tonight a bottle of Ruffino 2001 Chianti came out of my cellar and we used those very juice glasses to guzzle this bottle (it was gone within half-an-hour); this wine might very well have been mildly corked, but in our glassware of choice who could tell.
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Medium ruby with brick/garnet edge; transparent; cherry, cherry, cherry; medium-plus, but well integrated acidity; medium-plus to high tannins (integrated, but still strong); solidly mineral; very pleasant - aged well
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Aging mellowed the alcohol and the tannins. Though the bottom half off the cork was pretty saturated the wine has not turned and the fruit has not lost its structure.
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Waited too long... it was beyond its time. Too bad, good wine maker. The nose was fairly apparent, darker berries, touch of chocolate/coffee - but the taste was flat, no bite, nothing. Could have taken a straw to it. Will use it in a basic red sauce tomorrow.
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Medium red, some orange tints at the edges. Same smell as the Oro but less tannic (tannins in this seem fully resolved), light body, sour cherry flavor. Good, but this bottle doesn't show any sign that it's going to evolve any further.
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Re-tasted on 6 Feb 07. Very nice nose. Better than last time, perhaps because I gave it more air time. I would bump this up to an 87 (not that two points more out of fifty makes much sense).
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Very Good bordering on excellent wihtin its style. TN identical to my note on 1.10.06.
Great with some parmesan cheese. Had a generous sprinkle of olive oil on my toast - that didn't work with the wine at all - the wine became very metallic.
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(From a magnum). Nose of forest fruit. Dark purple red. Cherry, pine, mushrooms. Gripping tannins. Pleasant acidity. Pine, smoke/earth on the moderately long finish. Food-friendly. A charming wine, not an outstanding Riserva.
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Earthy, dark cherry nose. The palate is structured; crisp acidity with a medium level of ripe, nice tannins. Medium bodied, medium level of alcohol, and rather intense flavors that are earthy and fruity - predominantly cherry and plum, with a slight licorice/anise note on the finish. Decent length, decent complexity.
Very good bordering on excellent within its style, with a very traditional approach - not as fruity as some, and not as plump as the 2002. Structured with finesse and freshness, intensity and length. Ready to drink now.
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Decanted 1 hour. Red with a just a slight (imagined?) brown tinge. Like it's a little oxidized, although I could not detect this in the flavor. Tingly scent of cherries--really, it tickles the nose a little. Beyond that, and sorry for the poor description, it smells like a typical chianti. On the palate, slight tannins and less fruit than I was expecting from the strong cherry aroma. Finish is unremarkable. Definitely better than the house chianti at the local spaghettery, but I was hoping for more at this price.
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A good example of an everyday Chanti but maybe slightly overpriced at around $20. Transparent ruby color with slight fading at the edges. Medium bodied with scents of baked brie. Subdued berry tastes and relatively smooth. A good match with simple tomato sauce pastas or pizza.
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Mooie rode kleur, ietwat doorzichtig. In de neus rood rijp fruit met warme tonen van chocolade en koffie. Smaak is mooi rond en soepel met zachte tannines. Typische chianti kenmerken.
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This was a very nice chianti, just enough rustic notes, leather and earthiness balanced with fruit. Smooth and eminently drinkable now, but I will pick up a few bottles to put away. Definitely food wine which is what I expect of Italian wines done in more of an "old style". If you want to sip this have some cheese and bread on hand. I am interested to see what the 01 Ducale Oro is like. Oh yes, the nose on this just jumped from the glass when poured. I was sniffing as I handed the glasses round. Nice when that happens.
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First taste was certainly austere and tart and fruit forward. After decanting it was like a different wine. The wine mellowed considerably and took on aromas similar of tobacco and cigar along with a beatiful blackberry and mild dark cherry. A fantastic wine that may need a year or two to come around.
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This is a standard Chianti, which isn't necessarily good news if (like me) you're not really a Chianti guy in the first place. To be sure, this light-bodied wine shows plenty of ripe cherries and the usual Sangiovese bite, which is fairly well balanced by a mix of rustic earthiness and wood. Still, there's little here to keep me coming back -- even if it does go pretty well with my very basic spaghetti -- and the $18 I paid seems too much.
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[John's] Had a previous vintage a couple of years ago, and surprised by the quality. This one was a gift, and hoped to be surprised again. Cherry and mushroom. Palatable but not particularly appealing. Opened at the same time as a Vino Nobile. When the VN was finshied, 3/4 of CC remained.
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1/5/2017 - owr wrote:
tonight a bottle of Ruffino 2001 Chianti came out of my cellar and we used those very juice glasses to guzzle this bottle (it was gone within half-an-hour); this wine might very well have been mildly corked, but in our glassware of choice who could tell.
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4/6/2016 - SIV wrote: 81 Points
Very dark. Cloudy. Almost brown in color. Slight VA on the nose. Acidic bite. No mid palate. Acid finish with stewed fruit start.
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6/14/2014 - dmcella Likes this wine: 88 Points
Medium ruby with brick/garnet edge; transparent; cherry, cherry, cherry; medium-plus, but well integrated acidity; medium-plus to high tannins (integrated, but still strong); solidly mineral; very pleasant - aged well
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11/26/2011 - strayduck wrote:
Aging mellowed the alcohol and the tannins. Though the bottom half off the cork was pretty saturated the wine has not turned and the fruit has not lost its structure.
