oak. Lingering finish. Quite accessible & drinks well at present with decanting & airing but has the structure to continue to develop further with additional aging.
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Good hearty quaffer! Gave this two round trips through an aerating decanter, result was an open, nicely rounded wine. Good flavors, no flaws, decent price:performer that's ready to enjoy - especially while watching the Giro d'Italia.
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Popped and poured; no formal notes. Cherries, bergamot, clay with medium structure and medium finish. A charming, more than serviceable Chianti paired with a delicious impromptu Monday night dinner at Via Farina in Omaha.
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One of the best values in basic Chianti. A reliable pic with takeout pizza when nothing else jumped out from the ABC Liquors shelve in Indian Shores Fl on our first night. Regardless of everything else I love here I really appreciate that it shows none of that bitter finish I associate with several other Chianti. I love its lighter weight yet excellent concentration, purity and fidelity to its terroir. An excellent value for $18.
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The very first vintage I had of this was 2004 and it was a spectacular QPR... I've been chasing that vintage every year since, and it just never comes close... this included. This bottle has been open for an hour now. The aromas are a bit medicinal, and somehow feel surprisingly manufactured, like artificially flavored cherry sauce with a bit of liqueur added. Perhaps a bit of tree bark as well. Palate is medium to light bodied, soft, with a nice frothiness to it, offering notes of a cherry cough syrup flavored pie, moderate tannins and awkward acidity mixed throughout. More of that cherry cough syrup on the finish, where the acid and tannins dial up more than previously noticed. I think I'm going to give up trying this every vintage... just doesn't do it for me anymore.
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Are reviewers of this wine using the CT scale? One has given this an 'avoid' number, which doesn't sit with the words they use and another has given this an extraordinary 95 points, which is 'Outstanding'. Both are way off the mark.
The truth is that this is a very pleasing Chianti Rufina that hits the right varietal notes of red fruits, a hint of strawberry perfume, combined with some cedar and smokey/earthy/tea leaf characters. The tannins are not assertive, though you would want food with it. Length and intensity are very good, especially for the price.
I like the combination of real elegance with some power. It is Chianti of the old school, in all the best ways. I prefer this to the more expensive wines in the range that I tried last week. Perhaps the excellent, but lighter 2020 vintage helps; a trick with powerful years like 2016 and 2019 is that you can easily slip into losing the lightness of touch that marks truly lovely wine. 2020 may end up being to 2019 what 1989 and 1990 were in Bordeaux, or 1990 and 1991 in Oz, or 2015 and 2016 in northern Italy; both excellent but offering some contrast between power and elegance.
For God's sake ignore the comment about chilling this - it is not a damned Rose. If you are going to desecrate this wine, then why not just cook up a really vicious chilli infused seafood curry to eat with it as well. For goodness sake, people!
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Not bad. Good acidity. Fairly light. Agree with other reviews it would do well chilled. Overall, a good Chianti but very overpriced for $20 usd paid at the shop.
Darker than expected and took some time to reveal itself.. initially a little reticent but after a couple of hours this warmed to its task. It’s a solid wine that needs a few years in bottle when I suspect it will offer more.
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£49/btl at the Potting Shed. With steaks. PnP. Hot day, heavily air-conditioned restaurant, and I think this was served a touch too warm and it would have been better slightly chilled. Notwithstanding which we really enjoyed this, cheerful and accessible, lovely bright cherry fruit, good acidity without being rasping, solid performer.
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Massively sulfury and stinky on PnP. I left to LA the next day, checked in four days later, and it was perfect. Light, red cherry fruit, great balance. This wine always needs at least a day of air, but this vintage has been the worst on PnP.
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Tsaknakis portfolio tasting (Oinoscent): 90% Sangiovese 10% Canaiolo + Colorino, Inox and part in tonneau The wine is fresh and light, red cherry, currant, a few dried herb notes. Easy to drink, juicy red fruit, med tannins and acidity, a few green notes, currant, med body and finish. Fruit forward, easy to drink , coffee and chocolate
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Popped and poured. Aroma of raspberry and herbs. Cherries up front, leather and drying tannin on the back end. Firm backbone, attractive flavors, a little rough and astringent. Very good, but needs more time. As a result, no formal rating right now, but if I were giving a number it would be 90ish. Excellent QPR.
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Klar mørk rød. Frisk nesten kjølig duft av kirsebær og moreller. Grønne urter og antydning til bål. Sopp. På smak mørke bær. Lakris. Medium fylde. Lett tørrende slør i avslutningen.
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2/17/2024 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
PnP that improved, if slightly, with each successive glass. Good soil, red fruit, loam and forest notes predominate. Medium-bodied, avg+ acidity, with good freshness and focus. A consistently good entry-level CC. Now and the next several years. Easily recommended+
https://www.ItalianWine.blog
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8/18/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium ruby red in color. Fragrant & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, plums & strawberries with overtones of earthy/dusty & floral notes with dried herbs, spices, minerals & a hint of cedar. Medium bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, plums & strawberries with dried herbs, minerals/earthy & a slight hint of oak. Lingering finish. Quite accessible & drinks well at present with decanting & airing but has the structure to continue to develop further with additional aging.
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5/23/2023 - DBdeParis Likes this wine:
Good hearty quaffer! Gave this two round trips through an aerating decanter, result was an open, nicely rounded wine. Good flavors, no flaws, decent price:performer that's ready to enjoy - especially while watching the Giro d'Italia.
