Another wonderful bottle of L202/15, this was decanted 90 minutes before dinner in a narrow decanter (so not maximum air). The wine is wonderfully perfumed, with luxurious ripe dark fruits, leather, earth and exotic spices. It has nice acidity and fine tannins, and is a silky, smooth, balanced food wine. Outstanding QPR. Drink to 2030+.
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This wine (L202/15) is now in its peak drinking window, the wine is sublime. Decanted one hour before dinner, this is a great expression of Sangiovese, and of the Monsanto house style: balanced and smooth, savory, with firm acidity and biggish but integrated tannins, perfect with a big dinner, with red and dark fruits, and a long finish. Classic CCR, and a great QPR.
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Decanted for 90 minutes. When I first looked at and tasted this wine, I was shocked by its youth, tension and vibrancy, and I immediately checked to see if I had taken the wrong vintage off the shelf. Well, it is the 2012, but it’s lotto 203/15, and it is different from the previous bottlings. It’s higher-toned, less dense and with almost no sweetness on the mid-palate. It has fabulous aromatics, tremendous structure, and should drink well to 2035. A succulent, balanced, delicious food wine. Outstanding QPR.
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Really comes unto itself after an hour or so decanting. Aromas of tomato leaf, terracotta pot, rhubarb, Rainier cherries, charcoal, sweet herbs, dried roses, decaying wood, dark chocolate.
Palate a bit austere with a hint of bitterness at first but that quickly smoothed over. Medium+/high acidity, taut tannins, a lot more cherry on the palate, some cocao.
Drinking well, but still tight upon first opening. This should continue to develop for the rest of the decade. It's hard to imagine many other wines delivering this QPR, especially with this level of ageability.
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Two hour decant. Another fine bottle of the L202/15, this seemed slightly lighter than the previous two bottles, otherwise the same. Savory, complex, very aromatic, silky, balanced, medium+ body, long finish. Excellent QPR. Drink to 2028?
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Popped, poured, consumed over next 90 minutes. Very solid traditional style Chianti with nice balance, reasonable complexity, and an inviting finish. Drinking well and should cruise in the cellar.
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The wine was spectacular, great fruit, soft tannins, beautifully balanced. None of the bitterness of Sangiovese. This presented like a super Tuscan that would sell for a much higher price.
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Aged cherry red. Strawberry pie, mulled spice, and forest nose. Medium bodied, raspberries, cherries for days, fully integrated tannins, a touch of heat, baking spices, and medium to long perceptively sweet finish. Outstanding.
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Pizza Night Italiano (Matt and Brenda's): Dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. Brief note. This was quite savory, red fruited, deep, anise, gravel, iron, plenty of earth. In a good spot.
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Transparent Garnet color with initial dried earth integrated within the red plummy fruit in the nose. Sweet, medium level extracted delicious fruit with sweet oak accents on the palate, with tannins still in force but not overpowering, along with an overall elevating acidity. Cocoa and dark chocolate notes mingle with velvety Sangiovese grape skin flavor on the finish along with a pleasant inner lip astringent pucker. One cannot ever equate the unequivocal anticipated consistency of this wine without the addition of multiple additional superlatives for this producer. Predictably enjoyable and satisfying. This vintage has both immediate pleasure and the promise of further development.
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Decanted two hours before dinner and then aerated upon serving, we served three bottles, two of L202/15 and one if L203/15. However, these bottles were blended together in the decanter, so I don’t have notes by lot number. A great, balanced silky wine from Monsanto’s 50th anniversary CCR, this has a medium-dark, translucent Sangiovese color, with musky cherry aromas, a floral quality, earth, spice, tobacco, leather, a medium+ body, a sweet mid-palate, great acidity, firm tannins, and a long, succulent, bittersweet finish. Drink to 2030+. Excellent QPR.
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needs 1 hour decant (notes from PNP and sitting open for a few hours).
Black / red color. Pine resin, black cherry, sweet cherry and tobacco on nose. Palate had similar flavor profile to nose - medium body, medium acidity / tannins (on finish only) and long finish. Gained weight and complexity with air-time. 91+/-
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A blend of Sangiovese (90%), Canaiolo and Colorino. Fermented and macerated with the skins for 18-20 days in stainless steel tanks. Aged for approximately 18 months in French oak barriques and 500-liter demi-muids. 14% alcohol.
Youthful, luminous and moderately translucent cherry red color. Ripe, clean and very classically styled CC nose with aromas of fresh red fruits, some ripe cherries, a little bit of licorice, light meaty tones, a hint of darker forest fruits and a touch of tobacco. The wine is firm, dry and noticeably bitter on the palate with a medium body and savory flavors of fresh cranberries and pronounced sour cherry bitterness, some dark forest fruits, a little bit of tobacco, light gravelly mineral tones, a hint of wood spice and a touch of licorice root. High acidity with gently grippy medium tannins. The high alcohol lends a bit of warmth to the palate. The finish is firm, long and slightly warm with flavors of pronounced sour cherry bitterness, tart lingonberries, some savory wood spice, a little bit of ferrous blood, light notes of tobacco and a hint of ripe dark berries.
A nice, fresh and gastronomic Chianti Classico that performs very gracefully despite the rather high alcohol%. The overall feel here was surprisingly bitter; for sure sour cherry bitterness is to be expected from a Sangiovese, but in our tasting 12 Chianti Classicos, this wine was noticeably more bitter than any other wine we had. I can imagine this kind of pronounced bitterness can be a distracting element for people less familiar with Chianti Classico, so be warned. Other than that, the wine is a terrific food wine with well-proportioned fruit, bright acidity and firm yet unobtrusive tannins. Seeing how youthful the wine still is, I can imagine it will continue to age nicely for years more. Priced according to its quality at 23€.
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Fresh tilled earth, a combo of fresh and dried herbs, sage, fresh oregano, ripe cherry, nice finish with a touch of balsamic. Good with a nice sense of refinement, though missing a touch of density and drive in the mid-palate, but a classy and lengthy finish.
