Acquired a case from Wine Watch many years ago and after I pulled my last bottle from storage, they found a few more cases. This is the first bottle from the new lot and good gosh, it’s stunning! A study in the age worthiness of Sangiovese, this 25 year old Chianti Classico is a burnished beauty. It’s almost syrupy on the nose, and you get a rush of lovely glove leather, dried berries and rose petals in the mouth. I suspect that many of the reviewers had bottles that were somehow damaged, though the purveyor that some previous tasters noted has an excellent track record and I buy their wine regularly. What I can say after drinking 13 bottles so far is that if you love what can happen when a Chianti Classico is made to age and given the opportunity to blossom, you’ll find that this wine is a steal! It has peaked but it’s been in this phase for years and it’s got a few more years to go.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Covolo's chianti's: Nose of cherry, licorice and a smooth well textured palate. My 2 of 6, the group's 4 of 6. Amazing this wine held up as well as it did. Wonderful wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruit still held up well with some current and sage notes and that delicious earthy dryness I love in Chianti still shined. Was impressed with the 24 year old wine! Let it decant 2 hours before drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In .375 bought from Garagiste in 2016. All 5 I’d opened previously were over the hill and were poured down the drain. I was hoping for lucky bottle variation on #6 but no dice. Garagiste QPR selections are usually good and sometimes deliver amazing value but this one is a stinker. Literally.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I’m surprised now fresh this is, given that is over 20 years old. Nice notes of cherry with just a touch of tomato showing the age, but certainly noting stewed. Excellent balance and good finish. The acidity is a touch sharper than I’d prefer, but that’s my standard view of most Sangiovese based wines (with certain exceptions). It’s a touch simple, but goes extremely well with a plate of red pasta, especially for the price. If only more Chianti Classico was like this!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cooked - From Garagiste, stored in offsite locker since receiving, kept in house (low 70s temps) for a few weeks before opening. Other btl I had last year seemed fine, but didn't sit in my house as long after removing from offsite storage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is holding up nicely. Sufficient fruit and acidity, a bit of earth and minerality, silky texture. Lacks a bit of depth, but a very good aged chianti. Not sure it will hold its form too much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great aged Chianti. Amazing good shape, with layers of both aged and fresh red/dark red fruit, fine tannin. If anything better than last bottle, nearly a year ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perhaps one of my best garagiste purchase, whatever hyperbole JR relied on to entice me came through.
Bottle was in excellent condition - I have seen many comments on flawed bottles. PnP, leaving the wine sit on the glass for 10 minutes allowed to wake up.
Mature -but not old- notes of Cherry, dried herbs, on well integrated tannins and a medium to long finish that makes this a treat. Enjoyed with braised short ribs and polenta.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby with bricking. Classic CCR nose of leather, tobacco, light red cherries, wet churned earth. Consistent notes as before with sweet crushed red cherries, medium acidity, fine grained tannins and a long leather and tobacco tinged finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red with bricking around the edges. Old school classic CCR nose, morello cherries, new saddle leather, hint of tobacco and violets. Medium bodied on the palate with sweet-tart cherries, savory brown spices, touch of wood still present, medium acidity and a long finish redolent of leather and asian spices. Still holding strong.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely old and one foot in the grave with some distinct oxidation/maderization. That said, better with some air and paired ok with steak and sautéed shrooms. Below, Jon says to drink this in 09, but unfortunately he was flogging it in '16. All in all, not bad but definitely time to drink up
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Part of a Italian wine tasting with my wine group, 8 of us shared a 375ml bottle. A little oxidized, and some funky aromas, but we all enjoyed it, even if we all only got a few sips. Here is the comment of one of my group members, " delicious creamy-textured, rich and dark with deep licorice notes, some leather and a hint of fruit. Didn’t get a chance to pair it with any of my courses, but with some bread, oil and a splash of balsamic, it was lovely. The balsamic turned the wine deliciously sweet."
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and enjoyed with lasagna ravioli with meat sauce. This bottle seemed to be much more youthful, and displayed much less bricking than the bottle enjoyed back in 2015. Medium bodied, ruby color. Highly complex aromatics and flavors: worn shoe leather; charred dry earth; spicy, red berries; rubbery red licorice; tart cherries; a touch of dried tobacco; and some tomato leaf. Shows both structure and acidity which supports an average length finish. I thought the first bottle seemed a bit tired; however, this one seems to have some life. The drinking window is starting to close.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Way, way, way over the hill. Brown and completely oxidized. All 4 half-bottles that I bought from Garagiste last year were totally skunked. Not even remotely close to drinkable. I've generally had good luck buying aged wines from Garagiste but not this time. The corks were in good shape so that did not seem to be the problem.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Part of a Barolo tasting with my wine group, opened, but not decanted for at least 45 minutes before pouring. I brought this as a half bottle surprise starter. A little oxidized, and it took a while to open up. The waiter thought it was flawed. The soy sauce aroma never really left it, but it turned into a nice wine, if only for a few sips.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
With strip steak, herb fingerling potatoes, greens. Very good. Rich aged red fruit, black cherry, lovely earth and tobacco, herbal. Still with fresh layer to fruit, nice finish, good balance. A treat in small format 375.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375, nose the same as before, sour cherry, dried herbs and this bottle showing a little VA, not flawed but detracts from the overall appeal of the wine. Great acidity, sour cherry palate , still enjoyable. My last bottle, again, I would drink these soon if from 375
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I loved this wine. It still has so much freshness, body and fruit at 20 years old! Still life good years ahead for this wine. Sadly, my reserves are gone and 1997 is just a memory
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Restaurant purchase and must have been well stored because this wine was a stunner. News quintessential Chianti as was the pallet. Fruit was in balance with resolved tannins and acidity. Exceptionally smooth on the palate with just the right weight. In all a great Chianti.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork wet 2/3 of the way up, but no signs of being corked - quite the opposite. Initially big drying tannins, pine, cherries, tobacco, and earth. Delicious, even if a bit on the acidic side. Nice pairing with steaks and still in a great place.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Side by side 750 & 375: Thought the 375 would show quite different or even flawed as a fun comparison. However suprisingly similar, almost indistinguishable. Sour cherry, dried herb, easy drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My 2nd bottle (or should I say 1/2 bottle) in a week. Some funky aromas and a few in my wine group complained of a soy sauce nose/taste. I liked it, just not as much as the first bottle I had. It was popped 'n poured, so it had no time to breathe, which may have hurt how it showed. But when it comes to an almost 20 year old bottle of wine, there are no good wines, just good bottles. I'm guessing there will be significant variation among my remaining bottles (all 375s).