Covolo's chianti's: Earthy nose with notes of cherry and red licorice. The palate texture is silky smooth. Wine evolved over time and really filled out. My 4 of 6 (3-way tie) and the group's 3 of 6.
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dark red, brick rim - lovely red/black cherry Sangiovese nose - unfortunately, not as much fruit in the mouth, where substantial acidity and ripe tannins predominate - short 5-10 sec finish - nonetheless, a good match with food, which is what one should expect of a well made Chianti
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My second bottle in a week. Classic leather notes underpin drying but not totally secondary yet. This is a great effort. Love felsina wines they already always deliver
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I found another bottle in my cellar. I thought I was out of them. PnP. Anyway, this is one awesome CC for $20. Rich and powerful. Plenty of acid/tannic grip. Dark cherry, damp earth, patented Sangio bite that I love. Long finish. This can compete with $40-100 bottles. Note to self: Buy more!
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Last bottle of the case. Really elegant now, drinking more like a Bordeaux with smooth tannins and long velvety finish. Chocolate, peat and dark fruit on medium body. Beautiful wine for $18. Don't expect to be excited, expect relaxation. Judging on changes in last few years may start to decline soon.
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Big chunks of sediment when decanted. Dark, dense, inky crimson colour. Cherry and tar on the nose. Similar taste along with a bit of olive. Good bite with a bit of aniseed. Nice length with an acidic bite and opened over an hour. Good length and still has a bit of life left in it.
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Wow. Totally over delivered on expectations. This has been carefully cellared for years. The wine was so fresh and so well held together. Beautiful tight structure of a significantly more expensive wine. More dark fruited than expected a little spice clove/cardomon. Good fruit backbone but nicely chiselled.
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Again a bit underwhelming. It's certainly well made and the tannins are fine but it fails to excite. Almost refined to the point of elegant blandness. The nose outperforms the performance in the mouth, which rather misses the point. Plain bird with sexy perfume.
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Dense red inky colour. Tar and cherry on the nose with a bit of tapenade. Round and smooth - aged nicely with a good acid bite. Similar flavours - long finish. Getting towards the end of the drinking window but a year or two left in it.
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Underwhelming really for the money. Not an expansive wine, indeed too tight. Some cherry on the nose but the palate didn't deliver what the nose offered. A touch on the sweet side but the tannins are drying at the finish.
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Dark ruby showing no signs of age. Baked red cherry nose plus some balsamic and black olive aromoas. Flavours of sun dried black cherry, intense mid palate, acidity balanced, not obtrusive as it was when this wine was younger and much better than when I lasted tasted it two years ago. Tannins are still there but not prominent, life still left in at on it's 10th birthday.
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Very nice medium bodied Chianti Classico showing savoury fruit with sour cherry touches, leather, minerals, tangy acidity with some depth on mid-palate and enough tannic support on the finish. Good+.
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Very consistent notes from bottle to bottle. This wine has notes of dusty cherries, dark fruit, forest floor, and saddle leather. The fruit continues to hold up well.
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Deep red, brown colour. Cherry, mushroom, forest floor on nose. Similar flavours along with a touch of cranberry and leather. High acid and very enjoyable. Drinking nicely.
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The fruit is definitely starting to fade on this vintage, but the wine is still quite enjoyable. It has notes of dusty cherries, saddle leather and zesty acidity.
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This vintage is still drinking nicely, but I do think the fruit is starting to fade a bit. On the palate there are notes of dried, dusty cherries, saddle leather, and a little black tea.
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Ruby red with bricking. Aromas of dark cherries, leather, wet earth and licorice make way to a medium bodied palate that reveals bitter-sweet crushed small red berries, medium+ acidity, whiplash of earth and drying, astringent tannins making their presence felt on the finish.
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56F P&P Beautiful velvety smoothness with integrated tannins and fruit. Nice medium length finish. Unfortunately on day two it had not held up well; guess I should have drunk the whole bottle on day 1...
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This Chianti continues to please. On the nose there are notes of dried red fruits. On the palate you get classic Chianti notes of dried fruits, dusty cherries, black tea and licorice. This Chianti continues to drink well, but it is in the later stages of its drinking window.
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Mid ruby, beginnings of a brick edge. Nose of red cherry, balsamic. The palate is red cherry, soft tannins and acidity. This wine has taken time to come together but it's just about there now but still a little disappointing. Decent but nothing to get excited about.
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Drank with my birthday dinner of homemade lasagna. This Chianti Classico is fully mature but really requires about a couple of hours of decanting in the bottle. On opening, it is a bit hot and out of sync with sour acidic cherry flavor dominating the palate. It goes through a couple of phases as it breathes, gains body, and builds to show itself as a nice, fully mature chianti, with very nice medium(-) body, some ripe sour cherry, a garrigue-like quality, and prominent black tea notes overlying some olive in the background. Dusty resolved tannins underlie the flavor profile. Well balanced with nice complexity that only bottle aging brings, but not a life-changing wine. An hour in the glass did wonders here.
Drink now +2 years - this seems to be at a plateau phase and I don't know that it will improve further.
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Fully mature. Drinking well. A lovely expression of Sangiovese. Dusty tannins, nice tartness and grip. Pretty long finish. The cherry earth flavors here are good. If I keep writing, I'll need to raise my score.
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The wine has a nice garnet color at this stage. On the nose there are notes of saddle leather, but not much else. However, on the palate you get classic Chianti notes of dried fruits, dusty cherries, black tea and licorice. This Chianti continues to drink well.
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PnP. Deep maroon. Berries and dirt. Smooth intially until dry tannins kick in. Chaulky (it't the tannins I suspect) covering up the rest. Needs to breath I think
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Some funkiness (some would call it sous bois) on top of the ripe cherry, green pepper and spice (notably vanilla and white pepper) scent. Followed by currant, licorice, tar and black tea flavor with ample tannins and a medium to long finish. Overall, this wine has a medium body with healthy acidity, allowing it to pair nicely with food.
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Drinking range shows 2011-2014, but this one still needed three hours in a decanter to open up.
Color in the glass is brownish/brick red, and from appearances would seem to be an ideal age right now.
Great nose, good classic Sangiovese aroma, with hints of dried fruit thrown in. Upon opening, overly tannic, with "grapiness" showing through underneath. After three hours, drank better, like a middle-aged wine should, with dried cherries offset by leather.
Smooth finish.
Enjoyable if a bit harsh until it opens up.
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After an hour, the wine opened up and the sharp edges receded. The wine has an amber rim with notes of saddle leather, dark fruits, dried cherries and a dry finish. The tannins and acidity are still very much alive, but it is an enjoyable Chianti.
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The tannins and acidity (for an Italian wine anyway) are nicely in balance. There are notes of dusty cherries, saddle leather and dried red fruits. Just a great chianti for current drinking.
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Poured into a glass and let breathe for about 45 minutes. Dark ruby red in color. An initially reticent nose opens to reveal a lower register notes of dusty red cherries, smoky herbs, leather and soil. A light to medium bodied palate reveals tart & sweet red cherry liquer, new saddle leather and evidence of light tannins on a smoky finish. The wine is still very young and needs time for the olfactory notes and palate to come into balance. 90+ points for potential to improve in the bottle.
Decanted one hour before dinner. Agree with last review on the nose-it was unremarkable. After the decant the wine evolved into a perfect match for the lasagne my wife made, which means it's pretty much what we were looking for with this wine.
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As this wine ages, the nose becomes more reticent. It has a beautiful garnet color and orange rim. On the palate it has notes of saddle leather, dried cherries, spices and licorice. This is always a very consistent wine from bottle to bottle.
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Fortunately, this bottle was in good shape and the wine was an enjoyable example of a Chianti with a few years of age. It had hints of dried leather and dried fruit with a bit of spice.
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PnP. showing some age now. light orange edge. Nice nose of dark berries, cherrie. Palate not as powerfull and fruitfull as earlier, however still a nice glass.
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Nice mature Chianti Classico. The acidity does hit the palate at first like most Chianti. Notes of dusty cherries, saddle leather and tart spiciness. The tannins are present leaving a very dry finish.
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Tasted next night after the 2010 (which I was very impressed with). Similar profile but clearly showed benefit of some bottle age. There was an interesting mid pallet taste that was rich and almost yeast-like. Hard to describe but I really liked it. Based on this performance and how well the 2010 is drinking at sub $20 I will be picking up a few more 2010's.
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55F, P&P. Medium red with a hint of orange. Blackberry and mineral on nose. The acidity hits you first on the palate - typical thinnish Chianti with high acid but should be good with tonight's pizza. Doesn't seem great but in the decanter and it may open up.
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decanted for about 20 minutes before placing back in bottle to bring to a byob. the wine had a nice slightly burnt orange hue to it. nose was muted cherries. On the palate the wine was reserved, but had surprising depth. A nice bottle.
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I was a little disappointed with this bottle. I had another bottle of this vintage a few years ago and it was much better. This time the flavors seemed muted. I tasted hints of the depth that I liked before, but it did not last. It is still good, but not as good as before.
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Earthy, dark fruit nose. Dark cherry, tannic, and acidic. This wine has gone from good to very good since I bought the case on release. I wish I had more than one bottle left.
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I liked this chianti much better than the last bottle I had. It was more fruity than the last one. It had notes of cherry, black pepper, and a touch of cinnamon and vanilla. It is drinking very well right now.
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I always enjoy Felsina, but I feel like the 2006 is not as fruity or has the depth of previous vintages. This vintage is more austere. The wine was amber colored and medium bodied. It smells and tastes like dried cherries and espresso. With a medium finish. I like the 2007 a little better.
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Very nice showing for this wine. Still young, but easy to drink now. The nose has cherries, leather and some floral notes. On the palate, this is smooth with just a bit of tannins. Cherries and dark cherries and a bit of smoked tea. Nice acidity. Nice finish. Good with food.
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This is my second to last bottle of this wine and this is the best one so far. I opened this after the 2003 Belguardo from Maremma which is 70% Cab and 30% Sangiovese. The Belguardo is very modern in style meaning very ripe, thick and viscous plenty of vanilla and creaminess. It could come from a lot of vineyards around the world. This Felsina CC is gorgeous. It is very tasty with tension between the fruit, tannins and acids. It is now developing secondary characteristics. It is light on its feet. Lovely transparent ruby. Lovely cherry fruit. Long finish. This is a wine of breeding and class. Incredibly delicious for $20. I expect this wine will hold for years to come. Bravo!
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Popped and poured. Pretty dark red. Smells great. Lots of cherry. Tastes of cherry and earth. Juicy acidity. Tannins are fairly firm and a medium long finish. This wine is really rounding into form. Terrific QPR for $20.