Very good, though the other vintages I’ve had have been better, features a bit more drive and a touch more complexity
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Another great bottle of the Monsanto CCR 2012 (L202/15), it is in a beautiful spot right now, still is far from its peak, but too delicious to resist. Decanted for two hours, it has a deeper, darker core than the Monsanto from many other vintages. It has wonderful aromas of sweet cherry, earth, dark spices, tobacco and leather. The wine is all about balance, with a medium+ body, excellent acid, and silky tannins,. Its classic structure shines throughout, from first aroma to final, long aftertaste of bittersweet cherry. I drank too many bottles of this when they were young, and only in the past few years have I realized how good the wine is. Drink to 2030++.
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Wish I would have decanted a little longer, wine started slow but starting rocking when we had it with hunters chicken. Dark cherries exploded with tobacco and spice accents. Tannins were well integrated.
Very enjoyable
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Triple decanted one hour before dinner, with a medium and translucent Sangiovese color. This bottle of the 2012 Monsanto CCR is excellent, with musky cherry aromas, a floral quality, earth, spice, tobacco, and leather. It is a balanced, silky wine with a medium+ body, a sweet mid-palate, great acidity, firm tannins, and a long, succulent, bittersweet finish. Drink to 2030+. Excellent QPR.
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It was a little better than "ok" when consumed with pizza, but without food it was a bit of a dud. My wife thought it tasted like "barnyard", I did not get that, I thought the dominate note was just acid. Might be past its prime. Cork was very dry, broke in half upon opening, even though it has always been stored on its side.
After my first bottle, I expected more, though still a nice wine. Fruit forward and nice acidity. Finish is quite nice with slightly tart prickly tannin on the finish. Basically a good Riserva with likely another 4-5 years of prime drinking. I'm hoping the rest of my bottles are more like the first.
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This 2012 Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva is a great example of a style of Chianti that I love (and which is the antithesis of the “international” style of Sangiovese as represented by Brunello di Montalcino, at 2x-4x the price): high-toned, fragrant, medium-light body, balanced, silky, smooth, with a savory, sappy mid-palate and a sweet, mineral and long finish. It is in a perfect place right now. Excellent QPR.
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This bottle was especially nice. Smooth and light spice and tobacco. Middle was medium+ body and very nicely integrated. ?Finish was downright tasty with smooth and sophisticated tannin. This should be quite good for the next 5 years or more.
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Really nice bottle. More floral than this wine usually shows, though with some time open the familiar leathery, somewhat chewy notes start to take over. Nice bottle with pizza, as always.
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Another bad bottle from a recently acquired six-pack. It seems clear that the importer and distributor do not have proper storage conditions, because I've had bottles of this vintage from my own cellar, bought upon release, that are excellent.
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My second bottle of a six-pack that I recently acquired. The first bottle was flawed, so I became suspicious of the storage. This bottle was fine, so I am feeling more confident about the remaining four. However, it wasn't as good as the last one that I had from my own cellar. Anyway, the wine is very good, with lovely Sangiovese aromas, a medium+ body, and firm levels of both acids and tannins in harmony and balance, with a typical bittersweet cherry and mineral finish. I recall that the best bottles of this vintage were a bit more angular and structured, and slightly more complex, but this was still delicious.
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Needs air and a lot of it. The nose nicely perfumed with notes of cherry, blackberry, a bit red currant, ethereal with a hint of wood and marzipan. Same impression on the palate with present tannins and acidity. On the mid palate it lacks a bit of structure and depth. The quite long aftertaste is driven by salt, minerality, sour cherry and astringent tannins. No signs of advanced maturity. Might improve with further age, especially the tannins could settle down a bit. Given the price this wine does not have the best PQR. But the wine just for itself is a good and solid one. Nothing more, nothing less. Nose: 92 Palate: 90
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Translucent ruby in the glass; bright red & black fruit on the nose, with an earthy note as well - pretty appealing nose.
Light- to medium-bodied on the palate, with sweet/ripe fruit that really spreads out - in a word, delicious. I have probably mentioned this in previous notes, but I should have purchased more of this - drinking great today, and showing no signs that it won't continue to do so for another 5-10 years.
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The nose featured black cherry, earth, and clove. On the palate, I found intense, saturated red plum and earth, with some exotic spice on the finish. Medium high acidity and still somewhat tannic. What a difference two years makes. Bottles in 2016 were shut down; this was in good form after an hour of air, though still has many years of fine drinking ahead.
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Dark purple. Intense black cherry and earth nose with background nutmeg and dried mushroom notes. Delicious dry earthy black cherry flavours and a long dry finish.
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Leather, meaty, cherries and a ton of other classic sangio characteristics totally integrated with rocking acidity and sneaky tannins on the finish. Drinking real well.
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This has opened up since my last bottle over a year ago. Drinking very well right now - went great with ravioli and penne bolognese. A solid Chianti for under 20 bucks. Middle of the road in terms weight, acidity, tannin, oak level -- right up my alley. Nice flavor profile - not modern and not too rustic, but clearly Italian.
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I've been drinking this over the last few years, started with 2 cases and have worked my way through most of it. Monsanto has been my go to daily chianti, and have many of the vintages, but 2012 has been my favorite by far, with one exception - this vintage seems to have a very high rate of bad bottles. When you get a good one, which most are, this wine will please - nice tannins with subtle fruit, but deep concentrated woodsy notes. Decant immediately and start tasting as it opens up.. I find the 2nd half of the bottle to be even better on day 2+. For the price, it's tough to beat. Purchase Monsanto by the case, not the bottle.
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Consistent with my notes from six months ago, this wine is just now entering its peak drinking window, which now seems to be 2017-2025. A food wine for sure. 30+ minutes of decanting are necessary. One of, if not the best 2012 Chianti I've had to date, the wine has the typical Chianti acid backbone, with an extra dose for the vintage, and also has enough ripe fruit flavors to be balanced. Tart cherry, black cherry, raw meat, and an intense mineral flavor. Excellent QPR.
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Floral, meaty, earthy and savory nose. Definitely some tannin will hit you along with some grippy dark fruits. Little bread crust too. Worked well with the dominoes pizza I ordered. I really liked the nose and combined with the price it pushed this into 90 point range for me. Enjoyed it more than last bottle I had.
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Solid value under $20. Like the nose of dusty cherry, tobacco, and earth. Palate of dusty dried leaves, cherry and leather. Nice mouthfeel with ample but not overpowering tannins. Begs for food and really delivers at the pricepoint.
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According to CT, I haven't written a note on one of these in almost one year. Translucent ruby in the glass, with earthy red fruits on the nose.