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was definitely concerned about this given some of the comments. But when the cork came out nice and clean, I started to feel better about this wine. The nose was nice, with no funky or off smells. A few friends and I had this with Duck Gumbo, along with a couple of other bottles of wine. It went really well. I really opened this up with them as a goof. Just to try a bottle. I had "accidentally ordered 12 bottles from Garagistge, and was trying to find a reason to open and try one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened my 1st of 4 from the Garagiste offer. Given the below comments I wasn't sure what to expect. VERY earthy and funky at first. After about an hour or so to let it blow off the earth settled and some cranberry and balsamic notes came forth. I'm not sure it was a wow bottle but it was good and enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2nd of 4. Cork was in excellent condition. This bottle was better than the first (opened right after), but still seemed over the hill. Almost no fruit, lots of mushroom and earth. I generally like aged Italian wines even when the fruit is somewhat faded, but this was too far evolved to be enjoyable for me. Dumped it out. Still have 2 more from the Garagiste shipment, but it is not looking good for this lot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1st of 4. Cork was in excellent condition, but the wine was totally undrinkable. Lots of raisin and prune, tasted somewhat cooked and way over the hill. Have generally had very good success buying aged Italian wines from Garagiste, but this one was a bust.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is what wine is all bout....Only $30, 20 years old, and good old school chianti. Oodles of leather, tobacco, soil and cherry flavors, all nicely integrated -- maybe just a touch past its prime -- but wonderful with braised beef. A thoughtful wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hallelujah!!! Third times a charm! I finally opened a 375 showing well, really well, maybe a hair better than 750? Nicely perfumed nose, sweet black cherry and dried rose petal. Palate is sour cherry, decently grippy tannin, great acidity, medium finish. There seems to be quite a bit of variation in these 375's as many have mentioned and it would seem more bad bottles than good. Open sooner than later and cross your fingers.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
from 375, also clearly re-corked. the last 375 was weak and uninspiring and old. this started that way, but opened up in a way the last one didn't. must just be lots of variation in these small bottles. but i still wouldn't hold them any longer - drink yesterday.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375, way over the hill and showing lots of VA on the nose. This wasn't undrinkable, but not really enjoyable. This was a bust for me, should've listened to my gut about the half bottle still being any good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375. Cork clearly not original - looked like it was re-corked just recently prior to sale, as there was little to no staining even on the wine end. Wine also was borderline too old to be enjoyable. Should have known better than to believe the hype that the 375s were somehow drinking better than the 750s. Three left, but not excited about opening them. Guess they'll do for a night of wine roulette, hoping for an unexpected winner.
Yolanda's Birth Month Wines (Chagrin Falls): Looking back at my notes, i see I had this almost one year ago to the day. I remarked then it was fading and had seen better days. Well, it has continued along that path. For what it is, it is showing very nicely as it approaches 20. Still, this should be drunk up, sooner than later. dried cherries, tart acidity, some dried tea leaves. Probably would show better with some simple Italian food and on its own, rather than in a tasting. I like older wines and seemed to like it more than others.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened '95' '96 and '97. Cork almost fully saturated on '95. A lot of funk which subsided with time. Very little tannins left and fruit was almost gone. Enjoyable as the secondary herb and earth were nice. As we consumed all 3 years, the '96 was most complete with everything in place. The '97 had the most fruit. Interesting tasting all three together. They all had the same funk upon opening.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit funky on opening, but settled down with an hour in the decanter. Steadily improved as I drank over about another hour. Mature and complex, fully developed fruit, jammy, silky mouthfeel. Still some tannins, not at all bitter. These 375ml bottles have been very good to this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
90-91; Having had a '95 and '96 this past week I'd have to say this fell in the middle for me. More alive than the '95 but not as much going on as the '96. Had solid structure and good acid, fully resolved grainy tannin. This definitely took some time to open up, initial pnp, the nose seemed flat, but after some time developed leather notes, dried cherries and a faint herb/tobacco note. Palate was nice, tart cherry, a little spice and leather, complex enough for its age but not profound (same as other vintages of this wine). I doubt these have too much longer to go, but very nice right now and great with Italian food. Again solid QpR, wish I grabbed more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent... amazing complexity and balance. Lacking bit of wow and finish. Drinking great, no sign of slowing down. Up front brett but we'll integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the "Little Wine That Could," exhibiting the best qualities that bottle age can show when the wine is made well and one is patient enough to let it rest and age. I would have guessed it was an old Brunello from a hot year. I showed this at a wine tasting recently and almost everyone thought it was the wine of the night. At its peak with a few more years to go.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last bottle of the '97 and this one was very nice. Balanced and smooth but still with decent fruit. This was one of the better bottles of the '97 I've had. Overall, based on 6 bottles of the '97 and probably 10 bottles of the '96, I would say that the '96 has generally been better, more youthful, and with more in the tank. The '96's have been quite consistent whereas some of the '97's were clearly on their way out. Either way, though, these have been great and will be missed very much when they are all gone.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby red with very light browning around the edges. Classic aged CCR nose- new saddle leather, morello cherries, licorice and hint of asian spice. Lovely mid-weight wine with sweet cherry liqueur, good acidity, fine grained tannins and a long tobacco and leather tinged finish. Classic well aged Chianti.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A good bottle and consistent with previous notes. But this bottle of the '97 was not as good as most of the bottles of the '96 that we have had or the one bottle of '95. The '97s are a bit further along the downslope in my opinion. Still, it went beautifully with italian food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Third of four we bought this spring, drinking with little patience because it's good, and unsure of lifespan. First two suggested there was time, this one was very good, but slightly less structured and suggested it was good we drank up. Never heard of this maker before I saw the offering- took the seller at their word, which speaks to having a trustable seller, and this has a great QPR, and provided a surprising and positive intro. This bottle makes me shorten the drinking window. Probably will share the last one with friends soon.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mike G and Berto visit Cleveland (Italian wines)+ (Willoughby, Ohio): Its been a while since I had any 97 CCRs. We opened, cellared and drank a bunch of them back in the day. I think I have one or two left. Not sure who brought this, but IIRC, this was a Garagiste sale at one time. Its hanging in but its best days are behind it. The nose has cranberries and cocoa powder. On the palate, there is a nice complexity if not profound. Everything is resolved. No secrets. Dried cranberries and some tea notes. Maybe some dried forest floor. It still has plenty to offer at this point, but I would not wait much longer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chocolaty goodness on the nose. Flowery berries and a little smoke. The palate is soft and compelling with just a bit too much acudity for my palate. Almost perfectly mature. Might be my favorite chianti ever though generally Im not a fan.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The color on this wine is between brick and brown. You can see that it is shifting towards the brown spectrum, but not quite brown yet. It still had a reddish hue to it. On the nose, you definitely get a good amount of mushroom, some forest floor, some stewed red fruit, and leather. To me, the leather component was very interesting. The smell took me back to my father’s belt factory when I was growing up. On the palate, a lot of these descriptors come back. The fruits, however, seem to be a bit more prominent. I got some tart red cherry, a mixture of stewed red fruits, as well as forest floor and mushrooms. There was a lot of acidity on this wine. I drank the wine on its own, but I think it would have been better with food. The tartness and acidity made it hard to discern every component of the wine. The tannins are smooth at this point. The finish was quite long. Overall, I would say that this was a good wine. I do not believe that this wine still has a long time to go. I would argue that it is going downhill from here (it may have already started to decline in quality).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Same impressions as prior. Plenty of life still here- a fully mature, earthy, chianti, that will reward for perhaps another 5-7 years, in my opinion. If you like Chianti, you will love this.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