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This is a big, powerful CC. Starting to show a bit of amber on the rim. Rich and tangy with good tannic bite on the finish. Aciids are fairly bright. Very good.
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This bottle never really opened up like the previous one and whilst there were the same cherry and vanilla tones it was a bit funky and rustic. Excellent, nonetheless, but lacking any wow factor or development by the glass.
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Good chianti, but not as good as the previous bottle. Nice expressive aromas, almost floral, grainy tannins, dark fruits., good acidity but somehow it does not feel well integrated.
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Opened and decanted for an hour. Red colour. Cherry dominates nose. Tart and earthy. High acid, with a touch of alcohol. A bit of sarsaparilla as well. Good but I think would benefit from another year of age.
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This is a bottle that's best enjoyed over 2 nights. Pretty, smokey aromatics with a palate profile of sour cherry and a touch of plum. The slight edge of tannins seemed to double overnight and strangely, it served the wine well. While the wines tannins became more pronounced, the wines character seemed to mellow and slightly amplify and/or come into proportion. Very well received by wine loving guests. Paired with homemade spaghetti bolognese and matched against a well regarded 2008 Italian Rosso...seemed foolish to pick a "winner". Both wines showed very very well.
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Previous comments seem right if you pop and pour: there is a coarseness and earthy nose and flavour. But give this baby some air and some time and it refines significantly with lots of cherry, some vanilla and a medium bodies smooth tannin engine.a little sweet but pretty damn good.
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Per notes below. This bottle was a little better. Not flawed and neither was the bottle described below - distracting note was less so in this bottle, but something still smacks as an off flavor. Expected more from a bottle from this esteemed producer.
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Very nice wine! Dark red, almost opaque with hardly no brim. Sweet cherries and dark plum on the nose, more tart cherries in the mouth, refreshing acidity, well integrated tannins and a hint of earthy/musky undertones, and good mouthfeel. Medium finish. A very good wine for the monies, and drinks very well now.
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Drank after a 3 hr decant with beef cannelloni. Dusty, rustic qualities on the nose; primarily fruit cake and aromas of violet. Medium-bodied, tannins rather firm on the finish. Strangely hollow. Sadly this was not a great wine; lacking vitality, structure, definition. Fruits not a match for the grainy rusticity. Dodgy bottle? Slightly past it?
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I agree with both of winemaker's last two notes. I thought the underbrush/dirt taste was so distracting and overwhelming that I am not scoring this bottle. I will open another in the near future and revisit.
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Popped and poured. Ruby and showing some amber at the rim. Very aromatic. Loads of dusty cherries. Tastes a tad thinner than it smells. Still tasty though.
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Excellent comme toujours. Acidité et structure tannique dans un style vraiment Classique. Cerise, baie noire, terre humide et cuir. J'aime son coté clean. Il a encore de belles années devant lui. Léger dépôt.
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Lovely medium red. Popped and poured. Muted nose of some kind of a floral note. Tart and juicy. Dusty earth/tannins. Long finish. A number of nuances along the way. I like this a lot.
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If Starbursts made a black cherry sweet, this would be it. Bags of juicy black cherry fruit, nudged along by a rip roaring acidity, giving rise to a very silky smooth mouthfeel. Everything is nicely in balance. There some interesting notes of coffee, chocolate and a whiff of earth. Very drinkable Chianti. Just a little short on the finish preventing it from being a 90 pointer. Very much in its prime right now.
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Had w/dinner over 2 nights. PnV'd initially & then let breathe for 1/2 hr. Tart red cherry, earth, leather, spice & oak notes. Medium-bodied, dry, dusty tannins, moderate acidity, & medium finish. Decent, but not overly wow'd...was expecting more.
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PnP with lasagna. Loads of sour cherry fruit and a bit of earthiness. Ripping acidity. This went very well with the tomato sauce. This is exactly the sort of flavor profile and acidic structure that makes me reach for Italian wines (and esp Chianti) to pair with Italian food. Not a wine I would enjoy as much to just sip by itself, but terrific with the food we had.
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If there is a better wine for $20, I'd like to know what it is. This wine is rockin! Popped and poured into 2 375s. Poured one. Still pretty dark red and youthful. Smells of cherry and damp earth. This wine has really impressive purity of fruit. Bright cherries, earth, tannins are firm. Long, delicious finish. Just entering its drinking window.
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PnP. Aromatically challenged, even after sitting out for over an hour. Initially light cherries with cellar dust and overwhelming acidity. After an hour there emerged a cherry liquor and cellar dust flavor along with violet candies. Still had strong tannins and acidity but seemed more in balance. Good wine but there are better Chianti Classicos in this price range.
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Pop and Pour. Dark red color. Dark red berries, wet earth on the nose. Good chewy palate with good acid, firm tanins. medium finish. Very good Chianti classico, the best I have tried.
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good color and sustained aroma but you really need to decant this baby. 2-3 hours minimum. Its actually way better on day 2 and even on day 3 then it is on day 1. A lot of work for a bottle of wine. If you have the patience, you can muster a higher rating out of it.
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Cherry-licious on day 1. A little much for my tastes but with time open it composed itself. Great rustic and earthy notes on the second night with the dark cherry in the background. Solid at under $20.
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Popped and poured. Lovely medium red, transparent at the rim. At first, not much going on. I let it sit for an hour and the show begins. Smells of damp earth with some sour cherries. In the mouth, there is a lot going on with subtleties and nuances wrapped in and around the cherry fruit. At certain moments there are hints of flowers and finishes with a hint of XO cognac. Complex and long. This is a fairly cerebral Chianti. Tannins are certainly present and this wine should drink well for several years to come.
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It says Chianti on the bottle, and without doubt it's stereotypical Chianti in the bottle too. Aromas of black cherries behind the oak. A little pepper. Palate quite tannic still, with sufficient fruit. Still probably needs another year to soften the rough rustic edges.
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Decanted 30 minutes. A decent value pizza wine, with some body and tannins, and lots of acid. The acidity was a little bit acetic, which worked but isn't for everyone. Elegant, tasty, and a decent QPR at $16.
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Consistent with my 9/27/09 tasting notes, but showing some off-putting aromas. Border-line corked? I think this wine is just about as good as it is going to get. It just doesn't have enough fruit for it to be age-worthy.
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would have benefit of another year or two (up to 4-5) in the Cellar... fresh nose, mineral but still a bit restrained. Tannic and with a good acidity which is a good sign for the future.
A nice bottle!
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Cherries, red fruits and a little leather and chocolate. Nice smooth, slight silky feel to the palate. Can't really see this one going much distance, but nevertheless a lovely drop. Particularly with simple home cooked hearty food.
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I don't know what was wrong with a previous bottle of this, but tonight this wine is delicious. Terrific tart cherries with just enough damp earth and tension to create real interest. Glad I have 10 more left! An amazing difference in 18 months. This should drink well for several more years.
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Bautiully dark with light rims. This wine needs some time to open. At the first sip nothing special - simple - but after some time its complex sangiovese aromas appear. Nose: cherries - later ash plus violets. Taste: very balsamic, with only some accidity. I appreciate this wine but prefer the other face of chianti.
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Blind Tuscan tasting (CfA roof): Poured through Vinturi and decanted for 45 minutes. Very rich nose dominated by dark cherries. Good body, tart finish. Very nice!
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Toscan wines (mostly blind): (tasted blind, decant+vinturi) Vanilla, cherries and leather on the deep nose. Dark fruits and leather on the palate, nice dry tannic finish, with medium length.
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Fresh, mineral and cherry nose.High acidity and crispy, dry tannins suggest needs more age. Flavours are quite stony, hint of sweetness and cherry fruit.
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beau Chianti, fruits noirs, prune et un petit coté vert. Encore jeune a l'acidité présente mais correcte. Sera a son meilleur dans une couple d'années.
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Clear dark (black cherry colour). Clean nose, "sweet balsamic vineger", cherries Dry, medium tannin, high acidity, long finish. Some evolved fruits and some redcurrants. Medium bodied.
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Fresh, fruity nose, with some mineral notes.Lots of acidity floods the mouth, not particularly full flavoured, hint of sweet cherry fruit, but also pencil shavings. A little light bodied. I am going to try this with rabbit or fennel sausage to see if that brings out more flavours.
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Anita Blind: Medium to medium-low body to this wine, with more very dry, light tannins in the mouth, and high acidity. I should have caught the bright cherry aspect, but instead tasted an earthy, dry, acidic wine. Turned out to be my least favorite in the tasting, but was the best match for the (Italian style) Chicken Cacciatore
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Very nice, smooth and integrated now, was expecting a tighter wine, but pleasantly surprised across the board. Will check back in on this one as it ages.
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Deep red color. Aromas of red cherries, cocoa and herbs. Medium-bodied ripe fruit in the mouth with excellent structure and balance. Although still very young (the 375 ml. bottle helped), well-integrated tannins and surprising depth. This wine has the potential for a higher score with a few more years of bottle age. Excellent value.
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We drank this with Steak Puttanesca on 12/26/09. It decanted for over an hour and then went back in the bottle for a couple more hours. It was typical Chianti with a very pleasant bouquet of black cherry, plum, burnt toast and spice aromas. The palate was very smooth and balanced with flavors that followed the nose.
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Tasty chianti with very nice floral nose. It's a bit more restrained on the palate with some dark cherry notes. Nice acidity. Color is notably darker than most chianti. Paired fine with pizza.
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The snooty wine angel on my left shoulder tells me that this is a bit too 'international' and fruit forward. The more forgiving angel (at least I hope these are angels and not voices that I am starting to hear) on my right shoulder says "wtf, it's delicious, drink up!"
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Fairly closed nose at first. Beautiful balance and structure on the palate. Black fruit and field flowers. Medium-bodied but very rich and dark. Very drinkable now but should improve with age.
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Popped and poured through my vinturi. Nose of bright red raspberry and plum, cocoa with some mint and/or eucalyptus. Palate showed a medium body with short finish but nice plum, red fruits, fresh tilled earth and herbs. Nice everyday drinker.
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This is very, very good. A little more full bodied than I expect from a chianti. Quite a strong nose of red fruit on opening settling down to include wet earth and a little spice. Fruit seems a little darker on the palate with more earth and drying tannins. Quite acidic. Everything seems to come together on the long finish.
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139 NOK. Bidrag til sommerselskap hos Susanne. Forsmak på kjøkkenet: 13 garder Riedel Bx 20 min luft i glasset. Enkel rein lukt av kirsebær og bringebær + tre og bitre ting som ligger helt bak. Smak: Fast frisk enkel. Samler seg litt til maten, fortsatt stram
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Bought this in advance of going to the Felsina winery in October. Obviously a very young wine. Tasted at opening with absolutely no nose and a metallic taste. Decanted in the cellar for 6 hours and some fruit on the nose was evident. This wine actually had a better quality to it after it came up from 55 degrees to room temp. Drank the second half of the bottle the next day and it had opened nicely with dark fruit on the nose with earthy qualities. Finish was nice. This wine should improve with a few more years under its belt.