Prominent acidity frames the ripe red fruit on the palate - decent length on the finish. This feels like a wine capable of additional development over the next 5-10 years - kind of sorry now I didn't buy more than I did.
Darker than many chiantis. Rich in red fruit and decent acidity, but still a bit tight. I think this is still on the upswing and wish I had more bottles to hold.
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At under $20, maybe the best quality/price value Chianti on the market today; dark and extracted, classic aromas and flavors of cherry, smoke and earth, with good integration of tannins, acid and flavors working together, along with a pleasant, medium+ finish. Textbook.
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Opened five hours ago. Medium ruby. Nose has nice cherry. Candle wax. Very good wine in the mouth, quite mouthfilling. Has nice earthy component too, which gives it depth and structure. No lightweight, this one. Could use a few years in the cellar to show more charm. 4-11-16-7: 88/100.
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This wine must be decanted for an hour or more, it is completely wasted as a pop & pour. Also, I don't think it has yet entered its peak drinking window, which is probably 2019-2030
Beautiful dark ruby Sangiovese color with black hints; sweet cherry on entry, it quickly morphs to a pleasant and savory tart cherry flavor with nice dried herb fragrances, earth, firm but integrated tannins with a bit of dust, medium body, angular structure and medium length. A delicious, understated and subtle food wine that will probably – like most Monsanto CCRs - evolve beautifully for another 10-12 years.
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1 hour decant and got better with more air. Black cherry, currant, tobacco, road tar, forest floor Mild dust on the palate. Moderately short finish, but it's a really nice wine for the price. Back to Costco for more this week.
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Black fruit nose and some light oak notes along with a little vanilla. Nose a litle more complex than the Gabbiano (had the Gabbiano Chianti 2015 open as I was using it to braise some pork in, so did a little taste comparison). Body is fuller, medium feel in this one. It's a little tight on the finish with some good structure. I like this wine, it's nicely done.
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Needs about 90 minutes to open up. Light woodsy spice and earth accent a fair amount of darker toned fruit. We both enjoyed this bottle. Monsanto CCR always offers good value.
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Fairly simple and slightly tannic yet, but is probably still a bargain for $18. Definitely improved over an hour+ of decanting, even if not by that much.
Solid sub-$20 Chianti Classico even if I wish for even better pass-through on the weak euro. Recent notes below describe it well. We did PnP through an aerating decanter and it worked well with the meal, though I'd be curious to try it with a little real decant. It's got a great balance of slightly tart sour cherry, dusty earth, slight farm funk, touch of dried herbs, medium acid, tannins in place, but not drying.
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Decanted this one for two hours, the nose hints at iron, dried cherries and dried flowers, crystalline flavors of cherry, raspberry, mineral and anise, the acid is radiant and carries the palate well, very clean, bright flavors on the finish, so very lively and lifted with nice complexity, perfect with a meaty bolognese, recommend a decant
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Good bang for the buck. It's a staple at my house. Needs an hour or so to open up. Ripe cherries, good acid and soft tannins. Can probably improve with further aging. It quite pleasant now.
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Many of the prior notes mirror my experience with this bottle - lean, tight, tannic, improves with air. On the pop 'n pour, this really was unremarkable, bordering on unpleasant. I could tell there was a good core of fruit underneath the tannin and acidity, but was just not very enjoyable, even after a couple of hours with the bottle open. So, I vacuvin'd it, kept at room temp, and tried a small glass the next evening after removing the vacuum stopper and it was really more of the same. Fast forward to the next evening (after vacuvin'ing it again), and alas, the fruit had taken on a more prominent role, fleshy (someone mentioned "plummy" in a previous note), with tamed tannin. Really wonderful flavor profile at this point and well-balanced. So, I guess the lesson here is to let this one sit for a couple of years or give it a very long decant.
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Medium bodied with rich fruit and good tannins, some complexity, some balance which should improve with time, wine is one of my favs, drank with spaghetti and meatballs, will drink again.
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Has its moments, but needs air. Alcoholic and thin at the beginning, but gained depth, dryness, slight sweetness and a slight hint of earth at the end. Hollow in the middle for now...Needs 2 to 3 years...HOLD
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Medium plus red. When first opened this is flavour full but abrupt and terse. After a day in the fridge the bottom of the bottle becomes plummy and fruity.
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Deep, dark garnet in color. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of youthful, ripe fruit aromas of red cherries, strawberries & plums with overtones of dried herbs & earthy/dusty notes, tea, spices, minerals, loam & a touch of cedar in the background. Medium bodied with a good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, youthful, ripe fruit flavors of sour cherries, strawberries & red plums with herbs, earthy, minerals, spices & a touch of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting and airing but has the potential for further development with additional aging.
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Dulled initial hit of blackberry, but then showing its bit of extra maturity. So, fruit does not overwhelm. Surprisingly tannic for a Chianti. Strong acid presence. I would expect from any Chianti, but this one is, like the fruit, not in your face. Not a great wine, but for under $20, a darned good one.
medium ruby color. soft on the nose. palate leads with cherry and pomegranate fruit. A dash of sage and coarse tannin on the finish. A bit beguiling. If the finish were gentler we'd have a winner. Consider a decant at this point.
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Not a bad medium of the road Chianti. Lots of bright red fruit that mellowed out over an hour and complemented Parmesaen crusted chicken very well. Decanted 1 hour and it continued to evolve becoming a little more earthy, but not much. A good, easy drinking, low effort Chianti Classico.
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Deep red and clear in the glass with some violet hues. On the nose, the wine was open with olive, ash, cherry, and scrubby underbrush. Black cherry, leather, herbs, and violets on the palate. Nice, focused and tight structure. Medium length cherry floral finish with some puckering tannins. Quality Chianti and good value at <$20/750. 88-90.
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No formal notes. This was a good, straightforward Chianti, somewhere in the middle between the leaner and fruitier styles. Very good accompaniment to meatier Italian fare.
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Hailakan punainen. Kuivattua kirsikkaa, mineraalisuutta ja ruusunlehtiä tuoksussa. Hyvin nuori, hapokas ja kuiva suutuntuma. Melko täyteläinen. Potentiaalia on, mutta jo nyt oiva ruuan kumppaniksi.
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Translucent ruby in the glass; "focused" and primary nose that features red fruits.