After an hour open: bright cherry flavors on the nose. Musty and earthy with a heavy plum flavor. Long finish with hints of dried fruit and oak throughout. After 18 hours open: Bright cherry flavor has faded somewhat. The initial taste has the markings of a big, overwhelming sangiovese, but turns on a dime and gives way to a dense, dried fruit finish that lingers on the tongue. An impressive, mature Chianti.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really liked this chianti- fully mature, earthy, brings you right back to Chianti if you are lucky enough to have visited those hills and twisty roads that lead to one delightful village after another. Properly stored this has another 3-5 or more to surprise. Given CT comments, I suspect storage key. Bought this just recently at a very low price, so took the chance and I'm very glad I have three more
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially, it's mostly dust and herbs on the nose. Palate is tight and the expected dried fruit and earth combo of an old sangiovese. It faded after a bit being open, and I'm hoping it comes around again. The fruit is there, maybe dried cherry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As many others have noted, this is a well aged wine which demonstrates an excellent QPR. PnP and enjoyed over an evening with roasted pork basil pesto and pasta. Bricking evident, with a brick/rust colored hue. Very aromatic displaying scents of leather, dried cherries, dried herbs, dusty earth. Medium mouthfeel with a light finish. Enjoyable but close to the end of its drinking window. I think the '98 was very slightly better.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initial reaction is that this is now over the hill, but will see what slow ox brings. Update: not over the hill, but close. A simple but quality aged Chianti. Nothing special.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The best bottle yet! Pity it was my last. Slow-ox for a little over two hours. Rather expresive nose. Palette with medium body and a chewy texture. Sweet cherry, mint, chocolate and damp earth. Rather long coffee laden finish. Outstanding aged CCR. This bottle was at peak and would have remained as such for a couple years. I wish I had a few more bottles. Remarkable value. 9-18-9-9
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great wine and value. Decanted about 2 hours. Brickish in color. Fruit still pops with cherry, a bit of leather, earth, and mushroom. Nicely softened tannins. Makes you want to come back for more. Perhaps a bit more sour cherry than the '96. Great stuff.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My 4 bottles of the '97 were really variable, whereas my 4 bottles of the '96 were all consistently good. Whereas a couple of bottles of the '97 tasted really tired and well over the hill, this bottle was kickin' it!! Great sour cherry fruit, lots of earth, leather, balsamic, and hints of florals. Really smooth and integrated and just fantastic, especially with food. Hard to go back to drinking recent vintages after being spoiled by these great mature wines. Glad I have more coming from Garagiste. This wine is such a pleasure. Kudos to JR for bringing us this buying opportunity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
drank after 17yrs in bottle. nose - cranberry, pomegranate mouth - very fresh and lively cranberries with roaring acidity, with a hint of mushroom on the midpalate, and then a long clear finish. very attractive and best for food. the acidity is signing. if tasted blind i mind guess this to be a high toned cotes de beaune red burgundy. betrays its age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was still nice to drink and good with food, but it was much more evolved than another recent bottle and, frankly, quite well down the slope. I'm hoping that the one bottle I have left is more like the previous bottle, which was hanging on better. Overall, the '96s have been much better than the '97s (and both came directly from the producer via Garagiste, so I think the '96 vintage just has better longevity).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderfully expressive nose, Rainer cherry and lavender. Lovely. Taste was more modest, even with 3 hrs decant (and drank over another 3-4 hours, at which point it was falling off), mostly earthy, a little stewed red fruit. Nice with ham.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous notes, but this bottle had more life than the other two tried recently. This one was almost as good as my recent bottles of the '96 (see my previous direct comparison of the two). This gained some weight with air, and had more body than the last couple of bottles. Lovely balance and nice with food, just really easy to drink. Not surprising that there would be bottle variation at this advanced stage, but good to know that some of them are not so far down the hill.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good wine, but time has taken some of the depth and complexity, as one would expect. 1.5 hour decant. Nose of sour cherry, leather, and meat. Wine is round and smooth, with good acid still making this crisp on your palate. Flavors are red fruits, but lacks depth of flavor. Overall, enjoyable and fun to drink---but nothing to get too excited about.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted this for 45 minutes, in the glass slight bricking has settled in, at the core of the glass it is translucent ruby in color. The legs are very slow moving. The nose is subtle, with notes of cherry and flesh. The palate is soft, with well balanced acidity and very smooth tannins, once again subtlety is the main theme. The finish is medium in length at best. With food the mild fruit disappears entirely so pair carefully.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for about 45 minutes. Very nice nose, subtle with complexity. A little tannic. It's not an overpowering taste. The taste is like playing chess with your senses. You have to give it a minute to let it draw the many subtle layers waiting to be found.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In a perfect drinking window now. Prominent aroma of iron/cooked meat, with a healthy dose of Animale on the palate. Finishes smooth, with resolved tannins and dried black cherry. Yum.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Following up on my previous notes, I wanted to do a direct comparison between the 97 and the 96 (both purchased on the recent offers from Garagiste, which came from the winery). So I Coravin'd a taste from a new bottle of the 96, as well as a taste from a new bottle of the 97, and also poured a taste from a bottle of the 97 that was on the Enomatic for 8 days. The two samples of 97 tasted identical (a testament to the Enomatic), and both were inferior to the 96. The 96 has clearly more fruit, more body, and a better mid-palate. The 97 tastes a bit more hollow and tired by comparison. The 96 also has a longer finish. Both are still quite pleasant to drink, but there seems no question that the 96 has more gas in the tank than the 97.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First of 4 bottles from the Garagiste offer (also bought 4 of the 1996 Riserva). I did not taste the 97 and 96 side by side. But based on the one bottle of each that I have opened so far, I would say that the 96 is substantially better. This bottle of the 97 is tasting a bit thin and slightly over the hill compared to the bottle of 96 I had recently. It is still a very nice drink--smooth and food friendly--but seems a bit over the hill. There is a slight raisiny/pruny quality to the remaining fruit, and a strong acidic spine that overwhelms the remaining fruit to some degree (and I love acid). These 97s should be drunk soon. Hopefully, some of my other bottles might be a bit more youthful than this one. Ordered more of the 96.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Found it on the wine list at North in Denver. This is chianti perfection. It is perfectly developed and drinking beautifully right now. Classic chianti nose and palate. Enjoy now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Awesome! Well awesome after it had been opened for 2 hours. I would recommend decanting. Lovely, and I do mean lovely mix of fruit, herbs and spices. A really outstanding bottle of wine that should be consumed now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It took about an hour for this bottle to wake up. Once it did, it was what one expects from a good CCR: Cherry, tobacco and a little earth. Good, but not as good as the last bottle. 7-17-8-8