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After my first disappointment with this wine a year ago, I decided to try my luck and open another. Knowing this wine is not very inviting upfront I decanted for 4 hours. Things had definitely improved. It now actually is a pleasant Chianti, with nice structure, good acidity and a decent finish. However, if there is anyone out there who likes fruit in his/her wine: do not buy this wine. I find it quite stunning it's from the outstanding and very fruit-forward 2006 vintage. Somehow Felsina managed to make the fruit almost completely disappear. Maybe it went to the 2006 Rancia?? ;-) Felsina was awarded winery of the year honours by Gambero Rosso in 2009. Clearly an outstanding producer, I beg to differ however. I have tasted many wines in Tuscany from the most recent vintages, and to me one winery stands out: Fontodi. Its Chianti Classico 2006 is 3-4 points better than Felsina and its flagship Flaccianello seems to be almost perfect. Do yourself a favour and find one of his 2006 wines.
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Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of peet and black berries. Flavors of black berries. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink over the short term.
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Nice. Needs time. Tightly wrapped core of dark red fruit, leather, grippy tannins. Earthy, good structure. What you want from a basic Chianti, what you want more in a year or two...
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Italian and Spanish Tasting (Wine Gallery): Bug spray , metallic minerality and hot stones. Good body of cherry fruits. Still tannic and really needs time to soften up but at the moment quite impressed by the package.
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Color: Dark cherry with 1 cm ruby rim--much darker than the 04 Capanelle CC. Bouquet: A bit closed. Complex, savory dark berry, ripe raspberry/cherry, earthy roasted peppers and tomato. Flavor: Earthy, roasted dried dark berries, hints of tomato with a savory finish Comments: Better potential integration of flavors than the 04 Capanelle. Very young and needs time for 2ndry aromas to develop. A bit difficult to judge, but definitely savory, with some complexity. Needs 2-3 years. 3,000 yen.
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Rustic, savory, with nice concentration and minerality. What you want in a base-level Chianti. Hardly mindblowing, but that's not what you expect at this level.
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Bouquet: Good, toasty/roasted wood and tomato Flavor: Savory red and black fruit, with a savory finish Comments: Mouth coating tannins, moderate acidity. This should develop nicely. Not the sharply acidic wine that probably too many of people first experience as "Chianti."
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Very dark for a chianti. Good nose, wood, sour cherries and some nail polish. Very dry, nice chevy finish. Good but not as good as the previous bottle. 87-88
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The eye finds a medium garnet. The nose encountered chocolate and pepper and chalk and plum. The tongue found an ever so lightly disjointed melange of cedar and tobacco and tart plum with slightly harsh tannins and an out of whack level of acidity. The finish was unremarkable.
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A vibrant Pigeon's Blood ruby in the glass; with scents of earth, light oak, sour cherry, and cranberry on the nose. Flavors of wild strawberry, cran/raspberry, earth, and minerals all stretch out across this elegant medium length finish. Lovely wine...
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Stimmel's Market: Italy (Bowling Green, OH): Dirty mineral nose. Very light tannins, medium acid and body. Red cherry, minerals, medium concentration, interesting! Not just a food quaffer like typical Chianti. $20
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Faint nose of earth and cherries. Acidic, Fine, well integrated tannins, but I found the fruit level on the lower side, but the wine was well balanced. Drank with meat sauce lasagna...for $15 not bad. May need to be giving a little more time in the cellar...
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Best showing yet for this wine and this will continue to improve with more time. Started out tart and tight but opened impressively showing strong black cherry flavors with a healthy acidic backbone. Went down very fast and easy. Amo il vino Italiano!
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Ruby red colour, classic Chianti nose of red cherries, oak and vanilla. The wine is still young offering little on the nose, but seems to have become more balanced since last time I tried it. Still abit short on the mid palette and finish leaving me with the impression that this is a good everyday wine with some development potential.
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Scents of cherries and leather with hints of lavender. Tastes of dried cherries and leather with a hint of citrus on the finish. Dry with medium tannins. Good wine for under $20.
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I recently had the 97 Riserva from Felsina, which was absolutely fantastic, and with this only retailing for around $17 I figured it would be worth a try. Vibrant floral, plum and blackberry nose, with flavors of soft blackberries, and a light and earthy minerality backed up with mild acidity and sweet tannin. I kept thinking to myself how surprised I was with the elegance of this wine for the price point. Still young and a bit unsettled at this point, but give it a few years to settle and it will be quite something, I think.
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A Taste of Tuscany (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had blackberry, lavender, and oak. The palate had lavender, cherry, spice, and a nice finish of oranges.
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Very fresh with good fruit and a touch of sweet spice. Maybe a little earth as well. Very light on the tannins but good acidity. I really like this wine. Best Chianti I've had in my limited experience.
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Red to Purple/dark but semi-clear. Typical Chianti farm field and cherry nose with herb and floral overtone. Velvet supple mouthfeel with little tannin for such a young Chianti. Overall I liked the Cherry components of this Chianti alot. Its a solid value bottle, but not a stunner.
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A rich nose of cream, vanilla, and roses. Thin on the palate, flavors of plum and sour cherry dominating. Decent finish, and some rugged tannins help to prop it over. Overall, a pleasant wine, but not remarkable.
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nose: bright red fruits and plums strike you at first. Fairly foreward with some bits of florals behind it. Solid nose, but while somewhat italian, its very new worldish and severly lacking in the depth that the CCR brings. Relatively simple on the nose and doesn't have a lot of classic sangiovese qualities
taste: fairly thin and light on the palate with decent tannins along with plums, red fruits, and some floral tones.
overall: a decent chianti, but just doesn't do much for me. There even seems to be a bit of acidification to it and the flavors and depth are thin. Its good, but just isn't what it should be considering the vintage and producer. very pedestrian
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I was pretty disappointed in this. I normally love Felsina. This wine just seemed to have no 'there' there. Hopefully, there will be improvement with time.
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Initially nose was pure vanilla, but then it slowly turned into sangiovese nose. Next day it was very nice with floral aspect on top of sour cherries. On the palate it was very smooth with decent (a bit weak for sangio) acidity and still strong drying tannins. Medium bodied and very enjoyable. 88-89.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of dark fruits, berries, cherries and currants. Flavors of berries and cherries. Medium acidity and tannins, light to medium body. Drink over the short to medium term.
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reticent on the nose, with souring cherries being dominant. The palate is subdued with cherries and traces of chocolate evolving in the finish. The tannins are mild, the acidity is good, and the fruit is subdued -- a good food pairing. I look forward to seeing this evolve, and hope for additional complexity. Will purchase a half-case to put away.
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floral and berry nose; denser darker berry and less nose than the 2005; i like the good acidity; this could be held for a while; a great chianti year after year
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Decanted for 2 hours and this definitely made a difference. Nose is still muted. Bing cherry flavor dominates in the mouth with some spice and earthiness. Lots of acid so it goes well with red sauce. Moderate finish.
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I agree with the other tasting notes on this wine, this is quite tight right now. Very acidic tasting that was very puckering on its own, this needs the red sauce that I paired it with in order to be enjoyable. Not much nose to speak of. On the palate bitter cherry in flavor with a good finish. I will hold my other bottles for the short-term.
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To me the wine is too subdued at this time. It is very well made and balanced but it seems shut down and is lacking the fresh red fruit that characterises good sangiovese. It will be better in a year or so, but I have doubts about the fruit.
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This Tasting Note is a result of an experiment in Aeration.
Samples from three bottles were tasted. The first bottle was a "pop-and-pour" tasting. The second bottle was aerated in a decanter for 4 hours. The third bottle had its cork removed and it remained open and untouched for 24 hours in the cellar. The timing of opening the bottles was planned so as to allow all samples to be tasted side-by-side at the same time.
Read all about this discussion on http://www.cellartracker.com/forum/Aeration_in_bottle_--_does_anyone_actually_know_and_understand_it%3F/m_29652/tm.htm --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
*** Pop-and-pour Tasting ***
Opened the bottle, gave it two minutes to breathe, and poured a glass. I then gave it three minutes to breathe in the glass initially and tasted it.
Medium ruby color. The nose displays an obvious core of red cherries, and then some wet earth and spice notes. On the palate it is medium bodied and fresh, with lots of sweet ripe fruit and notes of bitter oak. The tannins bite in the finish, but the finish is cut very short. Nice, approachable, and screaming for food. After 15 minutes in the glass it opens more, revealing lavender and black currant on the nose, and expanding more on the palate. The finish gets better and longer too, with notes of minerals and sour cherry.
With the "pop-and-pour" tasting, I would give this wine an 89 score and I would say it needs 2-3 years in the bottle to develop its potential. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
*** 4 Hours in the Decanter ***
Aerated in a decanter for four hours.
No discernible change in appearance. Still medium ruby. Less intense but more elegant on the nose than the pop-and-pour version. This time the cherry core on the nose is more subdued, and notes of mushrooms, violets and lavender are much more evident. On the palate it is smoother, with a dark chocolate component around the red fruit. The tannins feel less intrusive. The finish is much longer with more notes of lavender, blackberries, and some faint notes of menthol. After 15 minutes in the glass dark chocolate and mocha notes appear also on the nose. The palate opens a bit more and becomes a bit more mouth-filling. The tannins feel very smooth, with almost no "bite".
After 4 hours in the Decanter I would score this wine 90 points and comment that it is drinking well now with aeration, but that it will improve in the bottle for the next 5-7 years. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
*** 24 Hours in an Open Bottle ***
Cork removed from the bottle and then the bottle was left alone in the cellar for 24 hours. The first wine that came after the bottle was discarded from the tasting, as it was too close to the surface of the wine.
Again no discernible change in color or appearance. Medium ruby and clear. This has by far the best nose of the three samples. By far. A lot more intense on the nose than the one that has been decanted and a lot more complex than the pop-and-pour. Cedar, lavender, wet earth, mushrooms, spices, cigar box and violets jump from the glass in an intoxicating nose.
On the palate it is not as smooth as the one decanted -- the tannins are chewy but ripe -- but, all things considered, it has again the best structure of the three samples. It is succulent and delicious, more vibrant than the one decanted and more complex (and a bit smoother) than the pop-and-pour sample. Interestingly, however, it does not show the dark chocolate component that appeared in the decanted sample. The palate is rather driven by mouth-filling fruit and ripe tannins. The finish is not as long as the one from the decanter, but is stronger and full of aromatic notes.