Light- to medium-bodied (and weight-wise, reminiscent of the 2012 Felsina CCR we had earlier in the week). Like that wine, I find this enjoyable, but I'm not sure it has the ability to "make old bones". Still, for Wednesday night pasta, you could do a lot worse.
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Had at my brother-in law's 80th party among a variety of lower priced wines most between $ 17.00 & $ 25.00. I am recording my tasting notes from these. First are my tasting notes then is the listing of the wines opened.We also popped a 1936 Vega Siciliano !
Tasting Note: A restrained wine with good balance and lively fruit flavors. Bing cherry to start with a background of chassis though a lighter wine. Not bad..... but not great.
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Tannic, nice color, fruit shows a bit but the wine never came together for me, usually a favorite wine, tannic finish, drank with pizza at Arturo's, might try again.
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Decanted 2.5 hours - it really needed it and if I ordered this at a restaurant with no decant or limited decant at this age I would be disappointed!
Dark red color with no sediment. On nose, medicinal, dark cherry, dried cherry, sage, and touch of eucalyptus.
On palate, similar flavor profile (no eucalyptus) but more fruit primary - cherry, dried cherry. High acidity, medium+ tannins and long finish. Paired great with beef spaghetti.
Excellent QPR and will buy more - my wife loved this. 91-92 range. Don't waste your money and drink now without decanting for 1-2+ hours.
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Color: light ruby core -> diffuse, very light ruby rim. Attractive bouquet of cherries, rose petals, earth, oak and a little tar. Earthy palate with brambly, cherry-focused fruit. Medium-bodied with great acidity, this has a reasonable, moderately long, somewhat dry/tannic finish. Old world style and I like it (apparently more than other reviewers!). I'm thinking this will show very nicely given a few years to rest.
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Served with lasagna. Decanted about 25m prior to serving. Strong dark cheery nose. In the mouth, continued dark cherry, suggestion of dirt amd tobacco. Collapsed in on itself very quickly. With the food, finish extends just a bit. Drinkable to be sure, but might benefit from some time, but there's also not a ton of tannins, so not sure.
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At first it was definitely tight. Some notes of dried cherry and oak. After a while it definitely opened up. I had lead pencil, tar some spice and blueberry. I think this could use a few years, but this is drinking well now with some time opened before drinking. This went well with some smoked brisket bar BQ. For the price this was a very nice value - comparable to some brunellos.
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Recently purchased at Coscto for 19$. The wine is very closed. The cherry notes on the nose were immediately apparent identifying the Sangiovese grape as the main component. It just never really opened. Buying it at Costco you have no idea if the wine had just arrived and was suffering from "bottle shock". I really like Monsanto, the 2009 was superb, as was the 2010. I will have to try another bottle and see if this is an abberation.
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2/8/2024 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another wonderful bottle of L202/15, this was decanted 90 minutes before dinner in a narrow decanter (so not maximum air). The wine is wonderfully perfumed, with luxurious ripe dark fruits, leather, earth and exotic spices. It has nice acidity and fine tannins, and is a silky, smooth, balanced food wine. Outstanding QPR. Drink to 2030+.
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2/1/2024 - rsbeck wrote: 92 Points
Popped, poured, consumed over next 90 minutes. Similar to previous, developing well, should continue to cruise effortlessly in the cellar.
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12/23/2023 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine (L202/15) is now in its peak drinking window, the wine is sublime. Decanted one hour before dinner, this is a great expression of Sangiovese, and of the Monsanto house style: balanced and smooth, savory, with firm acidity and biggish but integrated tannins, perfect with a big dinner, with red and dark fruits, and a long finish. Classic CCR, and a great QPR.
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2/13/2023 - dgcaldwell wrote: 89 Points
Definitely decant. Needed two hours. Good structure and acid.
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12/31/2022 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes. When I first looked at and tasted this wine, I was shocked by its youth, tension and vibrancy, and I immediately checked to see if I had taken the wrong vintage off the shelf. Well, it is the 2012, but it’s lotto 203/15, and it is different from the previous bottlings. It’s higher-toned, less dense and with almost no sweetness on the mid-palate. It has fabulous aromatics, tremendous structure, and should drink well to 2035. A succulent, balanced, delicious food wine. Outstanding QPR.
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11/2/2022 - deetz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really comes unto itself after an hour or so decanting. Aromas of tomato leaf, terracotta pot, rhubarb, Rainier cherries, charcoal, sweet herbs, dried roses, decaying wood, dark chocolate.
Palate a bit austere with a hint of bitterness at first but that quickly smoothed over. Medium+/high acidity, taut tannins, a lot more cherry on the palate, some cocao.
Drinking well, but still tight upon first opening. This should continue to develop for the rest of the decade. It's hard to imagine many other wines delivering this QPR, especially with this level of ageability.
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10/6/2022 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Two hour decant. Another fine bottle of the L202/15, this seemed slightly lighter than the previous two bottles, otherwise the same. Savory, complex, very aromatic, silky, balanced, medium+ body, long finish. Excellent QPR. Drink to 2028?
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7/20/2022 - rsbeck wrote: 91 Points
Popped, poured, consumed over next 90 minutes. Very solid traditional style Chianti with nice balance, reasonable complexity, and an inviting finish. Drinking well and should cruise in the cellar.
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6/24/2022 - Boda wrote: 96 Points
The wine was spectacular, great fruit, soft tannins, beautifully balanced. None of the bitterness of Sangiovese. This presented like a super Tuscan that would sell for a much higher price.
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6/5/2022 - merryberry Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aged cherry red. Strawberry pie, mulled spice, and forest nose. Medium bodied, raspberries, cherries for days, fully integrated tannins, a touch of heat, baking spices, and medium to long perceptively sweet finish. Outstanding.
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2/16/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Pizza Night Italiano (Matt and Brenda's): Dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. Brief note. This was quite savory, red fruited, deep, anise, gravel, iron, plenty of earth. In a good spot.
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12/10/2021 - Josch48 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Transparent Garnet color with initial dried earth integrated within the red plummy fruit in the nose. Sweet, medium level extracted delicious fruit with sweet oak accents on the palate, with tannins still in force but not overpowering, along with an overall elevating acidity. Cocoa and dark chocolate notes mingle with velvety Sangiovese grape skin flavor on the finish along with a pleasant inner lip astringent pucker.