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another excellent bottle. Nice combination of fruit and aged aromatics. Complex and layered on the palate, with leather, earth, coffee and tobacco leaf. Seamless drinking experience; seems at peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful aged Chianti - intense, earthy nose along with cherries, leather and mocha. Great intensity on the attack, lacking on the mid-palate and finishing medium+. Tannins are still present and help balance the crisp acidity. Good with bolognese, singing with aged provolone. Would love to have more!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An excellent example of an aged Chianti. Leafy and earthy, while still holding on to some bright red fruit. Well resolved structure and very silky from entry to the medium length finish. I would opt to drink now, as it does seem at peak (or ever so slightly past). To its credit, it did not change much on day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very musty nose the first night. The must and earth clouded the fruit on the palate. Using the Vitturri didn't help. Next night was a different wine altogether. The must was gone for the most part. Dried cherry and cranberry dominated the palate. Some spice on the finish with integrated tannins. This aged quite well, but I don't see it going further. Good balance.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice and meaty, smooth with integrated tannin and acidity, this is in a very good place right now. I don't see how it could get better, so enjoy it now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was excellent, and is in its prime window; do not see this improving any, though it will certainly go farther if you like. Pulled cork and slow ox'd maybe an hour, 09 mins, before dinner; just a hint of bricking. Moderately rich nose, but on the palate, a nice whirl of flavors and depth that lasted a long time; tart but juicy iron cherry that morphed into a hint of smoke. Tannins pretty resolved with a nicely supporting spine of acidity. I will say that the last glass, maybe three, four hours after pulling cork, seemed to have faded a little, so I wouldn't hold these for ten more years...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 1.5 hours before a gathering. The wine started to die off towards the end of the night. Was very nice early on. This wine should be consumed soon if you have any. Nice brick color showing the age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/13/2024 - LoireFan wrote:
New stock, pleading like always, but time to drink!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2023 - klezman wrote:
My last bottle of this vintage and wow was it good. Excellent all around, nice fruit, great complexity and maturity, and long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine: 93 Points
Acquired a case from Wine Watch many years ago and after I pulled my last bottle from storage, they found a few more cases. This is the first bottle from the new lot and good gosh, it’s stunning! A study in the age worthiness of Sangiovese, this 25 year old Chianti Classico is a burnished beauty. It’s almost syrupy on the nose, and you get a rush of lovely glove leather, dried berries and rose petals in the mouth. I suspect that many of the reviewers had bottles that were somehow damaged, though the purveyor that some previous tasters noted has an excellent track record and I buy their wine regularly. What I can say after drinking 13 bottles so far is that if you love what can happen when a Chianti Classico is made to age and given the opportunity to blossom, you’ll find that this wine is a steal! It has peaked but it’s been in this phase for years and it’s got a few more years to go.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2022 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Covolo's chianti's: Nose of cherry, licorice and a smooth well textured palate. My 2 of 6, the group's 4 of 6. Amazing this wine held up as well as it did. Wonderful wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2021 - contextwine wrote: 92 Points
Fruit still held up well with some current and sage notes and that delicious earthy dryness I love in Chianti still shined. Was impressed with the 24 year old wine! Let it decant 2 hours before drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2021 - LoireFan wrote:
Sooo pleasing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2020 - Zitan wrote: 75 Points
In .375 bought from Garagiste in 2016. All 5 I’d opened previously were over the hill and were poured down the drain. I was hoping for lucky bottle variation on #6 but no dice. Garagiste QPR selections are usually good and sometimes deliver amazing value but this one is a stinker. Literally.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2020 - Nicephoras wrote:
I’m surprised now fresh this is, given that is over 20 years old. Nice notes of cherry with just a touch of tomato showing the age, but certainly noting stewed. Excellent balance and good finish. The acidity is a touch sharper than I’d prefer, but that’s my standard view of most Sangiovese based wines (with certain exceptions). It’s a touch simple, but goes extremely well with a plate of red pasta, especially for the price. If only more Chianti Classico was like this!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2020 - sababa1022 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delicious Chianti. Going strong. Perfect wine for shelter in place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2020 - Fuz98112 wrote:
Gone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2020 - wineoracle wrote: 91 Points
Cherries, spice, herbs, and leather. The age is apparent but this Chianti is surprisingly fresh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2018 - mrbry83 wrote: flawed
Cooked - From Garagiste, stored in offsite locker since receiving, kept in house (low 70s temps) for a few weeks before opening. Other btl I had last year seemed fine, but didn't sit in my house as long after removing from offsite storage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2018 - CHINACAT wrote: 90 Points
This wine is holding up nicely. Sufficient fruit and acidity, a bit of earth and minerality, silky texture. Lacks a bit of depth, but a very good aged chianti. Not sure it will hold its form too much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2018 - redz wrote: 90 Points
Holding up amazingly well for 21 yrs. Short decant, soft tannins, moderate fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2018 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
Great fill 375ml.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2018 - wayfarer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great aged Chianti. Amazing good shape, with layers of both aged and fresh red/dark red fruit, fine tannin. If anything better than last bottle, nearly a year ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2018 - LoireFan wrote: 93 Points
375ml - perfect and wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2018 - fmginc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful sot tannis
Earthy finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2018 - Oldworlddrinker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Perhaps one of my best garagiste purchase, whatever hyperbole JR relied on to entice me came through.
Bottle was in excellent condition - I have seen many comments on flawed bottles. PnP, leaving the wine sit on the glass for 10 minutes allowed to wake up.
Mature -but not old- notes of Cherry, dried herbs, on well integrated tannins and a medium to long finish that makes this a treat. Enjoyed with braised short ribs and polenta.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2018 - devraj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark ruby with bricking. Classic CCR nose of leather, tobacco, light red cherries, wet churned earth. Consistent notes as before with sweet crushed red cherries, medium acidity, fine grained tannins and a long leather and tobacco tinged finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - jsherdc wrote: 85 Points
Over the hill. Rough leather. No fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2017 - devraj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red with bricking around the edges. Old school classic CCR nose, morello cherries, new saddle leather, hint of tobacco and violets. Medium bodied on the palate with sweet-tart cherries, savory brown spices, touch of wood still present, medium acidity and a long finish redolent of leather and asian spices. Still holding strong.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2017 - Mr T wrote:
Definitely old and one foot in the grave with some distinct oxidation/maderization. That said, better with some air and paired ok with steak and sautéed shrooms. Below, Jon says to drink this in 09, but unfortunately he was flogging it in '16. All in all, not bad but definitely time to drink up
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2017 - DrewM wrote: flawed
Gone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2017 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
375mll
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2017 - Zo65 wrote: 76 Points
Waaay past prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2017 - Deadsetmonkey Likes this wine: 86 Points
Passed its prime, but still worthy. Little to the nose. Initial flavors are sweet jam and marmalade. Still some tannins, but just about gone.