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1/24/2023 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Xx
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1/16/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured; no formal notes. Cherries, bergamot, clay with medium structure and medium finish. A charming, more than serviceable Chianti paired with a delicious impromptu Monday night dinner at Via Farina in Omaha.
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1/9/2023 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
One of the best values in basic Chianti. A reliable pic with takeout pizza when nothing else jumped out from the ABC Liquors shelve in Indian Shores Fl on our first night. Regardless of everything else I love here I really appreciate that it shows none of that bitter finish I associate with several other Chianti. I love its lighter weight yet excellent concentration, purity and fidelity to its terroir. An excellent value for $18.
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12/24/2022 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 85 Points
The very first vintage I had of this was 2004 and it was a spectacular QPR... I've been chasing that vintage every year since, and it just never comes close... this included. This bottle has been open for an hour now. The aromas are a bit medicinal, and somehow feel surprisingly manufactured, like artificially flavored cherry sauce with a bit of liqueur added. Perhaps a bit of tree bark as well. Palate is medium to light bodied, soft, with a nice frothiness to it, offering notes of a cherry cough syrup flavored pie, moderate tannins and awkward acidity mixed throughout. More of that cherry cough syrup on the finish, where the acid and tannins dial up more than previously noticed. I think I'm going to give up trying this every vintage... just doesn't do it for me anymore.
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12/2/2022 - thirdeye99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great QPR.
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11/30/2022 - spinnin_and_sippin wrote: 86 Points
Pizza/pasta wine
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11/25/2022 - ManhattanBeach Likes this wine:
Straight from the cellar so served cool. Fine and all present and correct, but not as exciting as others.
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11/4/2022 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Are reviewers of this wine using the CT scale? One has given this an 'avoid' number, which doesn't sit with the words they use and another has given this an extraordinary 95 points, which is 'Outstanding'. Both are way off the mark.
The truth is that this is a very pleasing Chianti Rufina that hits the right varietal notes of red fruits, a hint of strawberry perfume, combined with some cedar and smokey/earthy/tea leaf characters. The tannins are not assertive, though you would want food with it. Length and intensity are very good, especially for the price.
I like the combination of real elegance with some power. It is Chianti of the old school, in all the best ways. I prefer this to the more expensive wines in the range that I tried last week. Perhaps the excellent, but lighter 2020 vintage helps; a trick with powerful years like 2016 and 2019 is that you can easily slip into losing the lightness of touch that marks truly lovely wine. 2020 may end up being to 2019 what 1989 and 1990 were in Bordeaux, or 1990 and 1991 in Oz, or 2015 and 2016 in northern Italy; both excellent but offering some contrast between power and elegance.
For God's sake ignore the comment about chilling this - it is not a damned Rose. If you are going to desecrate this wine, then why not just cook up a really vicious chilli infused seafood curry to eat with it as well. For goodness sake, people!
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10/30/2022 - sea_pup wrote: 69 Points
Not bad. Good acidity. Fairly light. Agree with other reviews it would do well chilled. Overall, a good Chianti but very overpriced for $20 usd paid at the shop.
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10/27/2022 - Dtang03 wrote:
Decent acidity
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10/18/2022 - Danger dynamix Likes this wine: 89 Points
Darker than expected and took some time to reveal itself.. initially a little reticent but after a couple of hours this warmed to its task. It’s a solid wine that needs a few years in bottle when I suspect it will offer more.
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9/26/2022 - Jetprof wrote: 95 Points
Really wonderful with Pasta with Bolognese sauce.
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8/31/2022 - BernieMSY Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light and lovely rufina. Good Sangiovese character. Excellent QPR
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8/12/2022 - ManhattanBeach Likes this wine:
£49/btl at the Potting Shed. With steaks. PnP. Hot day, heavily air-conditioned restaurant, and I think this was served a touch too warm and it would have been better slightly chilled. Notwithstanding which we really enjoyed this, cheerful and accessible, lovely bright cherry fruit, good acidity without being rasping, solid performer.
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8/1/2022 - Madera16 Likes this wine:
Massively sulfury and stinky on PnP. I left to LA the next day, checked in four days later, and it was perfect. Light, red cherry fruit, great balance. This wine always needs at least a day of air, but this vintage has been the worst on PnP.
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6/30/2022 - kostaslonis wrote:
Tsaknakis portfolio tasting (Oinoscent): 90% Sangiovese 10% Canaiolo + Colorino, Inox and part in tonneau
The wine is fresh and light, red cherry, currant, a few dried herb notes. Easy to drink, juicy red fruit, med tannins and acidity, a few green notes, currant, med body and finish. Fruit forward, easy to drink , coffee and chocolate
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6/24/2022 - wineshlub wrote:
Popped and poured. Aroma of raspberry and herbs. Cherries up front, leather and drying tannin on the back end. Firm backbone, attractive flavors, a little rough and astringent. Very good, but needs more time. As a result, no formal rating right now, but if I were giving a number it would be 90ish. Excellent QPR.
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6/18/2022 - Arsene wrote: 89 Points
Klar mørk rød.
Frisk nesten kjølig duft av kirsebær og moreller. Grønne urter og antydning til bål. Sopp.
På smak mørke bær. Lakris. Medium fylde. Lett tørrende slør i avslutningen.
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