One cannot ever equate the unequivocal anticipated consistency of this wine without the addition of multiple additional superlatives for this producer. Predictably enjoyable and satisfying. This vintage has both immediate pleasure and the promise of further development.
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11/25/2021 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted two hours before dinner and then aerated upon serving, we served three bottles, two of L202/15 and one if L203/15. However, these bottles were blended together in the decanter, so I don’t have notes by lot number. A great, balanced silky wine from Monsanto’s 50th anniversary CCR, this has a medium-dark, translucent Sangiovese color, with musky cherry aromas, a floral quality, earth, spice, tobacco, leather, a medium+ body, a sweet mid-palate, great acidity, firm tannins, and a long, succulent, bittersweet finish. Drink to 2030+. Excellent QPR.
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9/17/2021 - CWilliam wrote:
needs 1 hour decant (notes from PNP and sitting open for a few hours).
Black / red color. Pine resin, black cherry, sweet cherry and tobacco on nose. Palate had similar flavor profile to nose - medium body, medium acidity / tannins (on finish only) and long finish. Gained weight and complexity with air-time. 91+/-
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6/7/2021 - forceberry wrote: 89 Points
A blend of Sangiovese (90%), Canaiolo and Colorino. Fermented and macerated with the skins for 18-20 days in stainless steel tanks. Aged for approximately 18 months in French oak barriques and 500-liter demi-muids. 14% alcohol.
Youthful, luminous and moderately translucent cherry red color. Ripe, clean and very classically styled CC nose with aromas of fresh red fruits, some ripe cherries, a little bit of licorice, light meaty tones, a hint of darker forest fruits and a touch of tobacco. The wine is firm, dry and noticeably bitter on the palate with a medium body and savory flavors of fresh cranberries and pronounced sour cherry bitterness, some dark forest fruits, a little bit of tobacco, light gravelly mineral tones, a hint of wood spice and a touch of licorice root. High acidity with gently grippy medium tannins. The high alcohol lends a bit of warmth to the palate. The finish is firm, long and slightly warm with flavors of pronounced sour cherry bitterness, tart lingonberries, some savory wood spice, a little bit of ferrous blood, light notes of tobacco and a hint of ripe dark berries.
A nice, fresh and gastronomic Chianti Classico that performs very gracefully despite the rather high alcohol%. The overall feel here was surprisingly bitter; for sure sour cherry bitterness is to be expected from a Sangiovese, but in our tasting 12 Chianti Classicos, this wine was noticeably more bitter than any other wine we had. I can imagine this kind of pronounced bitterness can be a distracting element for people less familiar with Chianti Classico, so be warned. Other than that, the wine is a terrific food wine with well-proportioned fruit, bright acidity and firm yet unobtrusive tannins. Seeing how youthful the wine still is, I can imagine it will continue to age nicely for years more. Priced according to its quality at 23€.
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5/2/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine: 90 Points
No rush to drink this and would benefit from a good decant.
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3/14/2021 - OaktownRush Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fresh tilled earth, a combo of fresh and dried herbs, sage, fresh oregano, ripe cherry, nice finish with a touch of balsamic. Good with a nice sense of refinement, though missing a touch of density and drive in the mid-palate, but a classy and lengthy finish.
Very good, though the other vintages I’ve had have been better, features a bit more drive and a touch more complexity
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1/5/2021 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another great bottle of the Monsanto CCR 2012 (L202/15), it is in a beautiful spot right now, still is far from its peak, but too delicious to resist. Decanted for two hours, it has a deeper, darker core than the Monsanto from many other vintages. It has wonderful aromas of sweet cherry, earth, dark spices, tobacco and leather. The wine is all about balance, with a medium+ body, excellent acid, and silky tannins,. Its classic structure shines throughout, from first aroma to final, long aftertaste of bittersweet cherry. I drank too many bottles of this when they were young, and only in the past few years have I realized how good the wine is. Drink to 2030++.
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11/21/2020 - jayrod wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for one hour
Wish I would have decanted a little longer, wine started slow but starting rocking when we had it with hunters chicken. Dark cherries exploded with tobacco and spice accents. Tannins were well integrated.
Very enjoyable
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6/20/2020 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 93 Points
Triple decanted one hour before dinner, with a medium and translucent Sangiovese color. This bottle of the 2012 Monsanto CCR is excellent, with musky cherry aromas, a floral quality, earth, spice, tobacco, and leather. It is a balanced, silky wine with a medium+ body, a sweet mid-palate, great acidity, firm tannins, and a long, succulent, bittersweet finish. Drink to 2030+. Excellent QPR.
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5/30/2020 - sleepyhaus wrote:
Drinking well now. This doesn't feel like a particularly strong vintage of this wine, but still very solid. I'll drink these over the next 2-3 years.
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5/10/2020 - Announcer wrote: 85 Points
It was a little better than "ok" when consumed with pizza, but without food it was a bit of a dud. My wife thought it tasted like "barnyard", I did not get that, I thought the dominate note was just acid. Might be past its prime. Cork was very dry, broke in half upon opening, even though it has always been stored on its side.
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5/7/2020 - Eugenedinapoli Likes this wine:
CV. Evolving to the darker side of the flavor spectrum. Mushrooms, sous bois, tar, stewed dark fruits. Structure, tannins and acidity are solid.
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4/20/2020 - wtianseter wrote: 89 Points
After my first bottle, I expected more, though still a nice wine. Fruit forward and nice acidity. Finish is quite nice with slightly tart prickly tannin on the finish. Basically a good Riserva with likely another 4-5 years of prime drinking. I'm hoping the rest of my bottles are more like the first.
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3/23/2020 - IndyTom Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very nice. Decanted, but didn't need to as it had virtually no sediment. Nice cherry fruits hidden within a medium body. Better with food.
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3/15/2020 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
This 2012 Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva is a great example of a style of Chianti that I love (and which is the antithesis of the “international” style of Sangiovese as represented by Brunello di Montalcino, at 2x-4x the price): high-toned, fragrant, medium-light body, balanced, silky, smooth, with a savory, sappy mid-palate and a sweet, mineral and long finish. It is in a perfect place right now. Excellent QPR.
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1/1/2020 - Baylorwine wrote: 89 Points
Short decant and drank over next 3 hours on NYE. Still never felt opened. Maybe shut down?