I have one more 375mL bottle, I better get to it soon!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 90 Points
Part of a Italian wine tasting with my wine group, 8 of us shared a 375ml bottle. A little oxidized, and some funky aromas, but we all enjoyed it, even if we all only got a few sips. Here is the comment of one of my group members, " delicious creamy-textured, rich and dark with deep licorice notes, some leather and a hint of fruit. Didn’t get a chance to pair it with any of my courses, but with some bread, oil and a splash of balsamic, it was lovely. The balsamic turned the wine deliciously sweet."
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2017 - travelin.mikeyt wrote: 91 Points
This reminds me of Loire Valley wine. Vegetal, meaty, pungent. Still very much in its drinking window. Good food pairing wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2017 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
First excellent 375ml.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2017 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and enjoyed with lasagna ravioli with meat sauce. This bottle seemed to be much more youthful, and displayed much less bricking than the bottle enjoyed back in 2015. Medium bodied, ruby color. Highly complex aromatics and flavors: worn shoe leather; charred dry earth; spicy, red berries; rubbery red licorice; tart cherries; a touch of dried tobacco; and some tomato leaf. Shows both structure and acidity which supports an average length finish. I thought the first bottle seemed a bit tired; however, this one seems to have some life. The drinking window is starting to close.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2017 - LoireFan wrote:
Bricking, drinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2017 - mrassee wrote: 91 Points
Awesome. The last 375 I bought from Garagiste was past it, but this was really good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2017 - SpoochMan Does not like this wine: 50 Points
Way, way, way over the hill. Brown and completely oxidized. All 4 half-bottles that I bought from Garagiste last year were totally skunked. Not even remotely close to drinkable. I've generally had good luck buying aged wines from Garagiste but not this time. The corks were in good shape so that did not seem to be the problem.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2017 - mrassee Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice fruit, good backbone, lip-smacking good. Drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/19/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 88 Points
Part of a Barolo tasting with my wine group, opened, but not decanted for at least 45 minutes before pouring. I brought this as a half bottle surprise starter. A little oxidized, and it took a while to open up. The waiter thought it was flawed. The soy sauce aroma never really left it, but it turned into a nice wine, if only for a few sips.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2017 - wayfarer Likes this wine: 90 Points
With strip steak, herb fingerling potatoes, greens. Very good. Rich aged red fruit, black cherry, lovely earth and tobacco, herbal. Still with fresh layer to fruit, nice finish, good balance. A treat in small format 375.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2017 - travelin.mikeyt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still good!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2017 - BillyT wrote: 92 Points
Previous notes apply. Excellent again.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2017 - tlangle Likes this wine: 92 Points
surprisingly good, mature leathery fruit. lots of acid, best with food
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2017 - JuliannaDHS wrote:
These have generally been a mixed bag. We've had some that have been nice and varietally correct and others that are just drinkable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2017 - Vinophiliac559 wrote:
From 375, nose the same as before, sour cherry, dried herbs and this bottle showing a little VA, not flawed but detracts from the overall appeal of the wine. Great acidity, sour cherry palate , still enjoyable. My last bottle, again, I would drink these soon if from 375
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2017 - thebonnydooner wrote:
Disappointing. Seemed too old and not fresh. Let see what tomorrow brings.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2017 - 2caveman Likes this wine: 93 Points
I loved this wine. It still has so much freshness, body and fruit at 20 years old! Still life good years ahead for this wine. Sadly, my reserves are gone and 1997 is just a memory
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2017 - BillyT wrote: 92 Points
Previous notes apply
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2017 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
not oxidated - yay!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2017 - SeaWine wrote: 89 Points
From 375ml. No flaws, cork in great shape. Just not as interesting/complex as its older 1996 sibling.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2017 - BillyT wrote: 92 Points
Restaurant purchase and must have been well stored because this wine was a stunner. News quintessential Chianti as was the pallet. Fruit was in balance with resolved tannins and acidity. Exceptionally smooth on the palate with just the right weight. In all a great Chianti.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2017 - klezman wrote:
Cork wet 2/3 of the way up, but no signs of being corked - quite the opposite. Initially big drying tannins, pine, cherries, tobacco, and earth. Delicious, even if a bit on the acidic side. Nice pairing with steaks and still in a great place.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2017 - Elk Plain Vino wrote: 50 Points
Tastes like cider vinegar. Past being drinkable. Terrible
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2017 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 90 Points
Side by side 750 & 375: Thought the 375 would show quite different or even flawed as a fun comparison. However suprisingly similar, almost indistinguishable. Sour cherry, dried herb, easy drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2017 - mwkoehler Does not like this wine:
The notes on other bottles have been all over. This bottle was a bad one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2017 - mwkoehler wrote: flawed
This bottle smelled strongly of mold. I suspected it was corked but the cork seemed fine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 89 Points
My 2nd bottle (or should I say 1/2 bottle) in a week. Some funky aromas and a few in my wine group complained of a soy sauce nose/taste. I liked it, just not as much as the first bottle I had. It was popped 'n poured, so it had no time to breathe, which may have hurt how it showed. But when it comes to an almost 20 year old bottle of wine, there are no good wines, just good bottles. I'm guessing there will be significant variation among my remaining bottles (all 375s).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2016 - mrwebstar Likes this wine: 84 Points
Little flat and dry on the finish, good overall, light fruit and earth.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2016 - RedderTheBetter wrote: flawed
Not corked, but very off. Kind like a sherry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 90 Points
I was definitely concerned about this given some of the comments. But when the cork came out nice and clean, I started to feel better about this wine. The nose was nice, with no funky or off smells. A few friends and I had this with Duck Gumbo, along with a couple of other bottles of wine. It went really well. I really opened this up with them as a goof. Just to try a bottle. I had "accidentally ordered 12 bottles from Garagistge, and was trying to find a reason to open and try one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2016 - trinity000 wrote: 88 Points
Opened my 1st of 4 from the Garagiste offer. Given the below comments I wasn't sure what to expect. VERY earthy and funky at first. After about an hour or so to let it blow off the earth settled and some cranberry and balsamic notes came forth. I'm not sure it was a wow bottle but it was good and enjoyable.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2016 - SpoochMan Does not like this wine: 75 Points
2nd of 4. Cork was in excellent condition. This bottle was better than the first (opened right after), but still seemed over the hill. Almost no fruit, lots of mushroom and earth. I generally like aged Italian wines even when the fruit is somewhat faded, but this was too far evolved to be enjoyable for me. Dumped it out. Still have 2 more from the Garagiste shipment, but it is not looking good for this lot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2016 - SpoochMan Does not like this wine: 50 Points
1st of 4. Cork was in excellent condition, but the wine was totally undrinkable. Lots of raisin and prune, tasted somewhat cooked and way over the hill. Have generally had very good success buying aged Italian wines from Garagiste, but this one was a bust.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2016 - mtaczak wrote: 88 Points
another dead bottle, but it did seem to wake up over an hour or two. but still unremarkable
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2016 - flah00 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still beautiful.