After 15 minutes in the glass some of the dark chocolate notes finally appear on the palate. It remains much more ferocious than the decanted one, with biting tannins. It will be the best match of the three samples for an Italian dish.
After 24 hours in an open bottle I would score this wine 91 points and comment that it is drinking well now with aeration, but that it will improve in the bottle for the next 5-7 years.
***
Read our conclusions and analysis on: http://www.cellartracker.com/forum/Aeration_in_bottle_--_does_anyone_actually_know_and_understand_it%3F/m_29652/tm.htm
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Sweet, floral nose. Flavors dominated by candied cherry, with hints of green apple and pencil lead. Big tannins were overwhelming at first, but decanting smoothed things out. Overall, a great value. I plan to buy more.
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What dbkitc said about the flavors, very nice sour cherry and floral aroma and flavors. Young and changing quickly in the glass but without tons of complexity. Under $20 you can't go wrong with this one if you like nice Sangio. A wine to buy by the case and drink over a few years. {A 15 minute decant really helped this one along..}
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This wine is very young and very tight. It boasts a clear, ruby color and a sour cherry nose with great verve. The palate is bracing with acidity and while there is some red fruit huddled underneath – at present it is a bit unforgiving in its tartness. I have put the bottle in the fridge and report back progress in a few days. Will most likely save the others for a few years. (85+?)
Day 2: What a difference a day makes. Pure, sappy strawberry fruit is at the fore with a pine note supporting. Lovely depth and a medium body continue to be lifted by the sound acidity which has moved to a supporting rather than dominating role. A good 4 to 5 points higher than last nights showing….good news for what this will become in a few years. Insane QPR. (89+)
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good deep cherry red. bright cherries, dusty herbs and wonderful alive texture. silky light-medium bodied. very solid finish that echoes the flavor profile. not a wine layered with complexity, but an excellent value that should improve over the next decade.
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11/30/2022 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Covolo's chianti's: Earthy nose with notes of cherry and red licorice. The palate texture is silky smooth. Wine evolved over time and really filled out. My 4 of 6 (3-way tie) and the group's 3 of 6.
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3/4/2021 - Verb Likes this wine: 90 Points
dark red, brick rim - lovely red/black cherry Sangiovese nose - unfortunately, not as much fruit in the mouth, where substantial acidity and ripe tannins predominate - short 5-10 sec finish - nonetheless, a good match with food, which is what one should expect of a well made Chianti
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4/4/2020 - winesavant68 Likes this wine: 90 Points
My second bottle in a week. Classic leather notes underpin drying but not totally secondary yet. This is a great effort. Love felsina wines they already always deliver
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4/3/2018 - winemaker Likes this wine: 93 Points
I found another bottle in my cellar. I thought I was out of them. PnP. Anyway, this is one awesome CC for $20. Rich and powerful. Plenty of acid/tannic grip. Dark cherry, damp earth, patented Sangio bite that I love. Long finish. This can compete with $40-100 bottles. Note to self: Buy more!
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2/26/2017 - chifred wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle of the case. Really elegant now, drinking more like a Bordeaux with smooth tannins and long velvety finish. Chocolate, peat and dark fruit on medium body. Beautiful wine for $18. Don't expect to be excited, expect relaxation. Judging on changes in last few years may start to decline soon.
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2/24/2017 - rjsmall Likes this wine:
Big chunks of sediment when decanted. Dark, dense, inky crimson colour. Cherry and tar on the nose. Similar taste along with a bit of olive. Good bite with a bit of aniseed. Nice length with an acidic bite and opened over an hour. Good length and still has a bit of life left in it.
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12/25/2016 - nwebstar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow. Totally over delivered on expectations. This has been carefully cellared for years. The wine was so fresh and so well held together. Beautiful tight structure of a significantly more expensive wine. More dark fruited than expected a little spice clove/cardomon. Good fruit backbone but nicely chiselled.
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10/13/2016 - mark_m_owen wrote: 88 Points
Again a bit underwhelming. It's certainly well made and the tannins are fine but it fails to excite. Almost refined to the point of elegant blandness. The nose outperforms the performance in the mouth, which rather misses the point. Plain bird with sexy perfume.
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10/7/2016 - rjsmall Likes this wine:
Dense red inky colour. Tar and cherry on the nose with a bit of tapenade. Round and smooth - aged nicely with a good acid bite. Similar flavours - long finish. Getting towards the end of the drinking window but a year or two left in it.
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6/10/2016 - mark_m_owen wrote: 88 Points
Underwhelming really for the money. Not an expansive wine, indeed too tight. Some cherry on the nose but the palate didn't deliver what the nose offered. A touch on the sweet side but the tannins are drying at the finish.
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5/22/2016 - bacchus of knockholt Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark ruby showing no signs of age. Baked red cherry nose plus some balsamic and black olive aromoas. Flavours of sun dried black cherry, intense mid palate, acidity balanced, not obtrusive as it was when this wine was younger and much better than when I lasted tasted it two years ago. Tannins are still there but not prominent, life still left in at on it's 10th birthday.
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1/5/2016 - Nubian Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice wine-making here, just the right weight and enough elegance to drink on its own. Will be working for another five years with well-stored bottles.
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7/12/2015 - eboracum Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very nice medium bodied Chianti Classico showing savoury fruit with sour cherry touches, leather, minerals, tangy acidity with some depth on mid-palate and enough tannic support on the finish. Good+.
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5/29/2015 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
My last bottle of this vintage. Delicious notes of dusty cherries, dark fruits, saddle leather and nice acidity.
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4/30/2015 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very consistent notes from bottle to bottle. This wine has notes of dusty cherries, dark fruit, forest floor, and saddle leather. The fruit continues to hold up well.
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4/11/2015 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
This vintage continues to drink well. It has notes of dusty cherries, forest floor, and saddle leather. The fruit is holding up well.
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3/9/2015 - rjsmall Likes this wine:
Deep red, brown colour. Cherry, mushroom, forest floor on nose. Similar flavours along with a touch of cranberry and leather. High acid and very enjoyable. Drinking nicely.
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2/22/2015 - primetheus wrote: 89 Points
Aged well. Had more than enough to backbone to stand up to some great Italian food.
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2/20/2015 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 87 Points
The fruit is definitely starting to fade on this vintage, but the wine is still quite enjoyable. It has notes of dusty cherries, saddle leather and zesty acidity.
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12/26/2014 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
This vintage is still drinking nicely, but I do think the fruit is starting to fade a bit. On the palate there are notes of dried, dusty cherries, saddle leather, and a little black tea.
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12/26/2014 - cweiner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking well.
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11/26/2014 - chifred wrote:
past prime
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9/19/2014 - devraj Likes this wine: 88 Points
Ruby red with bricking. Aromas of dark cherries, leather, wet earth and licorice make way to a medium bodied palate that reveals bitter-sweet crushed small red berries, medium+ acidity, whiplash of earth and drying, astringent tannins making their presence felt on the finish.
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8/16/2014 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very consistent from bottle to bottle, with notes of dusty cherries, saddle leather, and black tea.
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8/12/2014 - djpo wrote: 89 Points
medium body, tar, cherries, nice finish, well integrated.
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8/1/2014 - Rherold wrote: 90 Points
Very nice dark fruit, leather, earthy. Medium finish.
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7/17/2014 - pot20 wrote: 88 Points
Un des meilleurs CC dans cette catégorie de prix. A ce stade d'évolution, impossible d'y résister. Il a vraiment de la classe.
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4/19/2014 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
Another nice bottle of fully mature Felsina. Notes of dark fruits, dusty cherries, saddle leather. Nice garnet color.
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4/16/2014 - chifred wrote: 90 Points
56F P&P Beautiful velvety smoothness with integrated tannins and fruit. Nice medium length finish. Unfortunately on day two it had not held up well; guess I should have drunk the whole bottle on day 1...
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3/29/2014 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
This Chianti continues to please. On the nose there are notes of dried red fruits. On the palate you get classic Chianti notes of dried fruits, dusty cherries, black tea and licorice. This Chianti continues to drink well, but it is in the later stages of its drinking window.
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3/23/2014 - bacchus of knockholt wrote: 84 Points
Mid ruby, beginnings of a brick edge. Nose of red cherry, balsamic. The palate is red cherry, soft tannins and acidity. This wine has taken time to come together but it's just about there now but still a little disappointing. Decent but nothing to get excited about.
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3/18/2014 - hsacks Likes this wine: 90 Points
Though a little more developed, not noticeably better than the 1/11/10 bottle.
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1/25/2014 - pinoteer Likes this wine:
Very good, serviceable Chianti. I'm drafting this note a week post drinking, so no formal comments. Definitely in the 89-90 range.
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1/8/2014 - Rossodio Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank with my birthday dinner of homemade lasagna. This Chianti Classico is fully mature but really requires about a couple of hours of decanting in the bottle. On opening, it is a bit hot and out of sync with sour acidic cherry flavor dominating the palate. It goes through a couple of phases as it breathes, gains body, and builds to show itself as a nice, fully mature chianti, with very nice medium(-) body, some ripe sour cherry, a garrigue-like quality, and prominent black tea notes overlying some olive in the background. Dusty resolved tannins underlie the flavor profile. Well balanced with nice complexity that only bottle aging brings, but not a life-changing wine. An hour in the glass did wonders here.
Drink now +2 years - this seems to be at a plateau phase and I don't know that it will improve further.
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1/3/2014 - winemaker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fully mature. Drinking well. A lovely expression of Sangiovese. Dusty tannins, nice tartness and grip. Pretty long finish. The cherry earth flavors here are good. If I keep writing, I'll need to raise my score.
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12/8/2013 - moods wrote: 89 Points
Vegetal, tarry, stewed fruit aromas. Cherry and sultanas. Somewhat funky. Soft palate, baked cherry pie. Lively still. Holding up very well.
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12/8/2013 - Javatrader wrote: 86 Points
nose of raisin, smoked meat, lavender soap and black tea
Red fruits, smooth tannins but empty...just ok.
Very drinkable
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11/29/2013 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine has a nice garnet color at this stage. On the nose there are notes of saddle leather, but not much else. However, on the palate you get classic Chianti notes of dried fruits, dusty cherries, black tea and licorice. This Chianti continues to drink well.
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11/14/2013 - chifred wrote:
PnP. Deep maroon. Berries and dirt. Smooth intially until dry tannins kick in. Chaulky (it't the tannins I suspect) covering up the rest. Needs to breath I think
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11/11/2013 - bin905 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Some funkiness (some would call it sous bois) on top of the ripe cherry, green pepper and spice (notably vanilla and white pepper) scent. Followed by currant, licorice, tar and black tea flavor with ample tannins and a medium to long finish. Overall, this wine has a medium body with healthy acidity, allowing it to pair nicely with food.