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11/18/2019 - wtianseter wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was especially nice. Smooth and light spice and tobacco. Middle was medium+ body and very nicely integrated. ?Finish was downright tasty with smooth and sophisticated tannin. This should be quite good for the next 5 years or more.
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8/18/2019 - sleepyhaus wrote:
Really nice bottle. More floral than this wine usually shows, though with some time open the familiar leathery, somewhat chewy notes start to take over. Nice bottle with pizza, as always.
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4/29/2019 - PaulusLoZebra wrote: flawed
Another bad bottle from a recently acquired six-pack. It seems clear that the importer and distributor do not have proper storage conditions, because I've had bottles of this vintage from my own cellar, bought upon release, that are excellent.
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3/9/2019 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 91 Points
My second bottle of a six-pack that I recently acquired. The first bottle was flawed, so I became suspicious of the storage. This bottle was fine, so I am feeling more confident about the remaining four. However, it wasn't as good as the last one that I had from my own cellar. Anyway, the wine is very good, with lovely Sangiovese aromas, a medium+ body, and firm levels of both acids and tannins in harmony and balance, with a typical bittersweet cherry and mineral finish. I recall that the best bottles of this vintage were a bit more angular and structured, and slightly more complex, but this was still delicious.
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2/16/2019 - Bradetti wrote: 91 Points
Needs air and a lot of it. The nose nicely perfumed with notes of cherry, blackberry, a bit red currant, ethereal with a hint of wood and marzipan.
Same impression on the palate with present tannins and acidity.
On the mid palate it lacks a bit of structure and depth.
The quite long aftertaste is driven by salt, minerality, sour cherry and astringent tannins. No signs of advanced maturity.
Might improve with further age, especially the tannins could settle down a bit.
Given the price this wine does not have the best PQR. But the wine just for itself is a good and solid one. Nothing more, nothing less.
Nose: 92
Palate: 90
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1/23/2019 - PaulusLoZebra wrote: flawed
First bottle from a recently acquired six-pack, obviously badly stored and half-cooked.
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1/6/2019 - Bob H wrote:
Translucent ruby in the glass; bright red & black fruit on the nose, with an earthy note as well - pretty appealing nose.
Light- to medium-bodied on the palate, with sweet/ripe fruit that really spreads out - in a word, delicious. I have probably mentioned this in previous notes, but I should have purchased more of this - drinking great today, and showing no signs that it won't continue to do so for another 5-10 years.
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11/10/2018 - Tobinski Likes this wine:
The nose featured black cherry, earth, and clove. On the palate, I found intense, saturated red plum and earth, with some exotic spice on the finish. Medium high acidity and still somewhat tannic. What a difference two years makes. Bottles in 2016 were shut down; this was in good form after an hour of air, though still has many years of fine drinking ahead.
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10/18/2018 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple. Intense black cherry and earth nose with background nutmeg and dried mushroom notes. Delicious dry earthy black cherry flavours and a long dry finish.
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10/2/2018 - Slaz wrote: 89 Points
Improved significantly after an hour of decanting, gaining more flesh and fruit. Overall, relatively light, with moderate acidity.
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6/16/2018 - Castello della Gatta wrote: 88 Points
Crisp and clean. Balanced Chianti Classico Riserva.
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5/6/2018 - Eugenedinapoli wrote:
Leather, meaty, cherries and a ton of other classic sangio characteristics totally integrated with rocking acidity and sneaky tannins on the finish. Drinking real well.
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2/18/2018 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
This has opened up since my last bottle over a year ago. Drinking very well right now - went great with ravioli and penne bolognese. A solid Chianti for under 20 bucks. Middle of the road in terms weight, acidity, tannin, oak level -- right up my alley. Nice flavor profile - not modern and not too rustic, but clearly Italian.
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2/12/2018 - JedK wrote: 90 Points
I've been drinking this over the last few years, started with 2 cases and have worked my way through most of it. Monsanto has been my go to daily chianti, and have many of the vintages, but 2012 has been my favorite by far, with one exception - this vintage seems to have a very high rate of bad bottles. When you get a good one, which most are, this wine will please - nice tannins with subtle fruit, but deep concentrated woodsy notes. Decant immediately and start tasting as it opens up.. I find the 2nd half of the bottle to be even better on day 2+. For the price, it's tough to beat. Purchase Monsanto by the case, not the bottle.
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8/14/2017 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with my notes from six months ago, this wine is just now entering its peak drinking window, which now seems to be 2017-2025. A food wine for sure. 30+ minutes of decanting are necessary. One of, if not the best 2012 Chianti I've had to date, the wine has the typical Chianti acid backbone, with an extra dose for the vintage, and also has enough ripe fruit flavors to be balanced. Tart cherry, black cherry, raw meat, and an intense mineral flavor. Excellent QPR.
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8/8/2017 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 91 Points
Floral, meaty, earthy and savory nose. Definitely some tannin will hit you along with some grippy dark fruits. Little bread crust too. Worked well with the dominoes pizza I ordered. I really liked the nose and combined with the price it pushed this into 90 point range for me. Enjoyed it more than last bottle I had.
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7/19/2017 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Solid value under $20. Like the nose of dusty cherry, tobacco, and earth. Palate of dusty dried leaves, cherry and leather. Nice mouthfeel with ample but not overpowering tannins. Begs for food and really delivers at the pricepoint.
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6/27/2017 - Euell Gophar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Must be drunk with food.
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6/17/2017 - Bob H wrote:
According to CT, I haven't written a note on one of these in almost one year. Translucent ruby in the glass, with earthy red fruits on the nose.
Prominent acidity frames the ripe red fruit on the palate - decent length on the finish. This feels like a wine capable of additional development over the next 5-10 years - kind of sorry now I didn't buy more than I did.
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6/3/2017 - JeremyBernton Likes this wine: 89 Points
Darker than many chiantis. Rich in red fruit and decent acidity, but still a bit tight. I think this is still on the upswing and wish I had more bottles to hold.
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5/23/2017 - Snoman Likes this wine: 89 Points
At under $20, maybe the best quality/price value Chianti on the market today; dark and extracted, classic aromas and flavors of cherry, smoke and earth, with good integration of tannins, acid and flavors working together, along with a pleasant, medium+ finish. Textbook.
