Visit to Castello di Monsanto

We only had the time for one visit in Chianti this time round, and we chose Castello di Monsanto as the 1985 Il Poggio still remains the best Chianti I have ever had. The setting was spectacular - great view, lovely vineyard. We had a really warm welcome too. It was a bit of a pity that the tasting range was so small, especially with only one Chianti, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

• 2007 Castello di Monsanto Chardonnay Fabrizio Bianchi Toscana IGT 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  It is a bit strange to see that the only three tasting notes on this wine to date have all been posted by Singaporeans on separate visits to Castello di Monsanto. We are all united in praise of this wine though. While not mindblowing, it was good, and quite an achievement for an unfamiliar terroir for Chardonnay like Chianti. I liked the fresh nose especially, with its its notes stone fruit, a touch of bread, some minerality and sweetly honeyed undertone. The palate was weighty in a warm climate way, with more honeyed tone and sweet stone fruit - apricots and white peach - at the fore, along with some spice and minerality and just a twist of warm herbs lurking around. A pretty nice flavour specturm with some complexity to it. What I appreciate most was that in spite of the sunny weight and fruit it had, it was also blessed with surprising freshness, so that while the showed new world fruit suggestions, it also displayed old world balance and poise. Chatting with the winemaker, he said that they make decisions on whether to complete malolactic fermantation with each vintage. It was only about 80% done in this vintage to keep the freshness. Well-judged I think. The wine is drinking well now, but it should age very nicely over the next 3-4 years and beyond.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2010 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  This wine has only been very recently released. I thought it was a good showing from a solid, but unpsectacular vintage. The nose showed a touch of wood and some fresh herb amongst rather intense aromas od black cherries, blackberries, and then lighter scents of dried mushrooms, earth and a crack of black pepper. Wonderful aromatics - I really liked that. Unsurprisingly, the palate was rather less opened for business. From the attack, it showed slightly chewy tannins and gobs of juicy acidity, quite a decent but unimposing structure. It was a bit thinner on the fruit than the nose suggested, but showed really pleasant if rather unauthoritative flavours of black cherries and berries, with another seasoning of pepper and some woody herbs. Very yummy- I liked this. This may not the longest aging Chianti Riserva, but it was superbly fresh and nicely refined, and should drink very nicely in the medium term. No harm done cracking a young bottle open now, but I would really give it at least 4-5 years' bottle age. It should hit a nice drinking window shortly after that and go on aging gracefully towards its first decade and a little beyond.

  Post a Comment / 7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 2004 Castello di Monsanto Nemo Vigneto Il Mulino Toscana IGT 88 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Another rarity - a 100% Cabernet from the heart of the Chianti region. I thought this was just okay. The nose flattered to deceived - it was fruity, but not new worldly way - more like a Super-Tuscan to my mind, with woody herbs, meat, leather and shades of undergrowth undergirding its expressive tones of red berries, plums and darker cassis fruit. With a bit of time in the glass, a nice peppery note, some smoky tones and even a floral component started emerging. A very nice nose actually - the 100% new oak showed a bit, but was quite nicely integrated by this point. The palate started out quite nicely too, with a good, sappy attack, where the fruit caught on the nose were nicely supported by chewy tannins that have just started to softened and very fresh acidity. Unforunately, the wine leaned out substantially, and the midpalate was rather on the thinner side, very simple too, with its fruit seasoned with lots of peppery spice, before finishing in a very minty, mentholly end. I thought it resembled a rather simple Coonawarra Cabernet from Australia more than anything here. Nice head, rather weaker tail then, with a nose that was more interesting and complex than the palate. A decent enough drink, but no great shakes. Should get a little better with age, and certainly with some food though - would be interesting to try in a 3-4 years.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No