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10/25/2013 - wolfonthehill Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drinking range shows 2011-2014, but this one still needed three hours in a decanter to open up.
Color in the glass is brownish/brick red, and from appearances would seem to be an ideal age right now.
Great nose, good classic Sangiovese aroma, with hints of dried fruit thrown in. Upon opening, overly tannic, with "grapiness" showing through underneath. After three hours, drank better, like a middle-aged wine should, with dried cherries offset by leather.
Smooth finish.
Enjoyable if a bit harsh until it opens up.
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10/11/2013 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
After an hour, the wine opened up and the sharp edges receded. The wine has an amber rim with notes of saddle leather, dark fruits, dried cherries and a dry finish. The tannins and acidity are still very much alive, but it is an enjoyable Chianti.
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10/4/2013 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
The tannins and acidity (for an Italian wine anyway) are nicely in balance. There are notes of dusty cherries, saddle leather and dried red fruits. Just a great chianti for current drinking.
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10/1/2013 - moods wrote: 84 Points
A little better than the previous bottle, with more fruit on the palate this time round. But can't help thinking it is somewhat tired.
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9/27/2013 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
The wine has a garnet color as it is fully mature. It has notes of dusty cherries, dried cherries, saddle leather and licorice.
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8/23/2013 - bin905 wrote: 89 Points
This bottle improved significantly after breathing for a while.
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8/18/2013 - devraj Likes this wine: 90 Points
Poured into a glass and let breathe for about 45 minutes. Dark ruby red in color. An initially reticent nose opens to reveal a lower register notes of dusty red cherries, smoky herbs, leather and soil. A light to medium bodied palate reveals tart & sweet red cherry liquer, new saddle leather and evidence of light tannins on a smoky finish. The wine is still very young and needs time for the olfactory notes and palate to come into balance. 90+ points for potential to improve in the bottle.
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8/13/2013 - johnnyo wrote: 87 Points
A little on the astringent side but paired well with pasta and chicken
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7/14/2013 - Vinobc wrote: 90 Points
Decanted one hour before dinner. Agree with last review on the nose-it was unremarkable. After the decant the wine evolved into a perfect match for the lasagne my wife made, which means it's pretty much what we were looking for with this wine.
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6/21/2013 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
As this wine ages, the nose becomes more reticent. It has a beautiful garnet color and orange rim. On the palate it has notes of saddle leather, dried cherries, spices and licorice. This is always a very consistent wine from bottle to bottle.
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5/31/2013 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
A very nice mature Chianti. Notes of dried, dusty cherries and saddle leather. The color has an orange rim, but the wine has a few year ahead of it.
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5/16/2013 - moods wrote: 83 Points
Maybe a little past its best. Fruit has dissipated. Could just be a bad bottle. Drinkable, but not remarkable.
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5/6/2013 - Redteeth wrote:
Fortunately, this bottle was in good shape and the wine was an enjoyable example of a Chianti with a few years of age. It had hints of dried leather and dried fruit with a bit of spice.
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5/5/2013 - pot20 wrote: 88 Points
Très beau Chianti Classico. A bien évolué, je dirais qu'il a atteint son peak. Tout est là et quelle classe!
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3/17/2013 - Buick455 wrote: 89 Points
PnP. showing some age now. light orange edge. Nice nose of dark berries, cherrie. Palate not as powerfull and fruitfull as earlier, however still a nice glass.
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3/15/2013 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice mature Chianti Classico. The acidity does hit the palate at first like most Chianti. Notes of dusty cherries, saddle leather and tart spiciness. The tannins are present leaving a very dry finish.
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2/27/2013 - epiphany Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tasted next night after the 2010 (which I was very impressed with). Similar profile but clearly showed benefit of some bottle age. There was an interesting mid pallet taste that was rich and almost yeast-like. Hard to describe but I really liked it. Based on this performance and how well the 2010 is drinking at sub $20 I will be picking up a few more 2010's.
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2/9/2013 - bcmatthias wrote: 87 Points
Very acidic, but was more mellow than the last bottle.
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2/8/2013 - chifred wrote:
55F, P&P. Medium red with a hint of orange. Blackberry and mineral on nose. The acidity hits you first on the palate - typical thinnish Chianti with high acid but should be good with tonight's pizza. Doesn't seem great but in the decanter and it may open up.
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2/1/2013 - robnmo wrote: 87 Points
decanted for about 20 minutes before placing back in bottle to bring to a byob. the wine had a nice slightly burnt orange hue to it. nose was muted cherries. On the palate the wine was reserved, but had surprising depth. A nice bottle.
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1/12/2013 - aecklund wrote: 86 Points
I was a little disappointed with this bottle. I had another bottle of this vintage a few years ago and it was much better. This time the flavors seemed muted. I tasted hints of the depth that I liked before, but it did not last. It is still good, but not as good as before.
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1/6/2013 - gph Likes this wine: 91 Points
Earthy, dark fruit nose. Dark cherry, tannic, and acidic. This wine has gone from good to very good since I bought the case on release. I wish I had more than one bottle left.
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1/4/2013 - nytiger Likes this wine: 88 Points
again very good but not as good as other years
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1/3/2013 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great chianti at its peak for drinking.
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12/29/2012 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
Continues to drink well.
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12/21/2012 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
I liked this chianti much better than the last bottle I had. It was more fruity than the last one. It had notes of cherry, black pepper, and a touch of cinnamon and vanilla. It is drinking very well right now.
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12/14/2012 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
I always enjoy Felsina, but I feel like the 2006 is not as fruity or has the depth of previous vintages. This vintage is more austere. The wine was amber colored and medium bodied. It smells and tastes like dried cherries and espresso. With a medium finish. I like the 2007 a little better.
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12/9/2012 - dalondra wrote: 89 Points
Well made typical Sangiovese
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11/29/2012 - ctjared Likes this wine:
Followed a spectacular 97 brunello and wasn't disappointing. This is drinking well
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8/13/2012 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Very nice showing for this wine. Still young, but easy to drink now. The nose has cherries, leather and some floral notes. On the palate, this is smooth with just a bit of tannins. Cherries and dark cherries and a bit of smoked tea. Nice acidity. Nice finish. Good with food.
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7/23/2012 - winemaker wrote: 93 Points
This is my second to last bottle of this wine and this is the best one so far. I opened this after the 2003 Belguardo from Maremma which is 70% Cab and 30% Sangiovese. The Belguardo is very modern in style meaning very ripe, thick and viscous plenty of vanilla and creaminess. It could come from a lot of vineyards around the world. This Felsina CC is gorgeous. It is very tasty with tension between the fruit, tannins and acids. It is now developing secondary characteristics. It is light on its feet. Lovely transparent ruby. Lovely cherry fruit. Long finish. This is a wine of breeding and class. Incredibly delicious for $20. I expect this wine will hold for years to come. Bravo!
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7/8/2012 - winemaker wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Pretty dark red. Smells great. Lots of cherry. Tastes of cherry and earth. Juicy acidity. Tannins are fairly firm and a medium long finish. This wine is really rounding into form. Terrific QPR for $20.
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5/11/2012 - winemaker wrote: 91 Points
This is a big, powerful CC. Starting to show a bit of amber on the rim. Rich and tangy with good tannic bite on the finish. Aciids are fairly bright. Very good.
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5/6/2012 - mark_m_owen wrote: 89 Points
This bottle never really opened up like the previous one and whilst there were the same cherry and vanilla tones it was a bit funky and rustic. Excellent, nonetheless, but lacking any wow factor or development by the glass.
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4/29/2012 - dke wrote: 88 Points
Good chianti, but not as good as the previous bottle. Nice expressive aromas, almost floral, grainy tannins, dark fruits., good acidity but somehow it does not feel well integrated.
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4/22/2012 - winemaker wrote: 91 Points
Fairly dark red, transparent at the rim. Tart cherries, supporting tannins, long finish.
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4/21/2012 - rjsmall Likes this wine:
Opened and decanted for an hour. Red colour. Cherry dominates nose. Tart and earthy. High acid, with a touch of alcohol. A bit of sarsaparilla as well. Good but I think would benefit from another year of age.
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4/6/2012 - bcc725 wrote:
This is a bottle that's best enjoyed over 2 nights. Pretty, smokey aromatics with a palate profile of sour cherry and a touch of plum. The slight edge of tannins seemed to double overnight and strangely, it served the wine well. While the wines tannins became more pronounced, the wines character seemed to mellow and slightly amplify and/or come into proportion. Very well received by wine loving guests. Paired with homemade spaghetti bolognese and matched against a well regarded 2008 Italian Rosso...seemed foolish to pick a "winner". Both wines showed very very well.
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3/31/2012 - mark_m_owen wrote: 90 Points
Previous comments seem right if you pop and pour: there is a coarseness and earthy nose and flavour.
But give this baby some air and some time and it refines significantly with lots of cherry, some vanilla and a medium bodies smooth tannin engine.a little sweet but pretty damn good.
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3/15/2012 - bcmatthias wrote: 84 Points
Too rustic for our taste -- didn't even finish the bottle.
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3/11/2012 - swade wrote: 85 Points
Per notes below. This bottle was a little better. Not flawed and neither was the bottle described below - distracting note was less so in this bottle, but something still smacks as an off flavor. Expected more from a bottle from this esteemed producer.
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3/3/2012 - Tom Henriksveen wrote: 90 Points
Very nice wine! Dark red, almost opaque with hardly no brim. Sweet cherries and dark plum on the nose, more tart cherries in the mouth, refreshing acidity, well integrated tannins and a hint of earthy/musky undertones, and good mouthfeel. Medium finish. A very good wine for the monies, and drinks very well now.
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2/26/2012 - Will Devize wrote: 84 Points
Drank after a 3 hr decant with beef cannelloni. Dusty, rustic qualities on the nose; primarily fruit cake and aromas of violet. Medium-bodied, tannins rather firm on the finish. Strangely hollow. Sadly this was not a great wine; lacking vitality, structure, definition. Fruits not a match for the grainy rusticity. Dodgy bottle? Slightly past it?
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2/23/2012 - swade wrote: flawed
I agree with both of winemaker's last two notes. I thought the underbrush/dirt taste was so distracting and overwhelming that I am not scoring this bottle. I will open another in the near future and revisit.
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2/22/2012 - winemaker wrote: 90 Points
Dark red. Muted nose of tart cherries and forest floor. Tastes of intense cherries and damp earth. Juicy acidity. Very good.
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2/15/2012 - cobystilp wrote: 87 Points
Good but nothing memorable
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2/8/2012 - MarkL wrote: 89 Points
Good but not great.
