August 10, 2023 - After an encounter during a tasting some 7 years ago, I decided to bury my bottles, way back in the cellar.
Today, this is an unusually dark, concentrated and brooding Chianti. Notes of scorched earth, graphite, dark fruit, ink, Aceto Balsamico, dried herbs and Cuban cigars dominate the nose. The palate is extremely well balanced and the finish long and rewarding, while high levels of ripe soft tannines and mellow acidity provide structure.
Magnificent.
January 24, 2023 - Still consistent with previous tasting notes - though this time compared to the 2017 vintage.
December 9, 2022 - Clear dark red. Very earthy dark fruit, black cherry, warm earth, dries meat, salami and singed thyme nose. Dry powerful warm dark fruit flavours and a tight dry tannic finish.
Powerful stuff. Not as elegant as the del Sorbo that came after it.
November 10, 2022 - Dark and polished with expansive and lavish fruit. The kind of wine that makes you feel spoiled (in the best way). Excellent.
August 7, 2021 - Double decanted 2 hours prior to consumption. Soaring aromatics of sappy cherry. Lovely cherry fruit complemented by earth and a tiny hint of road tar. Fairly tart with nice grippy tannins. This should hold for years. A beautiful wine. Delicious.
June 7, 2021 - A blend of Sangiovese (95%), Canaiolo and Colorino. Fermented and macerated with the skins for 20-22 days in stainless steel tanks. Aged for approximately 18 months in partly new 500-liter demi-muids. 14% alcohol.
Quite deep, dark and only very little translucent blackish-red color with an evolved maroon hue. Somewhat restrained nose with aromas of dusty earth and asphalt, some wizened black cherries, a little bit of dried figs and raisiny fruit, light licorice tones, a hint of savory wood spice and a touch of blood. The wine is ripe, silky and juicy on the palate with a full body and moderately evolved flavors of sweet, dark fruits, tobacco, some bitter sour cherry and lingonberry tones, a little bit of wizened cranberries, light dried-fruit notes of raisins and dates, an umami hint of meat stew and a touch of peppery spice. The overall feel is pretty structured, thanks to the high acidity and ample, grippy tannins. The finish is long, quite savory and rather tannic with flavors of peppery spice, sour cherry bitterness, meaty umami, some wizened cranberry tones, a little bit of toasty oak spice, light dried-fruit notes of raisins and figs, a hint of charred game and a touch of dusty, sun-baked earth.
A savory and rather sunny Chianti Classico Riserva that doesn't feel super-ripe, but certainly has a solar quality to it, lending a somewhat roasted feel to the flavors. There's a lot of good stuff here - especially the combination of impressive structure and bold yet not overdone fruit - but the wine is still not a bullseye. Although this wine is very lean, sinewy and well-proportioned in a world of jammy, overripe wines, this nevertheless feels a bit too roasted, sunny and extracted for a Chianti Classico - it might not be that obvious when drunk alone, but in our tasting of 12 Chianti Classicos, this wine felt a bit "too much", if it makes sense. Nevertheless, this is a terrific wine that is in a great spot right now. Structurally the wine might continue to soften with age, but aromatically the wine seemed like it is very close to its apogee and I suspect that any development in this department is going to remain pretty limited. Drink or keep.
June 3, 2021 - Fully mature. Gorgeous! Previous notes apply. Has everything one could want in CCR!
April 25, 2021 - Consistent with previous tasting notes but this bottle had more obvious signs of aging. Drink in the next couple of years, making room for the 2016.
December 25, 2020 - Wow, definitely the best Chianti I’ve ever had, and clear wine of the year for me. Beautiful nose of raspberry and cherry preserves, fresh cut wood, mushrooms, and dried leaves. Must have sat and just let the aromas wash over me for 10 or 15 minutes. Similar flavor profile, soft and deep, with just enough acidity and tartness to let you know it’s Chianti. Decently lingering finish. Glad I held this - in the perfect drinking window for me and would probably be for several more years.
July 22, 2020 - Stunning, gorgeous Chianti. Looks young. Deep and complex. Cherry, earth, long finish. I agree with Achermann's previous note. I love this wine.