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4/28/2017 - patatty Likes this wine: 93 Points
Creamy silky smooth vanilla soft tannins & fruity and med-long finish.
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4/26/2017 - wdlohr wrote: 88 Points
medium red, aroma of strawberries and powder, dry blend crisp and acidic
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4/14/2017 - henrik.kuhl@gmail.com Likes this wine: 88 Points
Average chianti. Not overly dry. Not memorable.
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4/1/2017 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 88 Points
Opened five hours ago. Medium ruby. Nose has nice cherry. Candle wax. Very good wine in the mouth, quite mouthfilling. Has nice earthy component too, which gives it depth and structure. No lightweight, this one. Could use a few years in the cellar to show more charm. 4-11-16-7: 88/100.
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3/19/2017 - cbforever1 wrote: 91 Points
The chianti classico I'd always drink
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3/5/2017 - PaulusLoZebra Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine must be decanted for an hour or more, it is completely wasted as a pop & pour. Also, I don't think it has yet entered its peak drinking window, which is probably 2019-2030
Beautiful dark ruby Sangiovese color with black hints; sweet cherry on entry, it quickly morphs to a pleasant and savory tart cherry flavor with nice dried herb fragrances, earth, firm but integrated tannins with a bit of dust, medium body, angular structure and medium length. A delicious, understated and subtle food wine that will probably – like most Monsanto CCRs - evolve beautifully for another 10-12 years.
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3/5/2017 - cork breath wrote: 86 Points
No real Flavor or nose. Not worth $20
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2/27/2017 - toscavita Does not like this wine:
Below-average riserva, in my opinion. Plenty of better options at this price point.
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2/20/2017 - scotty_b wrote: 91 Points
1 hour decant and got better with more air. Black cherry, currant, tobacco, road tar, forest floor Mild dust on the palate. Moderately short finish, but it's a really nice wine for the price. Back to Costco for more this week.
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2/12/2017 - galaxie500 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Came around after being open for an hour or so.
Intriguing and huge QPR.
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2/4/2017 - 87tellub Likes this wine: 88 Points
Black fruit nose and some light oak notes along with a little vanilla. Nose a litle more complex than the Gabbiano (had the Gabbiano Chianti 2015 open as I was using it to braise some pork in, so did a little taste comparison). Body is fuller, medium feel in this one. It's a little tight on the finish with some good structure. I like this wine, it's nicely done.
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2/2/2017 - Outplaying wrote:
Needs about 90 minutes to open up. Light woodsy spice and earth accent a fair amount of darker toned fruit. We both enjoyed this bottle. Monsanto CCR always offers good value.
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1/30/2017 - LEEJV123 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Medium body, loamy, mushroom, angular
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1/25/2017 - Mjcarmichael wrote: 80 Points
No a rebuy
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1/24/2017 - Slaz wrote: 89 Points
Fairly simple and slightly tannic yet, but is probably still a bargain for $18. Definitely improved over an hour+ of decanting, even if not by that much.
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1/14/2017 - tward Likes this wine: 88 Points
Solid sub-$20 Chianti Classico even if I wish for even better pass-through on the weak euro. Recent notes below describe it well. We did PnP through an aerating decanter and it worked well with the meal, though I'd be curious to try it with a little real decant. It's got a great balance of slightly tart sour cherry, dusty earth, slight farm funk, touch of dried herbs, medium acid, tannins in place, but not drying.
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1/8/2017 - wdlohr wrote: 90 Points
Excellent combination of fruit forward and elements of dried cherry, tobacco, and powder. Complex build
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1/6/2017 - whits Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted this one for two hours, the nose hints at iron, dried cherries and dried flowers, crystalline flavors of cherry, raspberry, mineral and anise, the acid is radiant and carries the palate well, very clean, bright flavors on the finish, so very lively and lifted with nice complexity, perfect with a meaty bolognese, recommend a decant
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1/2/2017 - Redrunners Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid Chianti.
Have been a fan of Monsanto Chianti's. Was expecting this to be on the young side, but was pleasantly surprised.
Flavors of sour cherry and spice with smooth tannins. Drinking well already.
Will need to pick up a few more bottles of this to add to the 6 others already in my cellar.
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12/29/2016 - schicker-not wrote: 88 Points
Good bang for the buck. It's a staple at my house. Needs an hour or so to open up. Ripe cherries, good acid and soft tannins. Can probably improve with further aging. It quite pleasant now.
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12/27/2016 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Many of the prior notes mirror my experience with this bottle - lean, tight, tannic, improves with air. On the pop 'n pour, this really was unremarkable, bordering on unpleasant. I could tell there was a good core of fruit underneath the tannin and acidity, but was just not very enjoyable, even after a couple of hours with the bottle open. So, I vacuvin'd it, kept at room temp, and tried a small glass the next evening after removing the vacuum stopper and it was really more of the same. Fast forward to the next evening (after vacuvin'ing it again), and alas, the fruit had taken on a more prominent role, fleshy (someone mentioned "plummy" in a previous note), with tamed tannin. Really wonderful flavor profile at this point and well-balanced. So, I guess the lesson here is to let this one sit for a couple of years or give it a very long decant.
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12/15/2016 - mwneil Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium bodied with rich fruit and good tannins, some complexity, some balance which should improve with time, wine is one of my favs, drank with spaghetti and meatballs, will drink again.
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12/8/2016 - Coopcnr wrote:
SBDC holiday party.
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12/2/2016 - justceg Likes this wine: 89 Points
I thought this wine was very drinkable. Thin and not too fruity. Light earthy and cherry taste. Acids and tannins were relatively well balanced.
Would drink again but am not looking to buy more.
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11/30/2016 - Purple Tooth wrote: 86 Points
Has its moments, but needs air. Alcoholic and thin at the beginning, but gained depth, dryness, slight sweetness and a slight hint of earth at the end. Hollow in the middle for now...Needs 2 to 3 years...HOLD
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11/22/2016 - KVM wrote:
Medium plus red. When first opened this is flavour full but abrupt and terse. After a day in the fridge the bottom of the bottle becomes plummy and fruity.