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12/13/2011 - andtheodor wrote:
Earthy, cherry nose with lots of mineral and berry, around a spicy core of rich fruit. Concentrated and intense, nice.
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12/8/2011 - winemaker wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Ruby and showing some amber at the rim. Very aromatic. Loads of dusty cherries. Tastes a tad thinner than it smells. Still tasty though.
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11/20/2011 - UncleBuncle wrote:
Very good, rounded and balanced with interesting dimensions
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11/5/2011 - pot20 wrote: 87 Points
Excellent comme toujours. Acidité et structure tannique dans un style vraiment Classique. Cerise, baie noire, terre humide et cuir. J'aime son coté clean. Il a encore de belles années devant lui. Léger dépôt.
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10/29/2011 - winemaker wrote: 91 Points
Lovely medium red. Popped and poured. Muted nose of some kind of a floral note. Tart and juicy. Dusty earth/tannins. Long finish. A number of nuances along the way. I like this a lot.
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10/26/2011 - MartySD wrote: 92 Points
Great juice!
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10/26/2011 - moods wrote: 89 Points
If Starbursts made a black cherry sweet, this would be it. Bags of juicy black cherry fruit, nudged along by a rip roaring acidity, giving rise to a very silky smooth mouthfeel. Everything is nicely in balance. There some interesting notes of coffee, chocolate and a whiff of earth. Very drinkable Chianti. Just a little short on the finish preventing it from being a 90 pointer. Very much in its prime right now.
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10/14/2011 - DRS-Inc wrote: 87 Points
Had w/dinner over 2 nights. PnV'd initially & then let breathe for 1/2 hr. Tart red cherry, earth, leather, spice & oak notes. Medium-bodied, dry, dusty tannins, moderate acidity, & medium finish. Decent, but not overly wow'd...was expecting more.
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9/3/2011 - B Quinn wrote: 89 Points
Still drinking very well. Lots of good fruit and soft tannins. Lovely with rabbit
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8/14/2011 - fraundor Likes this wine: 90 Points
wird immer besser! 5 Jahre minimum lagern ...
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7/1/2011 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 88 Points
PnP with lasagna. Loads of sour cherry fruit and a bit of earthiness. Ripping acidity. This went very well with the tomato sauce. This is exactly the sort of flavor profile and acidic structure that makes me reach for Italian wines (and esp Chianti) to pair with Italian food. Not a wine I would enjoy as much to just sip by itself, but terrific with the food we had.
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5/28/2011 - winemaker wrote: 92 Points
If there is a better wine for $20, I'd like to know what it is. This wine is rockin! Popped and poured into 2 375s. Poured one. Still pretty dark red and youthful. Smells of cherry and damp earth. This wine has really impressive purity of fruit. Bright cherries, earth, tannins are firm. Long, delicious finish. Just entering its drinking window.
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5/10/2011 - Trax wrote: 88 Points
PnP. Aromatically challenged, even after sitting out for over an hour. Initially light cherries with cellar dust and overwhelming acidity. After an hour there emerged a cherry liquor and cellar dust flavor along with violet candies. Still had strong tannins and acidity but seemed more in balance. Good wine but there are better Chianti Classicos in this price range.
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3/27/2011 - tkoby11 wrote: 92 Points
Classic and just as great as it always is.
Color: Dark red to vibrant red edges
Nose: Wild cherry, blackberry, some earth, leather, and spice.
Palate: Perfect acidity and structured tannins, the flavors are red to slightly tart but in that classic Chianti way. A long and clean finish.
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3/26/2011 - Buick455 wrote: 90 Points
Pop and Pour. Dark red color. Dark red berries, wet earth on the nose. Good chewy palate with good acid, firm tanins. medium finish.
Very good Chianti classico, the best I have tried.
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3/21/2011 - Chris wrote: 87 Points
good color and sustained aroma but you really need to decant this baby. 2-3 hours minimum. Its actually way better on day 2 and even on day 3 then it is on day 1. A lot of work for a bottle of wine. If you have the patience, you can muster a higher rating out of it.
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3/15/2011 - tkoby11 wrote: 92 Points
My all time favorite chianti classico continues to impress year in and year out!
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2/28/2011 - Happybob wrote: 88 Points
Nice all around - well balanced, opens fairly quickly
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2/11/2011 - rfishman wrote:
Smooth; nice taste
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1/24/2011 - Cantina Hill's wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic with pasta, balenced acidity and tanins with good fruit
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1/4/2011 - bg2167 wrote: 83 Points
Cherry-licious on day 1. A little much for my tastes but with time open it composed itself. Great rustic and earthy notes on the second night with the dark cherry in the background. Solid at under $20.
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12/6/2010 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 90 Points
no notes taken
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11/27/2010 - Fishboy wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured with pizza. Great bottle for the money.
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11/24/2010 - winemaker wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Lovely medium red, transparent at the rim. At first, not much going on. I let it sit for an hour and the show begins. Smells of damp earth with some sour cherries. In the mouth, there is a lot going on with subtleties and nuances wrapped in and around the cherry fruit. At certain moments there are hints of flowers and finishes with a hint of XO cognac. Complex and long. This is a fairly cerebral Chianti. Tannins are certainly present and this wine should drink well for several years to come.
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11/13/2010 - moods wrote: 88 Points
It says Chianti on the bottle, and without doubt it's stereotypical Chianti in the bottle too. Aromas of black cherries behind the oak. A little pepper. Palate quite tannic still, with sufficient fruit. Still probably needs another year to soften the rough rustic edges.
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10/18/2010 - Surfdoc wrote: 88 Points
Yep, that's a Chianti. Smooth and simple. Drank with friends over pizza dinner.
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9/17/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 88 Points
Decanted 30 minutes. A decent value pizza wine, with some body and tannins, and lots of acid. The acidity was a little bit acetic, which worked but isn't for everyone. Elegant, tasty, and a decent QPR at $16.
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9/6/2010 - TannicBeast wrote:
Consistent with my 9/27/09 tasting notes, but showing some off-putting aromas. Border-line corked? I think this wine is just about as good as it is going to get. It just doesn't have enough fruit for it to be age-worthy.
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9/5/2010 - Sarastro wrote: 88 Points
would have benefit of another year or two (up to 4-5) in the Cellar... fresh nose, mineral but still a bit restrained. Tannic and with a good acidity which is a good sign for the future.
A nice bottle!
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9/1/2010 - moods wrote: 88 Points
Cherries, red fruits and a little leather and chocolate. Nice smooth, slight silky feel to the palate. Can't really see this one going much distance, but nevertheless a lovely drop. Particularly with simple home cooked hearty food.
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8/17/2010 - Dieter01 wrote: 89 Points
Warm red. Great aroma of red berries and some chocolate.
Soft. Great acid with nice hint of bitter. A little bit of oak in the finish.
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7/10/2010 - winepog wrote: 88 Points
Good, fine wine, but not making my toes tingle. Typical dark fruit, acidity and structure of a Chianti Classico.....
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7/9/2010 - lewisrise wrote: 88 Points
Nose of cherries and cigar box. Very tart cherry with a hint of forest floor. Quite thin and one dimensional
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7/8/2010 - Atreyu wrote:
Pretty far developed, and not in the best way. Has lost significant freshness. From a cold cellar.
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6/28/2010 - Outplaying wrote:
No notes taken. Nothing special but very solid. Better with food than for quaffing. I heard Ann and Nancy both say they liked it.
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6/10/2010 - winemaker wrote: 90 Points
I don't know what was wrong with a previous bottle of this, but tonight this wine is delicious. Terrific tart cherries with just enough damp earth and tension to create real interest. Glad I have 10 more left! An amazing difference in 18 months. This should drink well for several more years.
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5/16/2010 - Jeffyboy wrote: 88 Points
Bautiully dark with light rims. This wine needs some time to open. At the first sip nothing special - simple - but after some time its complex sangiovese aromas appear. Nose: cherries - later ash plus violets. Taste: very balsamic, with only some accidity. I appreciate this wine but prefer the other face of chianti.
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5/11/2010 - drinkfunkyanddance wrote:
Classic CC. A little tarry, black cherry/violet. Why did I open this so early, this needs another 5-10 years. But great after an hour in the glass.
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5/5/2010 - Outplaying wrote:
Dinner with Dan and Bridget (The Orchard, Kennet Square, PA): Light/medium bodied with dry, tart cherries, and faint licorice and leather. Nice food wine.
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4/30/2010 - chayward wrote: 90 Points
Blind Tuscan tasting (CfA roof): Poured through Vinturi and decanted for 45 minutes. Very rich nose dominated by dark cherries. Good body, tart finish. Very nice!
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4/30/2010 - dke wrote: 90 Points
Toscan wines (mostly blind): (tasted blind, decant+vinturi) Vanilla, cherries and leather on the deep nose. Dark fruits and leather on the palate, nice dry tannic finish, with medium length.
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4/15/2010 - winepog wrote: 88 Points
Structure, dark fruit, acidity, light tannins. Slight hint of leather.
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4/9/2010 - rwf wrote: 88 Points
Fresh, mineral and cherry nose.High acidity and crispy, dry tannins suggest needs more age. Flavours are quite stony, hint of sweetness and cherry fruit.
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4/1/2010 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 90 Points
Still very young and primary. Good tannins and length.
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3/29/2010 - pot20 wrote: 87 Points
beau Chianti, fruits noirs, prune et un petit coté vert. Encore jeune a l'acidité présente mais correcte. Sera a son meilleur dans une couple d'années.
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3/19/2010 - MarkL wrote: 88 Points
Clear dark (black cherry colour).
Clean nose, "sweet balsamic vineger", cherries
Dry, medium tannin, high acidity, long finish. Some evolved fruits and some redcurrants. Medium bodied.
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2/27/2010 - rwf wrote: 86 Points
Fresh, fruity nose, with some mineral notes.Lots of acidity floods the mouth, not particularly full flavoured, hint of sweet cherry fruit, but also pencil shavings. A little light bodied. I am going to try this with rabbit or fennel sausage to see if that brings out more flavours.
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2/19/2010 - peternelson wrote: 89 Points
Anita Blind: Medium to medium-low body to this wine, with more very dry, light tannins in the mouth, and high acidity. I should have caught the bright cherry aspect, but instead tasted an earthy, dry, acidic wine. Turned out to be my least favorite in the tasting, but was the best match for the (Italian style) Chicken Cacciatore
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2/19/2010 - nytiger wrote: 87 Points
mild sangiovese nose good acid and flavors thin finish
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1/31/2010 - jonysan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice Chianti. Went well with our meal. Medium tannins. Balanced fruit. Good structure.
