August 19, 2022 - Classic Chianti. Supremely elegant, Burgundian textures, but unmistakenly Tuscan. Sour cherries, violets. Fresh acids, firm tannins. Among the finest Chianti Classico annata bottlings for value, if not the best (if scored for value, I'd have given it 99-100/100, but for absolute quality, for me, it is a 93 points wine). Chianti Classico annata really is undervalued (maybe because it is so cheap), competing with village Burgundy for texture and elegance when made in this wonderful subtle style instead of the more extracted international style. To my mind, the 2016 is the best version of Castellare annata for several years and way better than other recent vintages. Drink now-2030.
June 7, 2022 - Muy aromático, con fruta, campo y ahumados.
En boca es de intensidad media, conserva fruta. Equilibrado.
December 23, 2021 - Bought this for the label (lovely rendition of a European Navy Blue Jay which used to be abundant in the Chianti zone during the Spring nesting season -- at any rate label-wise, more attractive than the Chianti Rooster). The wine is as good or better. Honest Sangiovese with depth and persistence -- not thin at all. Superb food wine. Savory Sangiovese flavors with good concentration. Bitter cherry behind the smoky Italian macchia redolent of the bushy vegetation of the area. What harmony between the bright acidity and medium tannin! Air improved the wine a lot. 90-92
September 29, 2021 - Didn’t take notes but this was a solid relatively fresh Chianti with tomatoey fruit character and just a bit of woody spice showing. ~6+/10
July 25, 2021 - Retail $25. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo. While this sells for around $25 in the States, I picked up three bottles for roughly half of that while I was in Verona for VinItaly a few years ago. Smart decision. This is only the first of the three I have opened and this bottle has heightened my anticipation for the other two. Great dark berry fruit on both the nose and the palate along with some spice and earth. When I have a bottle of wine like this, I realize fairly quickly that I need to buy and drink more Chianti Classico. Fantastico.
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August 28, 2020 - Sage, earth, dark berries, and a dry finish. This showed a stellar combination of bright acids and dense fruit, which seems to be common feature across 2016 CCs. While those are good ingredients for aging, I also found this to be lightly structured and highly expressive after PnP, leaving the impression that it has reached its peak and should be drunk over next couple years.
December 13, 2019 - still very acidic. should be corked 2 hrs prior to drinking. I should get better in the next few yrs
November 15, 2019 - A good CC that hits the spot with or without food. Fair QPR. Silly little stubby cork; certainly not meant to age. Drink now and enjoy!
May 7, 2019 - Still good, need time but started to evolve.
Not a wine to be kept.
February 27, 2019 - A picture of Chianti classicism. Lovely, dusty nose of dried cherries, old leather, violets, and tobacco. More dusty red fruit and cracked pepper flavors and juicy acidity and fine tannins on the finish. A fabulous QPR that belongs on the dinner table. Great stuff.