2006 Chianti Tastings Blind

On Thursday, 10 of us convened to taste 2006 Chiantis as they have been heralded as a fantastic vintage. The wines were served single blind from a range of base level chiantis all the way to single vineyard riservas. The wines were opened for several hours, with the SVDs given more time than the base bottlings and the riservas.

Overall, my general impression of the vintage was that many of the wines had substantial acidity and earthy elements, but were in a very tight phase. They were very food friendly, as tested with our intermezzo pizza break. Several had a bit more international flare, perhaps pushing the envelope of what one would consider Chinati in pursuit of quality.

• 2006 Castello dei Rampolla Chianti Classico Flawed

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Rubber and acetone with some rubbing oil and varnish. Was this lightly corked? Upon returning to it, some of the burnt rubber had subsided and muted notes of plum and tar had developed. A sound bottle? Not my favorite

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• 2006 Fontodi Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Dirt, with earthy elements of sour cherries and light licorice. This is a well balanced wine, but the finish leaves one wishing for more. A touch muted, but not particularly inspiring.

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• 2006 Fattoria Viticcio Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Opens a bit primal on the nose but rounds out with time in the glass. Beautiful floral notes of black cassis and cherry, with some toasty creosote. A very refined mouthfeel as the toasty French style oak integrates a smooth creamy finish. This is a polished wine and one to seek out if the price isn’t painful. In my top 3 wines of the night.

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• 2006 San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico Riserva Le Baroncole

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Again a touch muted upon opening with some piercing acidity on the palate but with time it begins to show some earthy truffled elements with ruby red cherry. A nice food wine

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• 2006 Brancaia Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  A very new world profile, with heavy oak and tar integration. Monolithic and expansive, needing time. With more air, earthy elements emerge from under the structure. The finish rounds out with more time. It doesn’t feel very Chianti?

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• 2006 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  A backward and tannic wine that budges little but shows good craft. Far too infantile to evaluate properly. It shows good craft but not much else at this point. Revist in several years or decant heavily!

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• 2006 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Creosote, tar, tobacco but dominated by the acetone which had afflicted the Rampolla. The wine has some nice integration in the mouth and has wonderful grip with big tannins. Again, too primal to really evaluate?

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• 2006 San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Ashy, earth driven nose with nice mulberry. Rounded and tasty. Good table wine, should pair with light pastas up to gamey dishes.

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• 2006 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Very nice. The wine retains the earthy, chianti driven feel with dark cherry and a floral expansive nose. The wine has grip and textured tannins that are almost chewy. Still has a ton of structure but is more accessible than the other bigger wines. Turns out to be the Felsina Riserva and I’m glad to know as I can drink these while waiting for the Rancias!

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• 2006 Podere il Palazzino Chianti Classico Grosso Sanese

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Light on the mouth with nice acidity and a wonderfully light Burgundian finish. The nose is tight but shows promise. Not much movement, but there is something intriguing about this wine!

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Special thanks to Kevin Kfor organizing and for Brian Leger at Bell's Wine Store for organizing another perfect setting.