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1/26/2010 - gnosis wrote:
Very nice, smooth and integrated now, was expecting a tighter wine, but pleasantly surprised across the board. Will check back in on this one as it ages.
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1/11/2010 - hsacks wrote: 90 Points
Deep red color. Aromas of red cherries, cocoa and herbs. Medium-bodied ripe fruit in the mouth with excellent structure and balance. Although still very young (the 375 ml. bottle helped), well-integrated tannins and surprising depth. This wine has the potential for a higher score with a few more years of bottle age. Excellent value.
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12/26/2009 - garambler wrote: 89 Points
We drank this with Steak Puttanesca on 12/26/09. It decanted for over an hour and then went back in the bottle for a couple more hours. It was typical Chianti with a very pleasant bouquet of black cherry, plum, burnt toast and spice aromas. The palate was very smooth and balanced with flavors that followed the nose.
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12/21/2009 - Descant wrote:
thin but drinkable.
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12/12/2009 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 89 Points
Consistent. A very fine pairing with tradional Italian food. Figs and blackberries. Seems just a touch tight on the texture.
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11/27/2009 - tucsonwino wrote: 90 Points
Outstanding, very smooth, great nose, nice fruit, great balance.
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11/25/2009 - ews3 wrote: 85 Points
simple, fruity red. red cherry.
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11/20/2009 - Eckie wrote: 86 Points
Frankly, I'm glad I've finished them now. Disappointing Chianti Classico from a great producer and a great vintage. What happened here?
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11/4/2009 - Eckie wrote: 88 Points
Getting better, but where's the 2006 fruit?
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10/25/2009 - argento007 wrote: 86 Points
Not as impressive as I was hoping. Some cherry on the noise, but the dusty Chianti tannins seemed to be missing.
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10/7/2009 - Sijan wrote: 87 Points
Tasty chianti with very nice floral nose. It's a bit more restrained on the palate with some dark cherry notes. Nice acidity. Color is notably darker than most chianti. Paired fine with pizza.
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10/2/2009 - greenblanket wrote:
The snooty wine angel on my left shoulder tells me that this is a bit too 'international' and fruit forward. The more forgiving angel (at least I hope these are angels and not voices that I am starting to hear) on my right shoulder says "wtf, it's delicious, drink up!"
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9/27/2009 - TannicBeast wrote: 89 Points
Fairly closed nose at first. Beautiful balance and structure on the palate. Black fruit and field flowers. Medium-bodied but very rich and dark. Very drinkable now but should improve with age.
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9/25/2009 - MiamiWineNovice wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured through my vinturi. Nose of bright red raspberry and plum, cocoa with some mint and/or eucalyptus. Palate showed a medium body with short finish but nice plum, red fruits, fresh tilled earth and herbs. Nice everyday drinker.
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9/19/2009 - chitowncdpguy wrote:
This is very, very good. A little more full bodied than I expect from a chianti. Quite a strong nose of red fruit on opening settling down to include wet earth and a little spice. Fruit seems a little darker on the palate with more earth and drying tannins. Quite acidic. Everything seems to come together on the long finish.
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9/13/2009 - Villon wrote: 86 Points
Très ordinaire, style international, beau nez mais bouche décevante.
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8/22/2009 - FjordogFjell wrote: 85 Points
139 NOK. Bidrag til sommerselskap hos Susanne. Forsmak på kjøkkenet: 13 garder Riedel Bx 20 min luft i glasset. Enkel rein lukt av kirsebær og bringebær + tre og bitre ting som ligger helt bak. Smak: Fast frisk enkel. Samler seg litt til maten, fortsatt stram
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8/17/2009 - TwistedArmadillo wrote: 86 Points
Bought this in advance of going to the Felsina winery in October. Obviously a very young wine. Tasted at opening with absolutely no nose and a metallic taste. Decanted in the cellar for 6 hours and some fruit on the nose was evident. This wine actually had a better quality to it after it came up from 55 degrees to room temp. Drank the second half of the bottle the next day and it had opened nicely with dark fruit on the nose with earthy qualities. Finish was nice. This wine should improve with a few more years under its belt.
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8/14/2009 - Eckie wrote: 88 Points
After my first disappointment with this wine a year ago, I decided to try my luck and open another. Knowing this wine is not very inviting upfront I decanted for 4 hours. Things had definitely improved. It now actually is a pleasant Chianti, with nice structure, good acidity and a decent finish. However, if there is anyone out there who likes fruit in his/her wine: do not buy this wine. I find it quite stunning it's from the outstanding and very fruit-forward 2006 vintage. Somehow Felsina managed to make the fruit almost completely disappear. Maybe it went to the 2006 Rancia?? ;-) Felsina was awarded winery of the year honours by Gambero Rosso in 2009. Clearly an outstanding producer, I beg to differ however. I have tasted many wines in Tuscany from the most recent vintages, and to me one winery stands out: Fontodi. Its Chianti Classico 2006 is 3-4 points better than Felsina and its flagship Flaccianello seems to be almost perfect. Do yourself a favour and find one of his 2006 wines.
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8/12/2009 - Chitarra wrote: 88 Points
Decent chianti classico. Balanced now and drinking but there is nothing special here. I expected more from Felsina
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8/7/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 89 Points
WIML89
Tasted August 7, 2009
Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of peet and black berries. Flavors of black berries. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink over the short term.
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8/4/2009 - Li6 wrote: 89 Points
Has potential to age into outstanding, but is very tight and closed now. Give this at least another year or two.
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7/31/2009 - stubbie999 wrote:
Opened up nicely after about an hour in the decanter. Great with fresh pasta and flank steak. Yum, and great value for a basic Chianti
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7/23/2009 - kenthargis wrote: 89 Points
Quite tasty. Better than when we first had it. Notes of cherry and raspberry. Quite enjoyable. Went well with pizza.
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6/19/2009 - stubbie999 wrote:
Nice. Needs time. Tightly wrapped core of dark red fruit, leather, grippy tannins. Earthy, good structure. What you want from a basic Chianti, what you want more in a year or two...
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6/13/2009 - Alex H wrote: 84 Points
Italian and Spanish Tasting (Wine Gallery): Bug spray , metallic minerality and hot stones. Good body of cherry fruits. Still tannic and really needs time to soften up but at the moment quite impressed by the package.
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5/23/2009 - wombat wrote: 88 Points
Color: Dark cherry with 1 cm ruby rim--much darker than the 04 Capanelle CC.
Bouquet: A bit closed. Complex, savory dark berry, ripe raspberry/cherry, earthy roasted peppers and tomato.
Flavor: Earthy, roasted dried dark berries, hints of tomato with a savory finish
Comments: Better potential integration of flavors than the 04 Capanelle. Very young and needs time for 2ndry aromas to develop. A bit difficult to judge, but definitely savory, with some complexity. Needs 2-3 years. 3,000 yen.
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5/21/2009 - rc@ughey wrote: 87 Points
Rustic, savory, with nice concentration and minerality. What you want in a base-level Chianti. Hardly mindblowing, but that's not what you expect at this level.
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5/21/2009 - wombat wrote: 88 Points
Bouquet: Good, toasty/roasted wood and tomato
Flavor: Savory red and black fruit, with a savory finish
Comments: Mouth coating tannins, moderate acidity. This should develop nicely. Not the sharply acidic wine that probably too many of people first experience as "Chianti."
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5/12/2009 - dke wrote: 87 Points
Very dark for a chianti. Good nose, wood, sour cherries and some nail polish. Very dry, nice chevy finish. Good but not as good as the previous bottle. 87-88
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5/10/2009 - stiang wrote: 89 Points
My favourite everyday chianti. Typical and excellent.
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5/4/2009 - Gringo wrote: 84 Points
The eye finds a medium garnet. The nose encountered chocolate and pepper and chalk and plum. The tongue found an ever so lightly disjointed melange of cedar and tobacco and tart plum with slightly harsh tannins and an out of whack level of acidity. The finish was unremarkable.
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5/1/2009 - Kirk Grant wrote: 89 Points
A vibrant Pigeon's Blood ruby in the glass; with scents of earth, light oak, sour cherry, and cranberry on the nose. Flavors of wild strawberry, cran/raspberry, earth, and minerals all stretch out across this elegant medium length finish. Lovely wine...
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4/26/2009 - nytiger wrote: 88 Points
decent chianti but not as good as other years
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4/16/2009 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Stimmel's Market: Italy (Bowling Green, OH): Dirty mineral nose. Very light tannins, medium acid and body. Red cherry, minerals, medium concentration, interesting! Not just a food quaffer like typical Chianti. $20
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4/12/2009 - tigerpaw75 wrote: 88 Points
Faint nose of earth and cherries. Acidic, Fine, well integrated tannins, but I found the fruit level on the lower side, but the wine was well balanced. Drank with meat sauce lasagna...for $15 not bad. May need to be giving a little more time in the cellar...
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4/9/2009 - JOsgood wrote: 90 Points
Best showing yet for this wine and this will continue to improve with more time. Started out tart and tight but opened impressively showing strong black cherry flavors with a healthy acidic backbone. Went down very fast and easy. Amo il vino Italiano!
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3/28/2009 - Marcellus77 wrote: 88 Points
Ruby red colour, classic Chianti nose of red cherries, oak and vanilla. The wine is still young offering little on the nose, but seems to have become more balanced since last time I tried it. Still abit short on the mid palette and finish leaving me with the impression that this is a good everyday wine with some development potential.
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3/22/2009 - stiang wrote: 88 Points
has developed quite a bit during the last year; has opened up, become smoother.
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3/21/2009 - GEMon wrote: 90 Points
Scents of cherries and leather with hints of lavender. Tastes of dried cherries and leather with a hint of citrus on the finish. Dry with medium tannins. Good wine for under $20.
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3/16/2009 - nytiger wrote: 88 Points
a little chianti nose good flavors and finish
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3/7/2009 - jhannah27 wrote: 88 Points
I recently had the 97 Riserva from Felsina, which was absolutely fantastic, and with this only retailing for around $17 I figured it would be worth a try. Vibrant floral, plum and blackberry nose, with flavors of soft blackberries, and a light and earthy minerality backed up with mild acidity and sweet tannin. I kept thinking to myself how surprised I was with the elegance of this wine for the price point. Still young and a bit unsettled at this point, but give it a few years to settle and it will be quite something, I think.
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3/7/2009 - mmurry wrote: 90 Points
A Taste of Tuscany (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had blackberry, lavender, and oak. The palate had lavender, cherry, spice, and a nice finish of oranges.
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3/4/2009 - nschmidt wrote: 88 Points
Drank with Beef and Barolo in front of the fire. Popped and poured and it could have used a little decant as it improved over the evening. Very nice.
