Blind Tuscan tasting

We tasted 5 Tuscans and included an Umbrian IGT and a Charles Shaw merlot as ringers.

• 2006 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Poured through Vinturi and decanted for 45 minutes. Very rich nose dominated by dark cherries. Good body, tart finish. Very nice!

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• 2007 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rùfina 86 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rùfina

  Nose a little funky. Cherry on palate. Strong tannins. Quite tart finish. 85-86

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• 2007 Fattoria La Striscia Chianti Bernardino 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti

  Cherry licorice nose, somewhat subdued. Smooth, medium body. Excellent QPR! 89-90

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• 2006 Charles Shaw Merlot 86 Points

  USA, California

  Ringer in a blind tasting. Coffee & burnt rubber on the nose. Light palate. Short finish. Hard to believe that this improved with age, but definitely tasted better than what others' notes would indicate. Given the nature of this wine, maybe we got lucky with a decent bottle. It's also possible poor Chuck is at a disadvantage unless tasted blind... 85-86

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• 2007 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 89 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  Cherry liquor, nail polish on nose (but good despite the nail polish). Great structure. 88-89

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• 2001 Cafaggio Villa Cafaggio San Martino Toscana IGT 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Really nice nose, dominated by rich cherry, some vanilla. Delicious! Good tannins and structure. Long finish. 90-91

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• 2006 Falesco Vitiano 86 Points

  Italy, Umbria

  Lots of manure at first, then fruit. Palate a bit green. Bitter. 86-87

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Most agreed that the Cafaggio was the best (it was, incidentally, the most expensive). The La Striscia Chianti took 2nd, making it an excellent QPR at $8. Amusingly, the Two Buck Chuck was ranked third, possibly because it was slightly sweeter than the others and thus gained points from those whose tastes lie in that direction.

My ranking: 6, 1, 3, 5, 2, 7, 4. Tara's: 4, 5, 7, 3, 6, 2, 1. Group: 6, 3, 4, 1, 5, 7, 2.