Drank in Cafe Carducci Verona for EUR 49! Last bottle remaining. Manager was impressed I found it on their thick wine menu, and our lovely waitress/somm took a picture for her Instagram before opening.
Fill level, color = perfect. Cork = perfect condition. Was stored perfectly over the years.
Short note to inform others that despite being ~25 yrs of age, the bottle was still in great condition. Started out a bit restrained with classical old Sangio notes - dried and very evolved violets, cherry petals like poutpourri, mushroomy notes. Still good, but thought it was at the end of its life. But boy was I wrong. Grew over the hour - so still somehow alive? Pretty bouquet of very evolved violets, dried cherry petals, dried mushrooms; hint of beautiful sweetness of anise/cedar/sandalwood at the end. Great bottle, great price, great find!
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From magnum. Fully soaked cork that broke on extraction and then proceeded to crumble to pieces once out of the bottle. Full, deep garnet in colour fading to a orange pekoe tea rim. Long and slow legs coat the inside of the glass. Compelling and complex nose of dried red berries, sour cherry, rosehip, aniseed, sandlewood and tar. Not at all earthy or funky as would be expected of such an old CCR. So smooth and full of sweet, dried red fruits on the palate. Medium full bodied, lots of fruit extract and glycerine, high but dissolved tannin and overall lovely balance from front to back of the palate. The flavours are suitable rich and complex as intimated by the nose. Lots of red cherry, red fruit leather, black tea, sandlewood, blonde stone dust and dried fennel. Very dry finish and it is long and lingering with just the right amount of astringent tannins and a finishing little bitter nip on the tip of the tongue as a reminder that this wine is in control. Stunning!
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Très plaisant à boire avec une fondue d'orignal, au fond des bois le 31 décembre 2020! Toujours un bel équilibre mais, une fois ouverte, le charme s'étire sur une quarantaine de minutes.
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After the 05 and the 97 we open an 99 tonight. By far the better of the 3. Very nice acidity and still a bright fruit on cherries with still tannins to keep things interesting. Old chiantis are good and don't cost allot still
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lost some power over the years but still complex and enticing. Garnet red at the eye, oaky scents at first with typical hints of sangiovese with round tannins and smoothed acidity. Drink up
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Very enjoyable bottle of sangiovese! Rustic nose of cedar, black cherry, dried tobacco, and dried red florals. Palate was still firm, but had lost it's tough tannic backbone. Seems to be drinking at its peak right now.
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I was hoping for something a little more inspiring here. Macerated strawberries in balsamic. Slightly reductive. I kept waiting for this to break out and show some more ethereal high notes, but it never really showed any fireworks. This was a workable enough Chianti, solid, well structured, but just not terribly giving or interesting.
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Medium garnet color. Nose of plum skin, earth and dusty spice. Medium to full bodied, with soft cocoa flavors. Pretty, but I think this may be on the way down. Update: after a day in a .375, actually seems to have improved. The rest is showing more focused red cherry, chewy tannins. Raising a point.
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Spoiled by the Tenute Marchese Riservas - cheaper but better than the Badia; OK but more acid than fruit; not giving up on this and will try in 6 months
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Nice aging chianti, highlighted by a full nose and not-unpleasant barnyard/earthy palate, along with some still present bracing acidity and a slight tannic bite. Back of the palate a bit hollow, and the finish a bit short on fruit. My guess is to drink if you have them, as the fruit is fading to the background. Pleasant bottle.
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Excellent, plus de fruit et de fraicheur que la dernière. Dénué du coté rustique, ce vin est en pleine forme avec un joli nez frais et suave, un bel équilibre.
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La contour est à peine orangé, révélant seulement quelques traces d’évolution.
Nez sanguin au début, par la suite c’est très cuir, avec du cèdre, du tabac et des notes de chêne.
La bouche est intéressante car on y trouve le bel équilibre d’un vin à maturité, avec cependant un profil aromatique un peu austère. Bonne acidité, souplesse, sur le cuir et les prunes, finale épicée qui s’étire avec une certaine complexité. Un beau Chianti même s’il me semble inférieur aux 1997 et 2000. 87 pts
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A touch of barnyard on the red fruit nose. Tastes of cherry, mint, cranberry, earth and leather. Refreshing acidity. Nice elegant finish with everything in balance.
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Strong Chianti. Popped and poured with some homemade whole wheat tagliatelle with tuna, asparagus and Crimimi mushrooms. Somewhat shy aromatically at first, although this takes on a deep, dusky nose. The palate is very dark, classic balsa shavings, cranberry, hint of cocoa. Rather taut and still quite primary. Nice length to it and matched wonderfully with the pasta, cutting the olive oil very well.
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Very nice. Nose of lush fruit and earth. It opened in the glass nicely, revealing cherries, oak and toasted nuts. It finished a bit abrupt at first but by the second glass (and the main course) the wine was fully integrated.