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3/2/2009 - Jurgens wrote: 85 Points
Well balance, good standard chianti, good value for money.
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2/26/2009 - bluevespa wrote: 85 Points
This is the worst bottle of sangiovese I can recall. Thin ,acidic, little bit of fruit. I would pass on this one.
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2/20/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 89 Points
WIML89+. No notes but seemed fairly consistent with the previous bottle. Drink a smidge better though. Drink or hold.
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2/8/2009 - nietzschephilosopher wrote: 89 Points
Very fresh with good fruit and a touch of sweet spice. Maybe a little earth as well. Very light on the tannins but good acidity. I really like this wine. Best Chianti I've had in my limited experience.
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2/5/2009 - MRichman wrote:
Nice, well balanced, fairly high acid. Good value.
B-
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1/31/2009 - peternelson wrote: 88 Points
Rosso: Nice bod, closed, good structure, not much there at the moment...
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1/31/2009 - mpricher wrote: 90 Points
Red to Purple/dark but semi-clear. Typical Chianti farm field and cherry nose with herb and floral overtone. Velvet supple mouthfeel with little tannin for such a young Chianti. Overall I liked the Cherry components of this Chianti alot. Its a solid value bottle, but not a stunner.
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1/27/2009 - conform wrote:
Quite liked this. All the Italian wines I'm getting at Whole Foods seem to have corks that are stained well up the length of the cork, though.
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1/24/2009 - Davidliss wrote: 85 Points
A rich nose of cream, vanilla, and roses. Thin on the palate, flavors of plum and sour cherry dominating. Decent finish, and some rugged tannins help to prop it over. Overall, a pleasant wine, but not remarkable.
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1/16/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 85 Points
nose: bright red fruits and plums strike you at first. Fairly foreward with some bits of florals behind it. Solid nose, but while somewhat italian, its very new worldish and severly lacking in the depth that the CCR brings. Relatively simple on the nose and doesn't have a lot of classic sangiovese qualities
taste: fairly thin and light on the palate with decent tannins along with plums, red fruits, and some floral tones.
overall: a decent chianti, but just doesn't do much for me. There even seems to be a bit of acidification to it and the flavors and depth are thin. Its good, but just isn't what it should be considering the vintage and producer. very pedestrian
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1/11/2009 - bbrantley wrote: 88 Points
Very nice. Nice aromatics, good plummy red fruit, with sufficient acidity. Good value.
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1/5/2009 - winemaker wrote: 82 Points
I was pretty disappointed in this. I normally love Felsina. This wine just seemed to have no 'there' there. Hopefully, there will be improvement with time.
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1/2/2009 - Pinot Evil wrote: 90 Points
Somewhat thin at first, still a nice chianti, an excellent value
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12/17/2008 - wabi47 wrote: 86 Points
minor floral notes on nose; red currant and pomegranate notes, but a bit thinner than i recall, so the acidity was more prominent;
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12/7/2008 - snaff wrote: 87 Points
Refined and fruity. a little sour with cherry notes.
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12/7/2008 - GEMon wrote: 90 Points
Strong tastes of dried cherries with hints of leather. Very earthy. A great wine for under $20.
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11/30/2008 - dke wrote: 89 Points
Initially nose was pure vanilla, but then it slowly turned into sangiovese nose. Next day it was very nice with floral aspect on top of sour cherries. On the palate it was very smooth with decent (a bit weak for sangio) acidity and still strong drying tannins. Medium bodied and very enjoyable. 88-89.
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11/30/2008 - dbkitc wrote: 89 Points
Lovely - similar to last bottle. A terrific value.
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11/29/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 88 Points
WIML88
Tasted November 29, 2008 at a retail tasting.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of dark fruits, berries, cherries and currants. Flavors of berries and cherries. Medium acidity and tannins, light to medium body. Drink over the short to medium term.
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11/29/2008 - mmurry wrote: 89 Points
Wine Spectator Top 100 (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had blackberry, violets, and earth. The palate had cedar, spice, cherry, and earth.
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11/23/2008 - chapel hill wino wrote: 88 Points
reticent on the nose, with souring cherries being dominant. The palate is subdued with cherries and traces of chocolate evolving in the finish. The tannins are mild, the acidity is good, and the fruit is subdued -- a good food pairing. I look forward to seeing this evolve, and hope for additional complexity. Will purchase a half-case to put away.
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11/14/2008 - wabi47 wrote: 89 Points
floral and berry nose; denser darker berry and less nose than the 2005; i like the good acidity; this could be held for a while; a great chianti year after year
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11/9/2008 - JOsgood wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for 2 hours and this definitely made a difference. Nose is still muted. Bing cherry flavor dominates in the mouth with some spice and earthiness. Lots of acid so it goes well with red sauce. Moderate finish.
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10/22/2008 - suthrngurl wrote: 90 Points
Pleasantly fruity bouquet, solid representative of 2006 chianti vintage.
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10/22/2008 - JOsgood wrote: 87 Points
I agree with the other tasting notes on this wine, this is quite tight right now. Very acidic tasting that was very puckering on its own, this needs the red sauce that I paired it with in order to be enjoyable. Not much nose to speak of. On the palate bitter cherry in flavor with a good finish. I will hold my other bottles for the short-term.
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10/4/2008 - Eckie wrote: 87 Points
To me the wine is too subdued at this time. It is very well made and balanced but it seems shut down and is lacking the fresh red fruit that characterises good sangiovese. It will be better in a year or so, but I have doubts about the fruit.
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10/4/2008 - Maestro wrote: 90 Points
This Tasting Note is a result of an experiment in Aeration.
Samples from three bottles were tasted. The first bottle was a "pop-and-pour" tasting. The second bottle was aerated in a decanter for 4 hours. The third bottle had its cork removed and it remained open and untouched for 24 hours in the cellar. The timing of opening the bottles was planned so as to allow all samples to be tasted side-by-side at the same time.
Read all about this discussion on http://www.cellartracker.com/forum/Aeration_in_bottle_--_does_anyone_actually_know_and_understand_it%3F/m_29652/tm.htm
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*** Pop-and-pour Tasting ***
Opened the bottle, gave it two minutes to breathe, and poured a glass. I then gave it three minutes to breathe in the glass initially and tasted it.
Medium ruby color. The nose displays an obvious core of red cherries, and then some wet earth and spice notes.
On the palate it is medium bodied and fresh, with lots of sweet ripe fruit and notes of bitter oak. The tannins bite in the finish, but the finish is cut very short. Nice, approachable, and screaming for food.
After 15 minutes in the glass it opens more, revealing lavender and black currant on the nose, and expanding more on the palate. The finish gets better and longer too, with notes of minerals and sour cherry.
With the "pop-and-pour" tasting, I would give this wine an 89 score and I would say it needs 2-3 years in the bottle to develop its potential.
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*** 4 Hours in the Decanter ***
Aerated in a decanter for four hours.
No discernible change in appearance. Still medium ruby. Less intense but more elegant on the nose than the pop-and-pour version. This time the cherry core on the nose is more subdued, and notes of mushrooms, violets and lavender are much more evident.
On the palate it is smoother, with a dark chocolate component around the red fruit. The tannins feel less intrusive. The finish is much longer with more notes of lavender, blackberries, and some faint notes of menthol.
After 15 minutes in the glass dark chocolate and mocha notes appear also on the nose. The palate opens a bit more and becomes a bit more mouth-filling. The tannins feel very smooth, with almost no "bite".
After 4 hours in the Decanter I would score this wine 90 points and comment that it is drinking well now with aeration, but that it will improve in the bottle for the next 5-7 years.
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*** 24 Hours in an Open Bottle ***
Cork removed from the bottle and then the bottle was left alone in the cellar for 24 hours. The first wine that came after the bottle was discarded from the tasting, as it was too close to the surface of the wine.
Again no discernible change in color or appearance. Medium ruby and clear. This has by far the best nose of the three samples. By far. A lot more intense on the nose than the one that has been decanted and a lot more complex than the pop-and-pour. Cedar, lavender, wet earth, mushrooms, spices, cigar box and violets jump from the glass in an intoxicating nose.
On the palate it is not as smooth as the one decanted -- the tannins are chewy but ripe -- but, all things considered, it has again the best structure of the three samples. It is succulent and delicious, more vibrant than the one decanted and more complex (and a bit smoother) than the pop-and-pour sample. Interestingly, however, it does not show the dark chocolate component that appeared in the decanted sample. The palate is rather driven by mouth-filling fruit and ripe tannins. The finish is not as long as the one from the decanter, but is stronger and full of aromatic notes.
After 15 minutes in the glass some of the dark chocolate notes finally appear on the palate. It remains much more ferocious than the decanted one, with biting tannins. It will be the best match of the three samples for an Italian dish.
After 24 hours in an open bottle I would score this wine 91 points and comment that it is drinking well now with aeration, but that it will improve in the bottle for the next 5-7 years.
***
Read our conclusions and analysis on: http://www.cellartracker.com/forum/Aeration_in_bottle_--_does_anyone_actually_know_and_understand_it%3F/m_29652/tm.htm
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9/27/2008 - Davidliss wrote: 89 Points
Sweet, floral nose. Flavors dominated by candied cherry, with hints of green apple and pencil lead. Big tannins were overwhelming at first, but decanting smoothed things out. Overall, a great value. I plan to buy more.
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9/19/2008 - conform wrote:
Nice, will rebuy.
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8/31/2008 - stiang wrote: 87 Points
this will be very nice in a few years...
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8/28/2008 - Winetex wrote: 89 Points
What dbkitc said about the flavors, very nice sour cherry and floral aroma and flavors. Young and changing quickly in the glass but without tons of complexity. Under $20 you can't go wrong with this one if you like nice Sangio. A wine to buy by the case and drink over a few years. {A 15 minute decant really helped this one along..}
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8/17/2008 - dbkitc wrote: 89 Points
This wine is very young and very tight. It boasts a clear, ruby color and a sour cherry nose with great verve. The palate is bracing with acidity and while there is some red fruit huddled underneath – at present it is a bit unforgiving in its tartness. I have put the bottle in the fridge and report back progress in a few days. Will most likely save the others for a few years. (85+?)
Day 2: What a difference a day makes. Pure, sappy strawberry fruit is at the fore with a pine note supporting. Lovely depth and a medium body continue to be lifted by the sound acidity which has moved to a supporting rather than dominating role. A good 4 to 5 points higher than last nights showing….good news for what this will become in a few years. Insane QPR. (89+)
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7/17/2008 - br wrote:
good deep cherry red. bright cherries, dusty herbs and wonderful alive texture. silky light-medium bodied. very solid finish that echoes the flavor profile. not a wine layered with complexity, but an excellent value that should improve over the next decade.
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