Chianti 2015++

Frank is a big Sangiovese fan so put together a lovely lunch with a selection of Chiantis for us to try. Wayne rocked up with a Brunello, Dave chucked in a bottle and I brought along absolutely nothing because I have, oddly, no Sangiovese in my cellar...I don't really enjoy the way it ages so I tend to just drink it.

What an interesting split; the first two worked for me...the second completely didn't

• 2015 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. Ripe cherry, sweet spice, polished oak, quite concentrated, perhaps a longer hang time, a little peppery spice, alcohol prickle. Cherry fruit is ripe on the palate, polished oak, fruit tea, back tea, tannins, herbaceous underpin, tannins increasingly tacky with time, nicer and more balanced than the nose implied. Nice.

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• 2015 Fontodi Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. A little savoury underpin, touch of cherry that grows with time and becomes more concentrated, a little tobacco leaf, meaty and slightly charcuterie notes. Nice nose, that opens to show more generosity. Medium plus intensity acidity, grainy tannins and cherry fruit with a little tobacco leaf background flutter greet the palate together and persist long. Yummo.

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• 2015 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas are earthy, a little almost reductive notes, touch of almost forest floor mulchy note, muted cherry fruit. Medium plus intensity acidity is mouthwatering, tannins are leathery, and drying, fruit pretty much non-existent here for me. Alcohol warmth intrudes on the finish. Meh.

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• 2015 I Fabbri Chianti Classico Lamole

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. Biscuit, meaty, cherry, slight alcohol prickle, a touch of cream and dusty note complete the nose. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, fresh cherry, a little dilute, talcy tannins, Meh.

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Interesting to try these two next to each other...Riserva was just not showing well

• 2015 Querciabella Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. Fresh cherry fruit, a little spice, touch of tobacco leaf, touches of leather, touch of red fruit tea. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, a touch of red liquorice joins the more muted fruit cherry, tobacco leaf, red fruits tea then a wave of drying sand papery tannins, alcohol warmth helps carry the finish long. Kind of nice.

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• 2015 Querciabella Chianti Classico Riserva

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. Unsurprisingly this is a more concentrated version of the straight Chianti Classico; more of everything but more so including the oak. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, the tannins are far more in charge here though, alcohol warmth, fruit in the background, time for me; it's a bit clumsy at the mo'.

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A surprisingly disappointing bracket of wines. The 2016 was a bit dirty but kind of nice and, as I was the only one who liked it, Frank gave me the bottle to take home.

• 2015 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. Ripe cherry, polished oak shows some sweet spice, fruit tea, alcohol prickle but also a touch of cherry compote, slightly savoury umami underpin, leather. Medium plus intensity acidity, cherry fruit, coarse and slightly cumbersome tannins close down the palate, drying out the finish, touch of non intrusive alcohol warmth, feels a little out of whack.

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• 2016 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. Meaty, leathery, touch of Bovril, porcini, tiny touch of farmyard (?), herbaceous underpin. Muted red hued cherry fruit. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, meaty, savoury, cherry fruit is, oddly, slightly tart but integrated with the woody and grainy tannins, all travel long, plenty of umami notes here as well, kind of nice but defo in the forward space.

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• 2017 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. Slight hoppy notes blow off to show ripe cherry, sweet oak spice, touch of polished oak. Juicy medium plus intensity acidity, surprisingly short, touch of alcohol warmth on the finish with a soft tannic burr, surprisingly simple. Hmm.

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• 2020 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  From Coravin. Oof, medium plus intensity aromas of baked red cherry fruit with a jubey underpin, slightly dusty notes with a touch of almost citrus peel, herbaceous notes. More of the same on the palate, quite broad compared to the other wines, talc textured tannins, muted fruit. Bah.

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This is on the cusp of acceptable for me from an oxidative perspective.

• 2015 Tenuta Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  From Coravin. Rich, meaty, savoury, ripe cherry, concentrated without being overdone, slight leathery, very slight almost oxidised notes but still good for me, complex. Dense, powerful, medium plus intensity acidity, those savoury notes translate to the palate with the ripe cherry, tannins are woody but are controlled, integrated and lend breadth. Medium length. S'okay to nice.

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What a lot of fun...I may have to revise my cynicism and purchase some...alternatively Frank and I can tag team with Chianti and Bordeaux...