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Dark cherries, oak and a bitter finish with notes of bitter almond. Still youthful, the tannins are vigorous and the acidity is substantial, although the mouthfeel is smooth. Good midpalate plumpness. Definitely a wine for food. B.
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Deep ruby, black core. Complex nose of blackberries, leather, nutmeg and dusty earth. Relatively full bodied on the palate with nice acid balance and a good finish. Yummy.
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This was a delicious bottle of Chianti. We shared it with friends at a 50th birthday party. Lots of wine lovers there and this was a favorite. I wish we would have had it with some classic Italian fare, but nevertheless it smelled, tasted, and finished very good. About what you need to know, right?
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Medium ruby, with a perfumed and elegant nose, that also includes jammy cherries and toast. Smooth and silky, with gorgeous delineation, sweet tannins and bracing acidity. Bravo!
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Popped the cork on this vino and let it breathe in a glass for an hour or so. Drank it down with some homemade lasagna. Muy Bueno! I will be buying another bottle or two of this in the near future!
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Still seemed a bit tannic. I'll wait a while for my last two bottles. Dark Cherry, leather, hint of tobacco. Will be even better in a couple of years. Zach's birthday.
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12/22/2023 - RyanY Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank in Cafe Carducci Verona for EUR 49! Last bottle remaining. Manager was impressed I found it on their thick wine menu, and our lovely waitress/somm took a picture for her Instagram before opening.
Fill level, color = perfect. Cork = perfect condition. Was stored perfectly over the years.
Short note to inform others that despite being ~25 yrs of age, the bottle was still in great condition. Started out a bit restrained with classical old Sangio notes - dried and very evolved violets, cherry petals like poutpourri, mushroomy notes. Still good, but thought it was at the end of its life. But boy was I wrong. Grew over the hour - so still somehow alive? Pretty bouquet of very evolved violets, dried cherry petals, dried mushrooms; hint of beautiful sweetness of anise/cedar/sandalwood at the end. Great bottle, great price, great find!
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9/11/2021 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 98 Points
From magnum. Fully soaked cork that broke on extraction and then proceeded to crumble to pieces once out of the bottle. Full, deep garnet in colour fading to a orange pekoe tea rim. Long and slow legs coat the inside of the glass. Compelling and complex nose of dried red berries, sour cherry, rosehip, aniseed, sandlewood and tar. Not at all earthy or funky as would be expected of such an old CCR. So smooth and full of sweet, dried red fruits on the palate. Medium full bodied, lots of fruit extract and glycerine, high but dissolved tannin and overall lovely balance from front to back of the palate. The flavours are suitable rich and complex as intimated by the nose. Lots of red cherry, red fruit leather, black tea, sandlewood, blonde stone dust and dried fennel. Very dry finish and it is long and lingering with just the right amount of astringent tannins and a finishing little bitter nip on the tip of the tongue as a reminder that this wine is in control. Stunning!
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12/31/2020 - olioli wrote: 91 Points
Très plaisant à boire avec une fondue d'orignal, au fond des bois le 31 décembre 2020!
Toujours un bel équilibre mais, une fois ouverte, le charme s'étire sur une quarantaine de minutes.
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7/13/2020 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 91 Points
Side by side testing the 97 and 99...the 97 was much better with still a good tannic backbone and length. Both however were still very much alive.
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12/13/2019 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 92 Points
After the 05 and the 97 we open an 99 tonight. By far the better of the 3. Very nice acidity and still a bright fruit on cherries with still tannins to keep things interesting. Old chiantis are good and don't cost allot still
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11/17/2019 - olioli wrote: 92 Points
Still with nice fruit; very enjoyable!
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6/5/2015 - olracx62 wrote: 91 Points
lost some power over the years but still complex and enticing. Garnet red at the eye, oaky scents at first with typical hints of sangiovese with round tannins and smoothed acidity. Drink up
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10/4/2013 - Karlaar wrote: 92 Points
Bety dark, bricky rim. Strong cherry nose+dried fruits. Intense, peppery and long after taste. Excellent. On top now.
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12/25/2012 - winopro Likes this wine: 93 Points
the large format bottle sure made a difference, the wine had perfectly developped and was still fresh and full in taste
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4/14/2012 - bigjoe wrote: 90 Points
classic. style bourbogne
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3/24/2012 - Pamarcoux wrote: 84 Points
Should be drank now. Too much aeration will spoil it now
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12/19/2011 - Pvl wrote: 80 Points
- Crimsom color. It's high in alcohol with a light/medium body. Narrow texture with a short finish.
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12/30/2010 - tooch wrote: 90 Points
Very enjoyable bottle of sangiovese! Rustic nose of cedar, black cherry, dried tobacco, and dried red florals. Palate was still firm, but had lost it's tough tannic backbone. Seems to be drinking at its peak right now.
