9/24/2021 - SeattleKen Likes this wine:

Dense color and nice youthful nose of black and blue berries plus violet initially. Nose follows palate as it breathes. Label says it’s 95% mourvedre and 5% grenache but it tastes like a Syrah with a shorter finish and some white pepper thrown in, particularly on the finish (that must be the Mourvèdre). After breathing, it loses a bit of its Syrah fruitiness and becomes darker and a bit more gamey and, well, just more Mourvèdre. Also, finish improves. Quite delicious but I wouldn’t hold this long. Can totally see the old vine quality here in the high extract level. My gut says it’s safe for the next two winters (it’s definitely a cold weather wine) but also no reason not to drink sooner.

1/17/2021 - SeattleKen Likes this wine:

Medium color. Lovely nose of cherries, violets, and earthy notes, like really nice pipe tobacco? Tannins up front and subdued but nice fruits. Even without breathing, this is a lovely wine— not my usual impression of young Chianti. With breathing, the wine becomes richer and seems to have some creamy notes. After 90 minutes in the glass, the creamy notes drop and it just becomes a beautiful glass of plums and enough acid/tannins to call out for a bowl of pasta or cheese. Fruits are dark plums, earth, and a touch of cocoa. Clear and balanced acidity and tannins. Good finish. Unlike a lot of inexpensive Chianti, this is really “yummy”. Pro tip: if you have some awesome olive oil, use tip— the fat balances against the tannins and acidity amazingly. Despite how great it is now, what I’m reading says a good Classico should peak around 8-10 years (2024-2026)? Maybe I’ll store a few bottles and see how they do...

10/30/2020 - SeattleKen wrote:

I opened this bottle on the same night as the 1998 Barbaresco and they are so reminiscent of each other with their distinctive cedar, black cherry and cola notes. Maybe “cola” is my palate’s “nebbiolo flag”? Color is pale-medium garnet. To my palate, taste echoes the nose and the finish is moderate. This seems like a nice bottle of wine but not a long-aging example. I’d say fine now and for the next five year— no guarantees beyond that.