Somewhat balsamic nose, nice spice, tannins are fine... sad it's my last one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2016 - cadamson Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is what wine is all bout....Only $30, 20 years old, and good old school chianti. Oodles of leather, tobacco, soil and cherry flavors, all nicely integrated -- maybe just a touch past its prime -- but wonderful with braised beef. A thoughtful wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2016 - LLakritz wrote:
The third and final 375 was in decent shape. Not as good as the 750's. Stewed fruits with heavy sediment. 1/3, disappointing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2016 - LLakritz wrote:
Cork damaged, could not drink. 0/2 on the 375s
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2016 - mtaczak wrote: 90 Points
the most "correct" bottle so far. but these definitely are hit or miss. drink up, otherwise you're just playing cellar roulette.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2016 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 91 Points
Hallelujah!!! Third times a charm! I finally opened a 375 showing well, really well, maybe a hair better than 750? Nicely perfumed nose, sweet black cherry and dried rose petal. Palate is sour cherry, decently grippy tannin, great acidity, medium finish. There seems to be quite a bit of variation in these 375's as many have mentioned and it would seem more bad bottles than good. Open sooner than later and cross your fingers.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2016 - LoireFan wrote: 88 Points
Better than previous bottle; hints of oxidation.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2016 - mtaczak wrote:
from 375, also clearly re-corked. the last 375 was weak and uninspiring and old. this started that way, but opened up in a way the last one didn't. must just be lots of variation in these small bottles. but i still wouldn't hold them any longer - drink yesterday.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2016 - harrygonzo Does not like this wine:
re-corked 375's from john all bogus.....even after de canting for hours the smell of a mushroom cellar on a rainy day and totally undrinkable
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2016 - LoireFan wrote:
Would have been excellent 5 years ago, too much oxidation.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2016 - LLakritz Does not like this wine:
Unfortunately another bad experience with the 375ml.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2016 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: flawed
2nd 375, not counting on the remaining bottles to be any good either. 0 for 2 on the half bottles, JR let me down on this one. 100% maderized.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2016 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: flawed
From 375, way over the hill and showing lots of VA on the nose. This wasn't undrinkable, but not really enjoyable. This was a bust for me, should've listened to my gut about the half bottle still being any good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2016 - flatlandfarmer wrote: flawed
Either it was flawed or way over the hill.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/8/2016 - Tubulus wrote: 85 Points
A bit over the hill, astringent tannins and weirdly some alcohol on the finish. Doesn't have the complexity or flavors I would hope for.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2016 - mtaczak wrote:
From 375. Cork clearly not original - looked like it was re-corked just recently prior to sale, as there was little to no staining even on the wine end. Wine also was borderline too old to be enjoyable. Should have known better than to believe the hype that the 375s were somehow drinking better than the 750s. Three left, but not excited about opening them. Guess they'll do for a night of wine roulette, hoping for an unexpected winner.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/2/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 87 Points
Yolanda's Birth Month Wines (Chagrin Falls): Looking back at my notes, i see I had this almost one year ago to the day. I remarked then it was fading and had seen better days. Well, it has continued along that path. For what it is, it is showing very nicely as it approaches 20. Still, this should be drunk up, sooner than later. dried cherries, tart acidity, some dried tea leaves. Probably would show better with some simple Italian food and on its own, rather than in a tasting. I like older wines and seemed to like it more than others.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2016 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened '95' '96 and '97. Cork almost fully saturated on '95. A lot of funk which subsided with time. Very little tannins left and fruit was almost gone. Enjoyable as the secondary herb and earth were nice. As we consumed all 3 years, the '96 was most complete with everything in place. The '97 had the most fruit. Interesting tasting all three together. They all had the same funk upon opening.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2016 - jsherdc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium body. Delicious bitter chocolate. Slightly plummy with air, but the chocolate persists as a long finish. 92/93
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2016 - Tosti-Lane Likes this wine: 93 Points
A bit funky on opening, but settled down with an hour in the decanter. Steadily improved as I drank over about another hour. Mature and complex, fully developed fruit, jammy, silky mouthfeel. Still some tannins, not at all bitter. These 375ml bottles have been very good to this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2016 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 91 Points
90-91; Having had a '95 and '96 this past week I'd have to say this fell in the middle for me. More alive than the '95 but not as much going on as the '96. Had solid structure and good acid, fully resolved grainy tannin. This definitely took some time to open up, initial pnp, the nose seemed flat, but after some time developed leather notes, dried cherries and a faint herb/tobacco note. Palate was nice, tart cherry, a little spice and leather, complex enough for its age but not profound (same as other vintages of this wine). I doubt these have too much longer to go, but very nice right now and great with Italian food. Again solid QpR, wish I grabbed more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2016 - brinko99 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent... amazing complexity and balance. Lacking bit of wow and finish. Drinking great, no sign of slowing down. Up front brett but we'll integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2016 - Brad T Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is the "Little Wine That Could," exhibiting the best qualities that bottle age can show when the wine is made well and one is patient enough to let it rest and age. I would have guessed it was an old Brunello from a hot year. I showed this at a wine tasting recently and almost everyone thought it was the wine of the night. At its peak with a few more years to go.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2016 - bjecjohnson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful 19 year old wine that has a couple of years left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2016 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last bottle of the '97 and this one was very nice. Balanced and smooth but still with decent fruit. This was one of the better bottles of the '97 I've had. Overall, based on 6 bottles of the '97 and probably 10 bottles of the '96, I would say that the '96 has generally been better, more youthful, and with more in the tank. The '96's have been quite consistent whereas some of the '97's were clearly on their way out. Either way, though, these have been great and will be missed very much when they are all gone.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2016 - lifeattable Does not like this wine:
Not good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2016 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really yummy aged Chianti. Wish I had more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2016 - devraj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ruby red with very light browning around the edges. Classic aged CCR nose- new saddle leather, morello cherries, licorice and hint of asian spice. Lovely mid-weight wine with sweet cherry liqueur, good acidity, fine grained tannins and a long tobacco and leather tinged finish. Classic well aged Chianti.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2016 - G-Man555 Does not like this wine: 80 Points
"A bit past it's prime" would be the polite way to say it ..