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11/5/2010 - Eric wrote: 86 Points
I was hoping for something a little more inspiring here. Macerated strawberries in balsamic. Slightly reductive. I kept waiting for this to break out and show some more ethereal high notes, but it never really showed any fireworks. This was a workable enough Chianti, solid, well structured, but just not terribly giving or interesting.
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5/4/2010 - dougsmith wrote: 90 Points
Medium garnet color. Nose of plum skin, earth and dusty spice. Medium to full bodied, with soft cocoa flavors. Pretty, but I think this may be on the way down. Update: after a day in a .375, actually seems to have improved. The rest is showing more focused red cherry, chewy tannins. Raising a point.
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12/12/2009 - alamoave wrote: 90 Points
Better than last bottle; balanced earth, fruit and tannin; plenty of character and life left
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8/12/2009 - alamoave wrote: 88 Points
Spoiled by the Tenute Marchese Riservas - cheaper but better than the Badia; OK but more acid than fruit; not giving up on this and will try in 6 months
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8/9/2009 - jakearoe wrote: 89 Points
Nice aging chianti, highlighted by a full nose and not-unpleasant barnyard/earthy palate, along with some still present bracing acidity and a slight tannic bite. Back of the palate a bit hollow, and the finish a bit short on fruit. My guess is to drink if you have them, as the fruit is fading to the background. Pleasant bottle.
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10/8/2008 - d'Artagnan wrote: 89 Points
Excellent, plus de fruit et de fraicheur que la dernière. Dénué du coté rustique, ce vin est en pleine forme avec un joli nez frais et suave, un bel équilibre.
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8/6/2008 - d'Artagnan wrote: 87 Points
La contour est à peine orangé, révélant seulement quelques traces d’évolution.
Nez sanguin au début, par la suite c’est très cuir, avec du cèdre, du tabac et des notes de chêne.
La bouche est intéressante car on y trouve le bel équilibre d’un vin à maturité, avec cependant un profil aromatique un peu austère. Bonne acidité, souplesse, sur le cuir et les prunes, finale épicée qui s’étire avec une certaine complexité. Un beau Chianti même s’il me semble inférieur aux 1997 et 2000. 87 pts
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5/15/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 91 Points
A touch of barnyard on the red fruit nose. Tastes of cherry, mint, cranberry, earth and leather. Refreshing acidity. Nice elegant finish with everything in balance.
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3/25/2008 - Eric wrote: 88 Points
Strong Chianti. Popped and poured with some homemade whole wheat tagliatelle with tuna, asparagus and Crimimi mushrooms. Somewhat shy aromatically at first, although this takes on a deep, dusky nose. The palate is very dark, classic balsa shavings, cranberry, hint of cocoa. Rather taut and still quite primary. Nice length to it and matched wonderfully with the pasta, cutting the olive oil very well.
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12/16/2007 - jrglm wrote: 91 Points
Very nice. Nose of lush fruit and earth. It opened in the glass nicely, revealing cherries, oak and toasted nuts. It finished a bit abrupt at first but by the second glass (and the main course) the wine was fully integrated.
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9/22/2007 - Pknut wrote:
Dark cherries, oak and a bitter finish with notes of bitter almond. Still youthful, the tannins are vigorous and the acidity is substantial, although the mouthfeel is smooth. Good midpalate plumpness. Definitely a wine for food. B.
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6/2/2007 - Mondial wrote:
fabulous!
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3/28/2007 - Mondial wrote:
Great!
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11/17/2006 - Employee500 wrote: 91 Points
Delicious Chianti, great food wine. Cherry, cedar, leather & spice.
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9/29/2006 - dougsmith wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby, black core. Complex nose of blackberries, leather, nutmeg and dusty earth. Relatively full bodied on the palate with nice acid balance and a good finish. Yummy.
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7/9/2006 - jrglm wrote: 89 Points
This was a delicious bottle of Chianti. We shared it with friends at a 50th birthday party. Lots of wine lovers there and this was a favorite. I wish we would have had it with some classic Italian fare, but nevertheless it smelled, tasted, and finished very good. About what you need to know, right?
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4/8/2006 - mdstenner wrote: 92 Points
Medium ruby, with a perfumed and elegant nose, that also includes jammy cherries and toast. Smooth and silky, with gorgeous delineation, sweet tannins and bracing acidity. Bravo!
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12/18/2005 - puterdewd wrote: 91 Points
tasty slightly chilled
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11/6/2005 - jrglm wrote: 92 Points
Popped the cork on this vino and let it breathe in a glass for an hour or so. Drank it down with some homemade lasagna. Muy Bueno! I will be buying another bottle or two of this in the near future!
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10/15/2005 - fine137 wrote: 89 Points
Maybe it's still too young. Good cherry, leather, tobacco flavors.
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10/11/2005 - jeepie wrote: 91 Points
Still seemed a bit tannic. I'll wait a while for my last two bottles. Dark Cherry, leather, hint of tobacco. Will be even better in a couple of years. Zach's birthday.
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