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11/13/2016 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep, dark garnet in color. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of youthful, ripe fruit aromas of red cherries, strawberries & plums with overtones of dried herbs & earthy/dusty notes, tea, spices, minerals, loam & a touch of cedar in the background. Medium bodied with a good concentration of balanced & smooth textured, youthful, ripe fruit flavors of sour cherries, strawberries & red plums with herbs, earthy, minerals, spices & a touch of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting and airing but has the potential for further development with additional aging.
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11/13/2016 - elledeca wrote:
lovely, classic expression of sangiovese with vibrant fruit and bitter herbs. long life ahead.
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11/3/2016 - EMark Likes this wine:
Dulled initial hit of blackberry, but then showing its bit of extra maturity. So, fruit does not overwhelm. Surprisingly tannic for a Chianti. Strong acid presence. I would expect from any Chianti, but this one is, like the fruit, not in your face. Not a great wine, but for under $20, a darned good one.
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10/22/2016 - jviz Likes this wine: 90 Points
medium ruby color. soft on the nose. palate leads with cherry and pomegranate fruit. A dash of sage and coarse tannin on the finish. A bit beguiling. If the finish were gentler we'd have a winner. Consider a decant at this point.
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9/30/2016 - Tobinski wrote:
This wine has the right raw materials but is stuck in the depths of a dormant phase. Hold.
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9/25/2016 - psundberg Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not a bad medium of the road Chianti. Lots of bright red fruit that mellowed out over an hour and complemented Parmesaen crusted chicken very well. Decanted 1 hour and it continued to evolve becoming a little more earthy, but not much. A good, easy drinking, low effort Chianti Classico.
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9/22/2016 - texanoblues wrote: 89 Points
Deep red and clear in the glass with some violet hues. On the nose, the wine was open with olive, ash, cherry, and scrubby underbrush. Black cherry, leather, herbs, and violets on the palate. Nice, focused and tight structure. Medium length cherry floral finish with some puckering tannins. Quality Chianti and good value at <$20/750. 88-90.
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9/21/2016 - JVG wrote:
No formal notes. This was a good, straightforward Chianti, somewhere in the middle between the leaner and fruitier styles. Very good accompaniment to meatier Italian fare.
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9/15/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 87 Points
Run of the mill Chianti.
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8/16/2016 - celestialmundane Likes this wine: 88 Points
Opaque ruby. Cedar, cherry, graphite nose. Maybe raspberry. Medium body. Medium finish. Will buy more.
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7/24/2016 - Scheper wrote: 88 Points
Delicious wine. Not very special though.
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7/15/2016 - AJG91 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hailakan punainen. Kuivattua kirsikkaa, mineraalisuutta ja ruusunlehtiä tuoksussa. Hyvin nuori, hapokas ja kuiva suutuntuma. Melko täyteläinen. Potentiaalia on, mutta jo nyt oiva ruuan kumppaniksi.
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6/22/2016 - Bob H Likes this wine:
Translucent ruby in the glass; "focused" and primary nose that features red fruits.
Light- to medium-bodied (and weight-wise, reminiscent of the 2012 Felsina CCR we had earlier in the week). Like that wine, I find this enjoyable, but I'm not sure it has the ability to "make old bones". Still, for Wednesday night pasta, you could do a lot worse.
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6/11/2016 - tomoem wrote: 89 Points
Had at my brother-in law's 80th party among a variety of lower priced wines most between $ 17.00 & $ 25.00. I am recording my tasting notes from these. First are my tasting notes then is the listing of the wines opened.We also popped a 1936 Vega Siciliano !
Tasting Note: A restrained wine with good balance and lively fruit flavors. Bing cherry to start with a background of chassis though a lighter wine. Not bad..... but not great.
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5/30/2016 - Serge Birbrair Likes this wine:
One of the best under 17 dollars Chianti from Costco
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5/25/2016 - tantotinto wrote: 88 Points
Good cherry flavor fruit and juicy acidity. Light and refreshing. Great match this evening for Snapper Veracruz.
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4/26/2016 - wdlohr wrote: 89 Points
dried cherry aroma with taste of full crisp acidity with good acidic body. Nice complement to pasta
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4/22/2016 - mwneil Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tannic, nice color, fruit shows a bit but the wine never came together for me, usually a favorite wine, tannic finish, drank with pizza at Arturo's, might try again.
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3/23/2016 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Costco purchase.
Decanted 2.5 hours - it really needed it and if I ordered this at a restaurant with no decant or limited decant at this age I would be disappointed!
Dark red color with no sediment. On nose, medicinal, dark cherry, dried cherry, sage, and touch of eucalyptus.
On palate, similar flavor profile (no eucalyptus) but more fruit primary - cherry, dried cherry. High acidity, medium+ tannins and long finish. Paired great with beef spaghetti.
Excellent QPR and will buy more - my wife loved this. 91-92 range. Don't waste your money and drink now without decanting for 1-2+ hours.
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2/28/2016 - BVal wrote: 90 Points
Color: light ruby core -> diffuse, very light ruby rim. Attractive bouquet of cherries, rose petals, earth, oak and a little tar. Earthy palate with brambly, cherry-focused fruit. Medium-bodied with great acidity, this has a reasonable, moderately long, somewhat dry/tannic finish. Old world style and I like it (apparently more than other reviewers!). I'm thinking this will show very nicely given a few years to rest.
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2/16/2016 - slubgob Likes this wine: 80 Points
Served with lasagna. Decanted about 25m prior to serving. Strong dark cheery nose. In the mouth, continued dark cherry, suggestion of dirt amd tobacco. Collapsed in on itself very quickly. With the food, finish extends just a bit. Drinkable to be sure, but might benefit from some time, but there's also not a ton of tannins, so not sure.
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1/12/2016 - Alcontd wrote: 90 Points
At first it was definitely tight. Some notes of dried cherry and oak. After a while it definitely opened up. I had lead pencil, tar some spice and blueberry. I think this could use a few years, but this is drinking well now with some time opened before drinking. This went well with some smoked brisket bar BQ. For the price this was a very nice value - comparable to some brunellos.
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10/15/2015 - wine-enthusiast wrote: 84 Points
Recently purchased at Coscto for 19$. The wine is very closed. The cherry notes on the nose were immediately apparent identifying the Sangiovese grape as the main component. It just never really opened. Buying it at Costco you have no idea if the wine had just arrived and was suffering from "bottle shock". I really like Monsanto, the 2009 was superb, as was the 2010. I will have to try another bottle and see if this is an abberation.
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