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2016 - dmitchell4 Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Marginally better then the first two. Past its window.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2016 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 90 Points
A good bottle and consistent with previous notes. But this bottle of the '97 was not as good as most of the bottles of the '96 that we have had or the one bottle of '95. The '97s are a bit further along the downslope in my opinion. Still, it went beautifully with italian food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2015 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Consistent notes from earlier 2015. Very nice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2015 - fmginc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wonderful full rich body
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2015 - capacious Likes this wine: 89 Points
Third of four we bought this spring, drinking with little patience because it's good, and unsure of lifespan. First two suggested there was time, this one was very good, but slightly less structured and suggested it was good we drank up. Never heard of this maker before I saw the offering- took the seller at their word, which speaks to having a trustable seller, and this has a great QPR, and provided a surprising and positive intro. This bottle makes me shorten the drinking window. Probably will share the last one with friends soon.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2015 - ddingley Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still drinking beautifully but certainly the age is evident in the very smooth wine
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 89 Points
Mike G and Berto visit Cleveland (Italian wines)+ (Willoughby, Ohio): Its been a while since I had any 97 CCRs. We opened, cellared and drank a bunch of them back in the day. I think I have one or two left. Not sure who brought this, but IIRC, this was a Garagiste sale at one time. Its hanging in but its best days are behind it. The nose has cranberries and cocoa powder. On the palate, there is a nice complexity if not profound. Everything is resolved. No secrets. Dried cranberries and some tea notes. Maybe some dried forest floor. It still has plenty to offer at this point, but I would not wait much longer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2015 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Chocolaty goodness on the nose. Flowery berries and a little smoke. The palate is soft and compelling with just a bit too much acudity for my palate. Almost perfectly mature. Might be my favorite chianti ever though generally Im not a fan.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2015 - Sanfoan Likes this wine:
The color on this wine is between brick and brown. You can see that it is shifting towards the brown spectrum, but not quite brown yet. It still had a reddish hue to it.
On the nose, you definitely get a good amount of mushroom, some forest floor, some stewed red fruit, and leather. To me, the leather component was very interesting. The smell took me back to my father’s belt factory when I was growing up.
On the palate, a lot of these descriptors come back. The fruits, however, seem to be a bit more prominent. I got some tart red cherry, a mixture of stewed red fruits, as well as forest floor and mushrooms. There was a lot of acidity on this wine. I drank the wine on its own, but I think it would have been better with food. The tartness and acidity made it hard to discern every component of the wine. The tannins are smooth at this point. The finish was quite long.
Overall, I would say that this was a good wine. I do not believe that this wine still has a long time to go. I would argue that it is going downhill from here (it may have already started to decline in quality).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2015 - urban_dk wrote: flawed
Corked. Bummer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2015 - christyler wrote: 89 Points
Fairly resolved. Not a lot of tannin or acid. A nice enough example of mature Chianti, but didn't really excite me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2015 - capacious Likes this wine: 91 Points
Same impressions as prior. Plenty of life still here- a fully mature, earthy, chianti, that will reward for perhaps another 5-7 years, in my opinion. If you like Chianti, you will love this.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2015 - joebowar Likes this wine:
After an hour open: bright cherry flavors on the nose. Musty and earthy with a heavy plum flavor. Long finish with hints of dried fruit and oak throughout. After 18 hours open: Bright cherry flavor has faded somewhat. The initial taste has the markings of a big, overwhelming sangiovese, but turns on a dime and gives way to a dense, dried fruit finish that lingers on the tongue. An impressive, mature Chianti.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2015 - capacious Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really liked this chianti- fully mature, earthy, brings you right back to Chianti if you are lucky enough to have visited those hills and twisty roads that lead to one delightful village after another. Properly stored this has another 3-5 or more to surprise. Given CT comments, I suspect storage key. Bought this just recently at a very low price, so took the chance and I'm very glad I have three more
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2015 - klezman wrote:
Initially, it's mostly dust and herbs on the nose. Palate is tight and the expected dried fruit and earth combo of an old sangiovese. It faded after a bit being open, and I'm hoping it comes around again. The fruit is there, maybe dried cherry.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2015 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
As many others have noted, this is a well aged wine which demonstrates an excellent QPR. PnP and enjoyed over an evening with roasted pork basil pesto and pasta. Bricking evident, with a brick/rust colored hue. Very aromatic displaying scents of leather, dried cherries, dried herbs, dusty earth. Medium mouthfeel with a light finish. Enjoyable but close to the end of its drinking window. I think the '98 was very slightly better.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2015 - jim dixon wrote:
Initial reaction is that this is now over the hill, but will see what slow ox brings. Update: not over the hill, but close. A simple but quality aged Chianti. Nothing special.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2015 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Rusty brick color. Musty red fruit aromas. Well integrated cherry, earth and leather flavors with good acidity and soft tannin.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2015 - CO_Roots13 wrote: 95 Points
The best bottle yet! Pity it was my last. Slow-ox for a little over two hours. Rather expresive nose. Palette with medium body and a chewy texture. Sweet cherry, mint, chocolate and damp earth. Rather long coffee laden finish. Outstanding aged CCR. This bottle was at peak and would have remained as such for a couple years. I wish I had a few more bottles. Remarkable value.
9-18-9-9
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2015 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
On it again.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2015 - mfkantor Likes this wine: 92 Points
A great wine and value. Decanted about 2 hours. Brickish in color. Fruit still pops with cherry, a bit of leather, earth, and mushroom. Nicely softened tannins. Makes you want to come back for more. Perhaps a bit more sour cherry than the '96. Great stuff.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2015 - mwkoehler Likes this wine: 91 Points
It needed a day after opening to fully open up I think. Pity I don't have another to experiment with.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2015 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 93 Points
My 4 bottles of the '97 were really variable, whereas my 4 bottles of the '96 were all consistently good. Whereas a couple of bottles of the '97 tasted really tired and well over the hill, this bottle was kickin' it!! Great sour cherry fruit, lots of earth, leather, balsamic, and hints of florals. Really smooth and integrated and just fantastic, especially with food. Hard to go back to drinking recent vintages after being spoiled by these great mature wines. Glad I have more coming from Garagiste. This wine is such a pleasure. Kudos to JR for bringing us this buying opportunity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2015 - Awilshinsky wrote:
Taste soil, nice legs, etc.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2015 - gordoyflaca wrote: 91 Points
high toned cherryskin mushroomskin
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2015 - soyhead wrote:
drank after 17yrs in bottle.
