1995 Castello di Monsanto Vin Santo del Chianti La Chimera

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 92.6 points

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  1/1/2024 - ThomasA wrote: 95 Points

  Lovely with biscotti 95

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  6/7/2021 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points

  A blend of Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia del Chianti, normally in approximately 50/50 proportions. The grapes are harvested very late and then left to raisinate until the February following the harvest. The dried grapes are pressed and the resulting must is fermented and aged for 8-10 years in 55 and 110-liter oak, cherry wood and chestnut caratelli. 15,5% alcohol.
  
  Medium-deep golden yellow color with an evolved, pale brown hue and a reddish-bronze core. Intense and moderately oxidative nose with complex aromas of chopped nuts, syrupy molasses, some oat biscuits, light sweet notes of lifted VA, a little bit of bitter almond oil, a hint of maple syrup and a touch of vanilla blossom. The wine is quite sweet and very intense on the palate with a full body, moderately sticky mouthfeel and complex flavors of caramel and burnt sugar bitterness, some tangy salinity, light evolved notes of cooked cream, a little bit of almondy nuttiness, a hint of vanilla and a touch of oat biscuits. The high acidity lends great sense of balance to the wine and keeps the sweetness nicely at bay. The high alcohol lends some obvious warmth to the palate. The finish is sweet, moderately sticky and very long with intense flavors of oxidative nuttiness and tangy rancio, some burnt sugar bitterness, light salty notes, a little bit of maple syrup, a sweet hint of vanilla pod and a lifted touch of nail polish VA. The wine ends on a rather hot note, thanks to the high alcohol.
  
  A distinctive, wonderfully complex and very fascinating Vin Santo that shows some oxidative qualities, but also lots of other more fine-tuned nuances as well. The wine isn't super-sweet in style, nor is it from the drier end of the Vin Santo spectrum, but instead is somewhere in the middle - shows quite a bit of sweetness, but isn't as rich and sweet as most dessert wines are. The rather high alcohol shows a bit through, making the wine feel a bit hot at times, but other than that, this is just lovely. As it isn't super-sweet, it drinks really well on its own, but due to its intensity and balanced sweetness, it goes really well with savory desserts. I doubt the wine will continue to improve much from here, but most likely the wine will keep just fine for many years, perhaps even decades. Delightful stuff.

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  12/26/2019 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 96 Points

  Med + amber. Pronounced aromas of candied orange peel, dried apricot, dried figs, hazelnut, almond, caramel, honey, Christmas spices. The palate is medium-sweet but balanced by high acidity. Alcohol is high (15.5%) but nicely balanced by the pronounced intensity of the flavors. Full-bodied, lush and round, with a long, crisp, clean finish. Similar to a fine aged Sherry, this wine is still in a great place and should continue to do so for at least another decade. Simply outstanding.

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  3/21/2015 - FjordogFjell wrote: 95 Points

  395 NOK / 375ml. Fantastisk, Sultan rosiner, tørka aprikos, appelsin, kanel. Starter som en sauternes, går over i appelsin og krydder, knallsøtt midtparti, ender i en frisk laaang ettersmak. Deilig vin som holdt godt over 4 uker i kjøleskapet.

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  5/6/2014 - Wine Sparty wrote: 88 Points

  A bit too hot for my liking.

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