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3/23/2011 - chefpete wrote: 70 Points
way over the hill
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12/25/2010 - boreddoughboy wrote: 87 Points
Nice rustic nose that fades quickly. Think this one is over the hill.
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1/29/2008 - jnastynebr wrote: flawed
TCA
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11/13/2007 - Whinojb wrote: 82 Points
Waited too long... it was beyond its time. Too bad, good wine maker. The nose was fairly apparent, darker berries, touch of chocolate/coffee - but the taste was flat, no bite, nothing. Could have taken a straw to it. Will use it in a basic red sauce tomorrow.
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10/12/2007 - clueless wrote:
well beyond its time, too bad
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9/8/2007 - Nico P. wrote: 84 Points
Medium red, some orange tints at the edges. Same smell as the Oro but less tannic (tannins in this seem fully resolved), light body, sour cherry flavor. Good, but this bottle doesn't show any sign that it's going to evolve any further.
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4/1/2007 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 81 Points
Found this bottle plumy with a little acid. A little too fruity maybe....
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1/12/2007 - Nico P. wrote: 85 Points
Re-tasted on 6 Feb 07. Very nice nose. Better than last time, perhaps because I gave it more air time. I would bump this up to an 87 (not that two points more out of fifty makes much sense).
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11/18/2006 - Markus Randall wrote:
Very Good bordering on excellent wihtin its style. TN identical to my note on 1.10.06.
Great with some parmesan cheese. Had a generous sprinkle of olive oil on my toast - that didn't work with the wine at all - the wine became very metallic.
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11/17/2006 - Jan Schultink wrote: 89 Points
(From a magnum). Nose of forest fruit. Dark purple red. Cherry, pine, mushrooms. Gripping tannins. Pleasant acidity. Pine, smoke/earth on the moderately long finish. Food-friendly. A charming wine, not an outstanding Riserva.
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10/1/2006 - Markus Randall wrote:
Earthy, dark cherry nose. The palate is structured; crisp acidity with a medium level of ripe, nice tannins. Medium bodied, medium level of alcohol, and rather intense flavors that are earthy and fruity - predominantly cherry and plum, with a slight licorice/anise note on the finish. Decent length, decent complexity.
Very good bordering on excellent within its style, with a very traditional approach - not as fruity as some, and not as plump as the 2002. Structured with finesse and freshness, intensity and length. Ready to drink now.
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6/9/2006 - JeffFaust wrote: 84 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Red with a just a slight (imagined?) brown tinge. Like it's a little oxidized, although I could not detect this in the flavor. Tingly scent of cherries--really, it tickles the nose a little. Beyond that, and sorry for the poor description, it smells like a typical chianti. On the palate, slight tannins and less fruit than I was expecting from the strong cherry aroma. Finish is unremarkable. Definitely better than the house chianti at the local spaghettery, but I was hoping for more at this price.
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4/27/2006 - Rob MacKay wrote: 85 Points
A good example of an everyday Chanti but maybe slightly overpriced at around $20. Transparent ruby color with slight fading at the edges. Medium bodied with scents of baked brie. Subdued berry tastes and relatively smooth. A good match with simple tomato sauce pastas or pizza.
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4/4/2006 - Biglama wrote: 86 Points
Mooie rode kleur, ietwat doorzichtig. In de neus rood rijp fruit met warme tonen van chocolade en koffie. Smaak is mooi rond en soepel met zachte tannines. Typische chianti kenmerken.
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4/2/2006 - BonnieM wrote:
This was a very nice chianti, just enough rustic notes, leather and earthiness balanced with fruit. Smooth and eminently drinkable now, but I will pick up a few bottles to put away. Definitely food wine which is what I expect of Italian wines done in more of an "old style". If you want to sip this have some cheese and bread on hand. I am interested to see what the 01 Ducale Oro is like. Oh yes, the nose on this just jumped from the glass when poured. I was sniffing as I handed the glasses round. Nice when that happens.
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3/27/2006 - GTFreek wrote: 84 Points
Slightly disappointing for price, fruity nose, but more enjoyable and flavorful with meal.
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2/1/2006 - Sweet Nancy wrote:
Typical Chianti to enjoy with a casual pasta and red sauce entre.
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9/3/2005 - dmatley wrote: 90 Points
First taste was certainly austere and tart and fruit forward. After decanting it was like a different wine. The wine mellowed considerably and took on aromas similar of tobacco and cigar along with a beatiful blackberry and mild dark cherry. A fantastic wine that may need a year or two to come around.
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7/29/2005 - Stephan O wrote: 84 Points
This is a standard Chianti, which isn't necessarily good news if (like me) you're not really a Chianti guy in the first place. To be sure, this light-bodied wine shows plenty of ripe cherries and the usual Sangiovese bite, which is fairly well balanced by a mix of rustic earthiness and wood. Still, there's little here to keep me coming back -- even if it does go pretty well with my very basic spaghetti -- and the $18 I paid seems too much.
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6/2/2005 - 97mjr wrote: 84 Points
[John's] Had a previous vintage a couple of years ago, and surprised by the quality. This one was a gift, and hoped to be surprised again. Cherry and mushroom. Palatable but not particularly appealing. Opened at the same time as a Vino Nobile. When the VN was finshied, 3/4 of CC remained.
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