nose - cranberry, pomegranate
mouth - very fresh and lively cranberries with roaring acidity, with a hint of mushroom on the midpalate, and then a long clear finish. very attractive and best for food. the acidity is signing. if tasted blind i mind guess this to be a high toned cotes de beaune red burgundy. betrays its age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2015 - Moonlight Farms wrote: flawed
Corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2015 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 88 Points
This bottle was still nice to drink and good with food, but it was much more evolved than another recent bottle and, frankly, quite well down the slope. I'm hoping that the one bottle I have left is more like the previous bottle, which was hanging on better. Overall, the '96s have been much better than the '97s (and both came directly from the producer via Garagiste, so I think the '96 vintage just has better longevity).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2014 - rjm_va Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very good, improved with air (decant longer next time). Other TNs on track
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2014 - ccrida wrote: 90 Points
Wonderfully expressive nose, Rainer cherry and lavender. Lovely. Taste was more modest, even with 3 hrs decant (and drank over another 3-4 hours, at which point it was falling off), mostly earthy, a little stewed red fruit. Nice with ham.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2014 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with previous notes, but this bottle had more life than the other two tried recently. This one was almost as good as my recent bottles of the '96 (see my previous direct comparison of the two). This gained some weight with air, and had more body than the last couple of bottles. Lovely balance and nice with food, just really easy to drink. Not surprising that there would be bottle variation at this advanced stage, but good to know that some of them are not so far down the hill.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2014 - LoireFan wrote: 92 Points
This second bottle was much better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2014 - cwaltonhouse Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good wine, but time has taken some of the depth and complexity, as one would expect. 1.5 hour decant. Nose of sour cherry, leather, and meat. Wine is round and smooth, with good acid still making this crisp on your palate. Flavors are red fruits, but lacks depth of flavor. Overall, enjoyable and fun to drink---but nothing to get too excited about.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2014 - quaffnov Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted this for 45 minutes, in the glass slight bricking has settled in, at the core of the glass it is translucent ruby in color. The legs are very slow moving. The nose is subtle, with notes of cherry and flesh. The palate is soft, with well balanced acidity and very smooth tannins, once again subtlety is the main theme. The finish is medium in length at best. With food the mild fruit disappears entirely so pair carefully.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2014 - Mostholy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for about 45 minutes. Very nice nose, subtle with complexity. A little tannic. It's not an overpowering taste. The taste is like playing chess with your senses. You have to give it a minute to let it draw the many subtle layers waiting to be found.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2014 - urban_dk Likes this wine: 91 Points
In a perfect drinking window now. Prominent aroma of iron/cooked meat, with a healthy dose of Animale on the palate. Finishes smooth, with resolved tannins and dried black cherry. Yum.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2014 - boldaddy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drink now! Decanted a few hours before drinking. Great wine
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2014 - Jasonr1023 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful with Lasagna. We let it breathe a few hours.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2014 - skorn5 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully. Tannins have mellowed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2014 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 89 Points
Following up on my previous notes, I wanted to do a direct comparison between the 97 and the 96 (both purchased on the recent offers from Garagiste, which came from the winery). So I Coravin'd a taste from a new bottle of the 96, as well as a taste from a new bottle of the 97, and also poured a taste from a bottle of the 97 that was on the Enomatic for 8 days. The two samples of 97 tasted identical (a testament to the Enomatic), and both were inferior to the 96. The 96 has clearly more fruit, more body, and a better mid-palate. The 97 tastes a bit more hollow and tired by comparison. The 96 also has a longer finish. Both are still quite pleasant to drink, but there seems no question that the 96 has more gas in the tank than the 97.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2014 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 89 Points
First of 4 bottles from the Garagiste offer (also bought 4 of the 1996 Riserva). I did not taste the 97 and 96 side by side. But based on the one bottle of each that I have opened so far, I would say that the 96 is substantially better. This bottle of the 97 is tasting a bit thin and slightly over the hill compared to the bottle of 96 I had recently. It is still a very nice drink--smooth and food friendly--but seems a bit over the hill. There is a slight raisiny/pruny quality to the remaining fruit, and a strong acidic spine that overwhelms the remaining fruit to some degree (and I love acid). These 97s should be drunk soon. Hopefully, some of my other bottles might be a bit more youthful than this one. Ordered more of the 96.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 75 Points
No fruit, both bottles were gone, the 1998 was marginally better. Not sure what happened here. Poured them down the drain.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2014 - itadome Likes this wine: 90 Points
better nose than palate on day 1 improved after a few hours of aeration.
still some fruit on nose.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2014 - LambertsCellar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Found it on the wine list at North in Denver. This is chianti perfection. It is perfectly developed and drinking beautifully right now. Classic chianti nose and palate. Enjoy now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2014 - VinoServant wrote: 90 Points
Awesome! Well awesome after it had been opened for 2 hours. I would recommend decanting. Lovely, and I do mean lovely mix of fruit, herbs and spices. A really outstanding bottle of wine that should be consumed now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2014 - CO_Roots13 wrote: 90 Points
It took about an hour for this bottle to wake up. Once it did, it was what one expects from a good CCR: Cherry, tobacco and a little earth. Good, but not as good as the last bottle. 7-17-8-8
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2014 - svpandae wrote: 92 Points
Just OK on day 1. Nothing too special or memorable.
On day 2, this really lit up. It developed great complexity and balance with a lot of typical mature Chianti character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2014 - CO_Roots13 wrote: 93 Points
Loved this wine. Nose of cherries, coffee and a little brett. Early yet Sweet cranberry on the palette.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2014 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
Another excellent bottle. Nice combination of fruit and aged aromatics. Complex and layered on the palate, with leather, earth, coffee and tobacco leaf. Seamless drinking experience; seems at peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2014 - Firefly78 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful aged Chianti - intense, earthy nose along with cherries, leather and mocha. Great intensity on the attack, lacking on the mid-palate and finishing medium+. Tannins are still present and help balance the crisp acidity. Good with bolognese, singing with aged provolone. Would love to have more!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2014 - tonysmith72 wrote: 91 Points
Earthy with a nice long finish. Italian all the way through. Nice change of pace if you've been drinking Washington wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2014 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
Similar to my last bottle... a lovely mature Chianti that is drinking great right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2014 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
An excellent example of an aged Chianti. Leafy and earthy, while still holding on to some bright red fruit. Well resolved structure and very silky from entry to the medium length finish. I would opt to drink now, as it does seem at peak (or ever so slightly past). To its credit, it did not change much on day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2013 - WineCPA Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very musty nose the first night. The must and earth clouded the fruit on the palate. Using the Vitturri didn't help. Next night was a different wine altogether. The must was gone for the most part. Dried cherry and cranberry dominated the palate. Some spice on the finish with integrated tannins. This aged quite well, but I don't see it going further. Good balance.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2012 - mtaczak wrote: 92 Points
Nice and meaty, smooth with integrated tannin and acidity, this is in a very good place right now. I don't see how it could get better, so enjoy it now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2011 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 93 Points
Reds at Dave's: Red fruit and iron on the nose. Good flavor intensity on the palate. Great silky texture. Still fairly tannic on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2011 - spisakc wrote: 92 Points
All the perfection of a classic sangiovese. Doesn't need to open up at all. It should be past prime but still superb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2011 - Squirreljam wrote: 93 Points
This was excellent, and is in its prime window; do not see this improving any, though it will certainly go farther if you like. Pulled cork and slow ox'd maybe an hour, 09 mins, before dinner; just a hint of bricking. Moderately rich nose, but on the palate, a nice whirl of flavors and depth that lasted a long time; tart but juicy iron cherry that morphed into a hint of smoke. Tannins pretty resolved with a nicely supporting spine of acidity. I will say that the last glass, maybe three, four hours after pulling cork, seemed to have faded a little, so I wouldn't hold these for ten more years...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2010 - spisakc wrote: 90 Points
Really needed to open up more before we drank it. But, very typical Chianti of high quality.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2010 - SteveG wrote: 92 Points
Nice, deep mature Chianti, great with lasagna Bolognese.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2008 - Kale wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours before a gathering. The wine started to die off towards the end of the night. Was very nice early on. This wine should be consumed soon if you have any. Nice brick color showing the age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2007 - jwsmith wrote: 90 Points
As always this wien shows very welll and is hitting stride now, a very fruity less dry Classico... Excellent and a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment