From magnum. Quick decant (restaurant). This is drinking great. A bit of barnyard funk initially but gone fast. Nice dark berry fruit, anise, plum palate.
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Blind tasting lunch. This was a lovely surprise. Also here, we were debating Chinati or super tuscan. Very dense wine for a Chianty, properly ripe fruit, some dark notes, structured but not over the top. Masculine but now with 22 years of age, well integrated. This has a long life ahead.
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Tasted blind. Double-decanted. Slightly medicinal, red berry fruit, dried tomato, herbs and a just hints of aging notes. A bit blurry aromatics and lacking precision, rather limited intensity but otherwise nice. Well-integrated tannin, palatable and nicely fresh even if on balance leaning a bit too heavy towards the acidity.
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Decanted and drunk over a couple hours. Dark strawberry fruit, cedar, spice, and some savory cured meat notes on the nose. Expansive with intensity greater than its mid weighted frame with a a sense of focus and grace on the palate. Lovely spice, dark Sangiovese fruit, and red licorice on the palate, with a textural richness that remains focused and detailed. A seamlessly cohesive, deep, and beautifully balanced wine drinking at peak. Very long on the back end. Delicious by itself and better with a fennel sausage and mushroom pizza. The fennel really played well with the spice and cedar notes of the wine. Yum. At peak with plenty of time in hand. 93.
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Sangiovese Study (chicago, IL): Nose: The nose is open and savory with balanced tones of red fruits, cherries, strawberries, rose petals, roasted herbs, spice notes, leather, and earth tones. There is excellent depth and this is giving right from the outset.
Taste: The feel is Medium bodied with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. The structure has peeled back and is in a supporting role right now. The feel is well balanced and polished with tones of red fruits, cherries, strawberries, leather, rose petals, and roasted herbs, and a touch of earth notes.
Overall: This is just beautiful right now. It's right in the zone and at full maturity. There is still plenty of life ahead, but it would be a shame to not open one right now.
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Double decanted for sediment than drunk over several hours. Dark strawberry fruit, cured meat, some spice, and herbal notes on the nose. It's mid weighted, with terrific depth and graceful power without any sense of heaviness. More dark Sangiovese fruit, savory and spice on the palate. This has breadth and depth all delivered in proportion. At peak with plenty of time in hand. Terrific with a thyme and mushroom Neopolitan style pizza.
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This was the best but the last of my three bottles of Rancia 99. It showed dignity and class combined with savoury plum tinged fruit, minerals, touches of balsam, tar and leather as well as tangy acidity and backbone and added all the graciousness of the first bottle plus further complexity. Excellent.
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Wow. Very fresh and young, would have guessed a maximum of 10 years. Bouquet of black cherries, some olives, white pepper and herbs. Intense palate with good acidity and grip. Great producer and good value with amazing aging potential.
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Great mature nose. Morello cherry, leather, licorice, roses, balanced acidity and soft tannins.
Edit: I should add more context. We put this against the 2010, which was a lot of fun to compare the signatures - which were incredibly strong. Really the main difference between the two was simply the 11 years.
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Darker garnet. Nose of earth, plum pits, dried fruit, floral notes. Layers of concentrated, brooding black plum fruit underscored by earth, leather, and semi-tart cherry elements. Medium acidity and still-firm tannin. Long finish of dark fruit and earth. Slow to open so decanting recommended.
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This pours quite dark at the core with hints of bricking at the rim. Really beautiful and classic Sangiovese nose, while also deep and brooding. Aromas of sweet dark cherry, leather, salami, rosemary, balsamic, and tar waft from the glass. This wine feels like it's just starting to open up with a long life ahead. The palate still has quite a lot of tannin and acid with a tarry black licorice finish.
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Dinner at Pizzeria Bebu (Chicago, IL): This is a very fleshy and filled out bottle of chianti -- quite nice, really. Tons of earthy and herbal tones that are correct for the wine. There's a hint of brown spice that might indicate some oak to me (looking at my last note on this wine, it seems like I never figured out whether or not this bottling sees any oak). In any case, the palate is quite fleshed out and full, but with the necessary counterbalancing structure as well. Showing brilliantly.
Possibly a little compromised. Cork was depressed 1/2 an inch and some seepage, but the core made it (phew!). Nice balanced acidity with dirty, pasty tannins. Bitter black cherry, raisin and herbs. Bit of sweetness. Definitely plenty of life depending on how you like your Sangiovese.
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Dinner at Osteria Langhe (Chicago, IL): I'm not sure what the oak treatment actually is on this, but I think I detected still a smidgen of oak on the nose, especially in the hint of coffee that showed up. A really black-fruited and denser wine, with tannins that still have yet to resolve. Probably best to let this sit for a few more years, I found this still a little heavy and primary for my palate.
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This being the second bottle we tasted, i would recommend to open a full day ahead of time and leave at cellar temp down to shoulder level. Take out at hour 25 and transfer into decanter for at least an hour. The famous tartness of this bottling is much more harmonious after a serious period of aeration. It will undoubtedly enhance the experience, unless you are into tartness.
The wine evolves very slowly, so i am keeping my remaining few bottles years or so if i can stay away.
Drink or hold to 2028.
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Rancia always has dignity and class combined with savoury plum tinged fruit, minerals, touches of tar and leather as well as tangy acidity and backbone but it is sometimes a bit austere. This one swings to the more gracious side of pendulum but perhaps not so sweet fruited as 97 and 00. Very good.
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From a 375. Popped and poured. Garnet color. Nice nose of earth, dried cherry, floral notes, tobacco, spice. Somewhat imploded on the palate, releasing layers of leather, sweet dried cherry, earth, and thyme with further time in the glass. Moderate acidity and firm tannins leading to a longer finish of autumnal red fruit and leather. Lovey, balanced wine but still young and in need of time in the cellar or a long decant.
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Perfectly mature. No sign of fruit fading. Very nice balance. Library release from Felsina. Feel like the wine is in middle of mature plateau. Plenty of time left but at a very good point.
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WOW! Blindfolded I would have guessed 2009. So youthful and amazing. Fantastic Chianti Classico Riserva. Out of a mag. One of the best examples of Riserva I can ever remember.
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Third bottle of this in 2016 and all three have been singing by showing a wine at apogee. Full, broad nose of mature sour cherry, earth tones, toasted herbs and spice. The palate is richly fruited and concentrated, yet restrained and so smooth. The acid provides a nice tension that extends the wine into a long flavorful finish. Great stuff year in and year out from Felsina.
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Sangio night (Osteria Langhe): More or less pop n pour, though this was uncorked perhaps 30 minutes before drinking. Rocking and rolling at this stage and in a mature drinking plateau. Nose is full and concentrated with black cherry, earth, herbs and a kick of spice. Palate has medium body and good concentration. Acid provides grip and lift. Spice filled finish. Even better with food.
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Previous bottles have been tannin monsters and full of sediment, so I decanted this one for sediment (a ton of it, and very chunky) 24 hours prior to drinking, then immediately rebottled.
Should have sampled it when I decanted, because it was undrinkable due to VA. Overwhelming plastic on the palate. Hope this bottle was a fluke!
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Elegant and classy. Aromas of smoked meat, licorice, roses, dried herbs, wood shavings, and balsamic vinegar. Tannins are still pronounced but perfectly balanced to my tastes. This may be the best Chianti I've ever had. While it certainly tastes like an old wine, it has plenty of power and I think it could age more.
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Served pnp and drank over 36 hours. Consistent with first bottle tasted on 1/30/16.
Deep violet in color with subtle bricking at the edges, this wine shows intense and focused aromas of licorice, dried cranberry compote and rose petals on the nose. The mouth feel is rich with firm tannins that softened over the 36 hours this bottle was open. The finish was closed at first but the last two glasses opened up beautifully, resulting in 30+ seconds of beautiful joy. 13.5% abv.
Purchased recently for $70US, this was a jaw-droppingly good wine that just appears to be entering its drinking window. Chianti this good? Wow, who knew?
Imported by Polaner Selections, Mount Kisco, NY.
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On the nose I found dried cherry, undergrowth, dried flowers, smoke, and minerals. Feminine, resolved and earthy on the palate, graining flesh and richness with time in the glass. Dried cherry, inner floral tones and minerals saturated the senses. On the finish, leather, dried cherry and floral tones lingered long.
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Dark ruby in color. Full powerful nose of black cherry, leather, herb and spice. Palate is medium-to-full bodied with robust sour cherry fruit, suave but firm tannin and bright, crunchy acidity. This has a ton of power and life -- really quite youthful at this stage. Medium+ finish is flavorful with sour cherry and leather and full of chewy tannin. Delicious. Not a Rancia expert, but I don't think this has hit it's plateau yet -- plenty of life ahead.
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Deep violet in color with subtle bricking at the edges, this wine shows intense and focused aromas of licorice, dried cranberry compote and rose petals on the nose. The mouth feel is rich with firm tannins that softened over the 90 minutes this bottle was open. The finish was closed at first but the last two glasses opened up beautifully, resulting in 30+ seconds of beautiful joy.
Purchased recently for $70US, this was a jaw-droppingly good wine that just appears to be entering its drinking window. Chianti this good? Wow, who knew?
Imported by Polaner Selections, Mount Kisco, NY.
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I double decanted for an hour and let sit in fridge for another 4 hours and then let warm to room temp slowly.
First pour showed astringent acidity, but within 5 minutes this was singing. Wonderful mixture of flavors: red cherries, sweet mixture of savory herbs and subtle sweet spices. medium bodied. excellent depth. long finish. Matched beautifully with a variety of dishes - duck over lentils, pasta carbonara, and strip steak.
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Still so young. PnPed and drank 3 glasses the first night. Each one was progressively better. Aggressive drying tannins, but still plenty of tart fruit and Sangiovese character. Revisited it 24 hours later and the tannins were still overpowering the fruit, and it was still somewhat astringent and drying. I think this is a great wine that still needs at least a few years. If you're drinking it now, it really needs food.
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Elegant and gentle with no sign of slowing down, this lovely Chianti continues to satisfy. Deep ruby color with notes of ripe plum and sandalwood in the medium bodied nose. Perfectly integrated tannins but a bit quick on the finish. Still enough acidity to stand up to a hearty pasta.
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Eric's B-day: second time tasting this wine. The first was in 2005 (thanks Fernando) - and this time thanks Eric! It has evolved magnificently - and is still a young wine. Nose of cherry, violets, earth and soy. Mid is ripe with black cherry and minirality dominating. Long savory finish. easily WOTN for me.
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Nose: There is a real perfume to the nose with red cherries, herbs, roses, violets, leather, savory tones and a touch of licorice.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. The acidity makes itself knows with red fruits, red cherries, herbs, violets, and some incense on the back end.
Overall: This is a lovely wine. It's well balanced with a real perfumed and savory quality to it.
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Mmm can't decide with these bottles. This seemed too young and too old at the same time. Nose opened on poulaier and only later developed some cherry, prune and flowers. Still tannic and a bit bitter...keep or drink?
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Best bottle from the case yet. Decanted for half hour before serving then followed for the next hour, towards the end a very nice cherry candy core emerged mid palate and lingered on the finish.
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Nice little anniversary gift here. Cloudy crimson color with moderate bricking. Aromas of dark red fruit, red flowers, potpourri, herbs, licorice, and smokey oak. Medium+ body and acid, medium finish, and flavors of black cherry, plum, herbs, licorice, and a dry, leathery note on the back end. Lovely aged Chianti for red sauce.
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Dinner with Giovanni Poggiali (Fèlsina) (Zero Otto Nove, New York, NY): My second time tasting this in as many months. Beautifully aged. Dusty black cherries, earth, vanilla extract, mint, and licorice. A bit of Luden's Wild Cherry throat drops. Full bodied, with fantastic balance of fruit, acid, and tannins. With time in the glass it gets bigger—this wine needs food, and fatty food at that. Plenty of time left. Not quite at the level of Montevertine's rosso, which is my benchmark "Chianti Riserva," but darn good. Rated 1 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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Nicely red fruity with a bit of gritty eathiness. Just me, but it also seems to have a sort of cognac note on the nose. Excellent aged Chianti by any measure, but not up to the 1997, a vintage superior to 1999, which I find to be the case pretty much across the board. Felsina is as consistent a producer of high quality Chianti as there is.
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Dusty and earthy. 8 months after my first bottle and this I found less bright fruit. Almost had a smoky character. Really enjoyable. Could have used a touch more acidity
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Continues to defy expectations with integrated tannins and sweet but slightly light cherry-balsam flavor. Color remains solid and overall a totally enjoyable wine that still has a fair amount if life left.
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Atypically for a young Rancia, this seems to be within its drinking window. Red fruit and tons of tertiary notes; leather, cedar, pipe tobacco. Very nice.
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Very dark brooding in color, classic nose of sour cherry, leather and some balsa wood. Lots of sediment, next bottle should be stood up for a few hours before decanting. Plush round mouthfeel. Great sour cherry on the palate, followed by the leather and light wood. Lots of very fine fully integrated tannins. Nice sour cherries lingering on the palate with a big dose of acidity. Very classic, correct and lively, but I suspect this might be on a slow downward slide from post-peak. This was a very nice bottle of Chianti.
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Wonderful! Tannins are balanced and nuanced. Gorgeous deep red color with mild vibrancy. Beautiful nose with overtones of strawberry and toasted cedar. Satisfying medium finish pulls it all together. Glad we have a few more!
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Dense core with crimson rim; little funk along with sandy cherry, cedar; a tick of alcohol, orangey finish, good depth, very drinkable, smooth; very youthful as I thought this was 2005; better than many Brunellos.
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matte red, with a clear rim. Nose is restrained, with sour cherry, menthol, cranberry, raspberry, and cedar. Palate revels ripe and sour cherry, more menthol and cedar, in a medium body with bright, sharp acidity. Just starting to develop tertiary notes so it may be a bit awkward presently. It retains a ton of structure and backbone which is at the forefront, right in your face . A bit hollow in the midpalate. The finish delivers a dry velvety set of tannins, ending a bit faster than expected from the palate. it seems more shut down than over the hill, Dont know if it will improve, or fade with more time. i am leaning towards giving this more time, but i am unsure if the fruit will last.
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ruby red. classic nose of cherries, plums, herbs, a bit of tobacco. medium bodied with balanced mouth on the acid side, full of flavours consistent with nose. still going strong and very good match with ossobuco.
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I was very happy with this bottle. It was showing its age but in a very positive way. I will drink the rest of my holding soon as I don't think this is going to improve with further aging.
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Wonderful. After 13 years this has finally found its stride. Medium body with cherry, menthol, and tobacco nose. Slightly sweet and balanced mid-palate delivered by smooth tannins. Still acidic enough to stand up to almost anything. Delicious and plenty o life left here.
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Medium/deep garnet core, medium pale garnet rim. Intense, complex nose showing sour red cherries, earth, notes of undergrowth and tobacco, slight mineral edge. Compelling. Palate is medium/full bodied, deep, laced with sour red cherries, soil, fizzing with electric acidity which contrasts brilliantly with the rich flavours. The tannins are firm, but very fine and well integrated and covered by the fruit and the finish is good length and juicy. This is lovely, drinking well now but absolutely no hurry. Superb.
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agree w/ dougsmith; after a 3 hour decant this was the smoothest chianti i have ever had; great balance; tasty; what a pleasure to have with a great veal marsala; drink now;
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Last of three bottles and, for whatever reason, this showed tightest of the three, needing over an hour to strut its stuff. Dark red fruit and some notes of leather and earth in this serious, moderately tannic chianti.
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Seems to be in it's mature window. Velvety, red currants, tobacco, long, complex. Drinking really well right now. Will drink my last bottle within 2 yrs.
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Mature color, hint of brick on the rim. Classical Sangi - nose , sour cherries, secondary aromas of tar, hint of spice. On the palate. Very elegant, well structured with long aftertaste. A really good to excellent Chianti Ris. On par with Fontodis Vigna del Sorbo but if I had to choose I would have chosen the Sorbo
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starting to show a little age in the colour with a touch of red/orange at the rim, but not looking overly mature.
Attractive nose, with still lively vibrant/fresh fruit, a touch of tobacco and also an Italianate balsamic element. Pretty complex.
Lovely balance on the palate, with a little cocoa/chocolate joining the aromas from the nose. The acidity does a good job at keeping it fresh and moreish, yet without seeking to dominate. Still some residual tannins, but they're effectively in the background. The balance of the wine makes it such a pleasure to drink.
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Terrific wine, and cct's note below nails it on the descriptors. Dark strawberry, herbs, very savory on the palate, with tannins that have smoothed out considerably. This wine is in a great place now. No degradation overnight, the fruit on the palate has grown darker, with a blood orange note, and the texture is just so smooth and resolved, it's almost like a young, soft wine and makes me think that this wine has come full circle, back to its youth. This seems to have shown more complex a year or two ago and is now showing more textural softness than complexities or nuances on the palate. Very glad I cellared this wine years ago.
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great mix of fruit and savory, with dark strawberries, dark cherry, and stony fruits, with excellent clarity and minerality. Pure and deep but not heavy, there is some cool herbal and floral notes, along with some spice, that add to the very well done but not overdone fruit. Medium to full bodied but it quite light on its feet. While mostly resolved, there are some almost chewy tannins on the back end. I seem to get this type of tannins on Sangiovese FWIW. This is nicely focused and has great balance. In a great place right now. I am sure it will hang out at this peak level for several more years, but I doubt I will see it getting better. Excellent! 92 pts
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Popped and poured into 2 375s. First one poured right away. This is a serious Sangiovese. Color is beginning to lighten a bit showing some bricking with a hint of brownish red.. Smells of dark cherry, damp earth and road tar. Taste is of a big blast of bright cherry fruit, damp earth, firm tannins. The acid and the tannins make this wine a mouth puckerer. Very good, but not as refined as a lot of Chiantis and Brunellos. This is a muscular wine, that even at 11 years of age seems to need more time. Plenty of fruit, acids and tannins for it to go the long haul. With air, this opens up more and is absolutely a terrific Chianti.
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Left bank Bordeaux in the nose. Some tell-tale tannin structure points toward Tuscany, but hard to believe that this is made of 100% Sangiovese. Very oldfashioned and lovely!
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Very earthy nose, clearly suggesting this is a wine with some age. Good juicy and lively palate with plenty of fruit like bitter cherries and good acidity. Good medium finish. Felsina just makes classic chianties.
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I was expecting a bit more stuffing and maybe a little less of the earthy element that this wiine seems to really embrace. Relatviely pleasant, but never really blossomed despite 2+ hours of air. I have 2 more and will hold to see where these head over the next 2-3 years.
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Opened this after Deb loved the 2006 Monsanto CCR on Friday at Da Pietro. Wow, is this lovely. Complex and cerebral, showing black fruits and nuances like: iron, sage, bay leaf, blood orange, earth. More black fruit than red. Traditional, old world Chianti, showing very well, with good fruit, good richness and juicy, vibrant acidity. Tannic structure is softening. Deb notes that at the two hour mark, the fruit seems to have fallen off. This is heading into tertiary territory, but I think still has lovely, vibrant dark fruit, soft and worn but not dry. The kind of wine I can smell and sip for hours, noting each subtle change as it airs, and then when it’s all gone from the glass, wishing there was more. Deb loved this too.
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dry (tho still with some sweetness) dark cherry with notable structure; has some subtlety with some tobacco and earth; good with gnocchi/lots of cheese; still opening up at an hour and can age more, tho not sure if the fruit will outlast the structure.
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Attractive mature medium/deep garnet core, medium pale garnet rim. Slightly bitter, sour red cherry, minerals, hint of chocolate, a little sun-dried tomato. Medium/full bodied, slightly sour red cherry fruit, earth, lovely, lively acidity, tannins quite dry and obtrusive on the medium length finish. Nice complexity but seems a little stretched and not sure about its longevity on this showing.
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Deep elegant nose of dark cherries, plums, star anise, hint of leather, vanilla and cloves - could smell this all day. Typical Chianti tannic structure, ripe and chalky, lifting the pure cherry fruit to a dried herb and licorice finish. Supremely elegant and shows why Chianti riserva can outperform Brunello. Years to go.
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One of my favorites of the evening. A nice edge of blood orange acidity along with notes of leather, cherry, and fennel. Savory and delicious. Makes me want to track down more aged Italian wines.
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A very attractive nose, with subtle cherry fruit, a little milk chocolate, some licorice, a hint of coffee. Nothing dominant, but each adding to the whole.
On the palate, nicely savoury though the fruit still has decent depth. Tangy acidity and a very slight hint of Chianti bitter twist on the finish make this very handy with food, but it's subtle enough that it works ok without food. There are some light residual tannins on the (not particularly long) finish.
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Excellent wine. Black fruits, sour cherry, bay leaf, forrest floor and a terrific, savory unami quality. The tannins have softened, but the acidity is still lively and imparts great freshness and lift, especially at the savory finish which shows blood orange acidity. The fruit is still direct and pure at eleven years, but surrounded by lovely nuances and the savory finish. Much preferred to the '99 Fontalloro the previous night, because this Rancia is not effected by new wood, which defined the Fontalloro. Yum.
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Great bottle. This is very nearly in the pocket. Classic sour cherry with developing complexity - mushroom, old wood, leather, dried herbs. Still some structure from chewy tannins. Great now, but still perhaps a year or so from peak.
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Very good, starting to hit its drinking window. Fine cheery-fruit with hints of leather, tobacco and some earth. Good acidity, and a nice finish which is just a bit dry.
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Still a fine youthful colour, with some mahogany/orange at the rim. On the nose a mixture of cured meats, milk chocolate and dark fruits, albeit with a prickly creosote-like aspect before swirling. On the palate, quite refreshing tangy acidity supporting a decent (and mouth-watering finish). Still a tannic presence that helps give structure. On it's own the acidity unbalances the wine, yet with food (basil & italian herbed chicken) it came across as perfectly balanced.
Funny - I enjoyed this wine more than it sounds from the note!
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this one is moving into prime time...really improved since last bottle three years ago. depth and length have upped the anty. great secondary flavors, rustic wine with great balance and structure.
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Truly a beautiful expression of Sangiovese, made even better with a little bottle age. Ripe cherries, smooth tannins, and a little chocolate edge define this wonderful wine. Can't wait to have more!
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I'm not a big Chianti fan, which is strange as I love some Brunellos. This however is a great benchmark Chianti. Earthy, dark red fruit on the nose, it has big mouthfeel, leather and more earch, and is very integrated and balanced. Acidity, tannin, fruit all tied together seemlessly. Medium finish. I always read Chianti tasting notes looking for what I'm missing. There is always a lot about when it is ready to drink but very little commonality about the character of the wine. At least I have found a reference point.
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Red-claret colour with no real sign of age at the rim
Quite spicy nose, with quite restrained plummy/black cherry fruit with a whiff of coffee in there.
Juicy acidity carries the palate well, with good but not OTT fruit and some coffee/milk chocolate (presumably oak derived). Fine tannins remain a part of the wine and overall it comes across as a nicely balanced wine. That said, there's just a feel that the oak treatment makes the wine 'impressive', but does it help it as a drink? Still very good though.
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Excellent classic representation of Chianti, with well-rounded light cherry character and hints of licorice. A bit soft, but still solid in overall character. Decanted about 1 hour before serving. Glad we have more....
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Enjoyed during the Superbowl. A very good showing. This wine is heading towards its arc and should be pretty spectacular in another couple of years. The fruit is still quite solid but not as primary, the tannins showing some softening, surrounded by lovely Sangio nuance of earth, spicebox, bay leaf and light leather. Long, nuanced finish. Much more savory than the '99 Caparzo Brunello one night prior which showed a more modern, polished style. This Rancia is quite good now and will get better with more age.
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A well balanced wine. The nose is smoky, even char-grilled. The aroma turns slightly floral the longer the wine sits. There is sufficient dark fruit on the palate, and some oak. Sweet. Medium bodied. The tannins smooth out after an hour in the glass. Finish is a bit spicy, peppery. Good amount of sediment formed in the bottle, so pour carefully or decant first.
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Hadn't tried this in almost two years, and the wine was even better than I remembered. Beautiful aroma of dried red fruits, roses and a hint of earth. On the palate it was reminiscent of a blend of pure sangio (dried red fruits), a Volnay (floral quality & acidity) and an Hermitage (spice and tobacco notes). Got better over the course of the evening...I'm sad that this is my last bottle.
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We drank this with steak Puttanesca on 9/21/08. It had a wonderful nose of strawberry, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, mushroom, cinnamon, leather and a wet decomposing tree stump aromas. On the palate there were flavors of tart cherry, strawberry, vanilla, cinnamon & mushroom. It had very solid structure, was moderately dry and had very round, well integrated tannins.
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This is first class Chianti and was easily the wine of the night among five great Italian reds served with spaghetti in a classic red gravy. (This has to be the macaroni and gravy that Paulie Walnuts longed for in that famous Sopranos episode in Italy.) The wine had depth and complexity with dried red fruit, sweet earth, and cured tobacco. The nose carried all these notes along with intoxicating hints of heirloom roses. It was just beautiful, sang alongside the sugo, and has miles and miles to go as it continues to mature. Outstanding and sure to improve.
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Great Chianti - tastes of dried fruit (Cherries), leather, and earth. Well balanced and enjoyable with food. The wine is in very good shape and probably has a number of years left in the bottle.
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Perfumed nose of earth, little mint. Medium-bodied. Dark fruit with a hint of vanilla on the palate, silky tannins showing great balance of weight and acidity. I think it was my wine of the night in an assorted blind tasting.
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Shared with my mom who came back from Italy a Chianti fan last year. This had a beautiful nose and great flavors, went very well with grilled burgers and dogs. Don't have much to compare it to as I am not a big Chianti drinker but enjoyed it very much and my mom liked it which is important considering it is mothers day.
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Deep plum color. Nose of dark cherries, earth and a bit of oak. This has improved in the past 18 months, but is still a bit chunky and youthful. Lots of cherry fruit, and slightly bitter oak tannins on the finish. Drinkable, but better in a few years.
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I've had quite a few of these and I have loved every one. It may still improve, but it is also very good now. Dark red and picked up some weight and complexity through the dinner. Beautiful cherry, earth, and some spice. Quite a bit going on. It was great with every course (carpaccio, pasta fagioli, and tagliatelle with porcini and pancetta). Sad to only have a couple left.
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Opened about one hour before consumption. No real notes taken but this wine exhibited a full nose of dark fruit and cigar box. The palate exhibited cherries, dark fruit, cigar box, earth, and spice in a nice balance of acidity and weight.
This wine held overnight and was pretty consistent with the first night.
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Deep ruby color, with a bright nose of cherries and soil. The palate has lots of Chianti character, but is a bit of a bruiser right now, as the tannins and acid really clamp down mid palate. The oak is not yet fully resolved, either. Enjoyable, but nowhere near at peak.
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Tuscan Sangiovese (San Francisco): 100% sangiovese, from vines 25-50 years old. Double decanted 8 hours ahead of serving. Sweet sappy red cherry nose. Hint of aromatic herbs. This has gorgeous balance on the palate. Perfumed, sweet red fruit, dark minerality, dried herbs, hint of vanilla. Nice length with chewy tannins turning more silky with time in the glass. Easily my WOTF. Fantastic wine that is just beginning to enter its drinking window -- but while tempting to drink now, this will be even better with a couple more years in the bottle.
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Dark ruby color. Bright cherry flavors and wonderful complexity. Not the longest finish or the heaviest wine around, but a nicely drinking, lovely wine, even better with food. I have a few more bottles and am looking forward to see how this changes over time.
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Medium/deep ruby, medium pale garnet rim. Lovely, trademark savoury, sour red cherries on the nose, some spice and chocolate notes, lifted and classy. Elegant and fresh on the palate too, no heaviness here but good depth with sour red cherries, spice and chocolate and then beautiful fresh acidity and fine tannins through a good length cherry finish.
Lovely now, made for drinking with food (perfect with lasagne), but still with improvement potential. To 2014ish.
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well, waited almost a year. Still pretty tight on the nose and palate, but did open up enough to be a pleasant, somewhat austere wine. Needs 1-2 more years.
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Solid traditional styled chianti...definitely open...combination of lighter red fruits with a bit darker (cherry) flavors...nice secondary flavors of earth, leather...could have a bit more size and length but enjoyable
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A very pretty wine - medium-bodied with lots of dark fruit, a hint of sandalwood. Aromatic, mellow and delicious. The finish is a tad short, which is my only issue with this bottle, but very pleasurable overall.
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With pizza. A definite wollop of oak on the nose that is not what I look for in a Chianti. Disturbing. Disipated slightly with a second glass, but couldn't finish the bottle.
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A nice bottle - hopefully it will improve with a little more age. Nothing wrong with it now but perhaps a little tart still. Good fruit underlying the acidity and the medium tannins.
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Dark ruby core, narrow/medium strawberry rim. Medium +/pronounced nose with deep dark cherry, minerals and hints of chocolate and cocoa. Rich, attractive, brooding and enticing. This medium + bodied wine has tightly wound, medium + ripe tannins wrapped around a concentrated mid-palate showing dark cherry, minerals and hints of chocolate. It has an extended finish with sour cherry notes and medium +, fresh acidity. A lovely Chianti Classico, just about drinking now, should improve over the next 5 years.
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A serious wine, crammed with cherries, strawberries, earth, and half a hide of leather. If the textural profile was plotted, two distinct spikes would occur for the tannin and acidity, with an even baseline of fruit. Improves in the decanter, evening the plot, becoming reminiscent of a good Burgundy. Impressive, but not stunning; it needs to harmonize. Right now, the regular Chanti Classico is much more pleasurable.
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deep garnet - leather, earthy, sweaty aromas. Juicy cherry fruit with plenty of depth - concentration and length. Matched well with rigatoni and meat sauce.
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Dark ruby purple. Initially muted nose of flowers, leather, and spice. Still darkly tannic, but black cherry fruit is beginning to come to the fore. Finish is harmonious. Would wait another year before trying again.
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Thursday at Fernando's (Forest Hills, Queens): This is a nice Chianti Riserva. On the nose a lot of red fruits, tending to the "dryer" rather than "juicier" end of the spectrum, with real earthiness, licorice notes, and perhaps a touch of brett funkiness. On the palate it gained acidity with time in the glass ... it's less my cup of tea that way, and clearly needs food to show itself off to the best.
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Thursday night - NY meets Rob: WOW ..actually this was almoust too much at first - the fruit just too powerfull...but with time in the glass the wine morphed - and out came the cleansing bright acidity and the lean and mean streak which i just love in these wines. but the fruit stayed pure - with cherries dominating. leather and spices adding to the mix.YUM!
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Ruby to garnet colored. Lovely nose of dark cherries, with wood overtones. Cherry flavors carry to the palate, perhaps a suggestion of cough syrup - some spicy and licorice notes round out the palate - balanced and drinking nicely, if a touch too "polished" for my taste.
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Spicy, dark, subtly spicy sangiovese fruit on the nose (like dark cherries, but with a wilder side than found in burgundy) that also shows some leather, chocolate, and a hint of licorice with some air. Good concentration of fruit framed in dusty tannins that give more chocolate notes before the finishing of notes of leathery cherry and spice. I enjoyed this very much though it is at least 3 years away from the beginning of its maturity.
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2/18/2023 - Beachfan wrote: 92 Points
Still quite fresh, but in a great spot.
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12/24/2022 - rcg62 wrote: 92 Points
From magnum. Quick decant (restaurant). This is drinking great. A bit of barnyard funk initially but gone fast. Nice dark berry fruit, anise, plum palate.
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10/23/2022 - ricknat1 wrote: 92 Points
Still getting better. Beautiful and at the top of its game
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6/19/2022 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
Blind tasting lunch. This was a lovely surprise. Also here, we were debating Chinati or super tuscan. Very dense wine for a Chianty, properly ripe fruit, some dark notes, structured but not over the top. Masculine but now with 22 years of age, well integrated. This has a long life ahead.
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6/18/2022 - sirpat00 wrote: 92 Points
Tasted blind. Double-decanted. Slightly medicinal, red berry fruit, dried tomato, herbs and a just hints of aging notes. A bit blurry aromatics and lacking precision, rather limited intensity but otherwise nice. Well-integrated tannin, palatable and nicely fresh even if on balance leaning a bit too heavy towards the acidity.
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1/21/2022 - Beachfan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Totally consistent with past note. Could improve over the next five years.
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12/11/2021 - coremill wrote:
Some noticeable brett. Sour cherry, lots of acid, blocky tannins. Mellower on day two. Still waiting to be wowed by one of these older Felsinas.
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7/17/2021 - SimonS wrote: 95 Points
Magnificent. If you have these, now is the time. Resolved, fruit, length, still a bit of tannin. Ideal companion for a liver with balsamic red onion.
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3/25/2021 - cct wrote: 93 Points
Decanted and drunk over a couple hours.
Dark strawberry fruit, cedar, spice, and some savory cured meat notes on the nose. Expansive with intensity greater than its mid weighted frame with a a sense of focus and grace on the palate. Lovely spice, dark Sangiovese fruit, and red licorice on the palate, with a textural richness that remains focused and detailed. A seamlessly cohesive, deep, and beautifully balanced wine drinking at peak. Very long on the back end. Delicious by itself and better with a fennel sausage and mushroom pizza. The fennel really played well with the spice and cedar notes of the wine. Yum. At peak with plenty of time in hand. 93.
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3/18/2021 - Frijole wrote:
brownish burgundy, medium clarity, brownish hue
Nose: raspberry, plum, tobacco, licorice, espresso, silver, clove, black pepper, cola, touch oak
Pal: raspberry, plum, earth, tobacco, licorice, espresso, silver, clove, black pepper, cola, dirt, minerals, oak
Feel: medium, savory
Finish: medium
T9
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1/23/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
Sangiovese Study (chicago, IL): Nose: The nose is open and savory with balanced tones of red fruits, cherries, strawberries, rose petals, roasted herbs, spice notes, leather, and earth tones. There is excellent depth and this is giving right from the outset.
Taste: The feel is Medium bodied with crisp, medium+ acidity and silky, medium+ tannins. The structure has peeled back and is in a supporting role right now. The feel is well balanced and polished with tones of red fruits, cherries, strawberries, leather, rose petals, and roasted herbs, and a touch of earth notes.
Overall: This is just beautiful right now. It's right in the zone and at full maturity. There is still plenty of life ahead, but it would be a shame to not open one right now.
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10/16/2020 - cct wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted for sediment than drunk over several hours. Dark strawberry fruit, cured meat, some spice, and herbal notes on the nose. It's mid weighted, with terrific depth and graceful power without any sense of heaviness. More dark Sangiovese fruit, savory and spice on the palate. This has breadth and depth all delivered in proportion. At peak with plenty of time in hand.
Terrific with a thyme and mushroom Neopolitan style pizza.
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10/14/2020 - Beachfan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Youthful at 21, but nuanced, still with a lot of stuffing. I have a soft spot for this wine.
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9/13/2020 - SimonS wrote: 93 Points
After a couple of hours slow ox and decanting this was tremendous. Dark colour and flavours. Good length. At the start of drinking window.
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7/18/2020 - eboracum Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was the best but the last of my three bottles of Rancia 99. It showed dignity and class combined with savoury plum tinged fruit, minerals, touches of balsam, tar and leather as well as tangy acidity and backbone and added all the graciousness of the first bottle plus further complexity. Excellent.
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5/3/2020 - dianabreen Likes this wine: 86 Points
Probably a little over the hill but still a good pasta wine
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1/12/2020 - Klugi Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow. Very fresh and young, would have guessed a maximum of 10 years. Bouquet of black cherries, some olives, white pepper and herbs. Intense palate with good acidity and grip. Great producer and good value with amazing aging potential.
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12/18/2019 - glou.sf wrote: flawed
This was badly cooked and/or oxidized. Very advanced and nothing but stewed fruit. Bummer.
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11/29/2019 - LWI wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with friends: Blind. Bonfire and dark fruit, cherries and fennel.
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9/7/2019 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great mature nose. Morello cherry, leather, licorice, roses, balanced acidity and soft tannins.
Edit: I should add more context. We put this against the 2010, which was a lot of fun to compare the signatures - which were incredibly strong. Really the main difference between the two was simply the 11 years.
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8/28/2019 - eboracum wrote: 91 Points
I got less graciousness out of this bottle than from the previous but the pairing, an excessively salty Bolognese, did it no favours. Still very good.
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7/27/2019 - DougLee wrote: 91 Points
Darker garnet. Nose of earth, plum pits, dried fruit, floral notes. Layers of concentrated, brooding black plum fruit underscored by earth, leather, and semi-tart cherry elements. Medium acidity and still-firm tannin. Long finish of dark fruit and earth. Slow to open so decanting recommended.
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3/31/2019 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Earth with elegant texture; light cherry and some plum; smooth balanced finish.
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3/16/2019 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 95 Points
A true wine experience. Tops. Sweet cherry, anise, earthy, shoe polish (in the good way), leather, oh boy.
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11/25/2018 - Easter Everywhere Likes this wine:
Savory, fruit fading a bit
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10/18/2018 - SimonG wrote: 92 Points
Game @ The Harwood Arms (Harwood Arms, London): Wow, knockout nose. Room-fillingly floral. Freesias. Dense, velvety. Still quite structured. Gorgeous nose, so feminine. ****
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10/11/2018 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sweet and earthy; smooth cherry-licorice with nice length.
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9/28/2018 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another excellent bottle. Tart, spicy Sangio. Excellent body, and the tannins have finally calmed down.
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9/26/2018 - Wine Canuck wrote: 92 Points
This pours quite dark at the core with hints of bricking at the rim. Really beautiful and classic Sangiovese nose, while also deep and brooding. Aromas of sweet dark cherry, leather, salami, rosemary, balsamic, and tar waft from the glass. This wine feels like it's just starting to open up with a long life ahead. The palate still has quite a lot of tannin and acid with a tarry black licorice finish.
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9/7/2018 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at Pizzeria Bebu (Chicago, IL): This is a very fleshy and filled out bottle of chianti -- quite nice, really. Tons of earthy and herbal tones that are correct for the wine. There's a hint of brown spice that might indicate some oak to me (looking at my last note on this wine, it seems like I never figured out whether or not this bottling sees any oak). In any case, the palate is quite fleshed out and full, but with the necessary counterbalancing structure as well. Showing brilliantly.
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8/11/2018 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Possibly a little compromised. Cork was depressed 1/2 an inch and some seepage, but the core made it (phew!). Nice balanced acidity with dirty, pasty tannins. Bitter black cherry, raisin and herbs. Bit of sweetness. Definitely plenty of life depending on how you like your Sangiovese.
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8/10/2018 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Balanced; nice cherry and raisen; supporting acidity; sweet finish.
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6/14/2018 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light and earthy with cherry and a soft profile; mature.
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4/29/2018 - winemaker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fully mature. Ready to go. Tasty.
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4/2/2018 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
sweet, earthy, raisen, licorice with acidic backbone.
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2/12/2018 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
Dinner at Osteria Langhe (Chicago, IL): I'm not sure what the oak treatment actually is on this, but I think I detected still a smidgen of oak on the nose, especially in the hint of coffee that showed up. A really black-fruited and denser wine, with tannins that still have yet to resolve. Probably best to let this sit for a few more years, I found this still a little heavy and primary for my palate.
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2/9/2018 - Tony Molester Likes this wine:
This being the second bottle we tasted, i would recommend to open a full day ahead of time and leave at cellar temp down to shoulder level. Take out at hour 25 and transfer into decanter for at least an hour. The famous tartness of this bottling is much more harmonious after a serious period of aeration. It will undoubtedly enhance the experience, unless you are into tartness.
The wine evolves very slowly, so i am keeping my remaining few bottles years or so if i can stay away.
Drink or hold to 2028.
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1/3/2018 - eboracum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rancia always has dignity and class combined with savoury plum tinged fruit, minerals, touches of tar and leather as well as tangy acidity and backbone but it is sometimes a bit austere. This one swings to the more gracious side of pendulum but perhaps not so sweet fruited as 97 and 00. Very good.
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12/2/2017 - DougLee wrote: 91 Points
From a 375. Popped and poured. Garnet color. Nice nose of earth, dried cherry, floral notes, tobacco, spice. Somewhat imploded on the palate, releasing layers of leather, sweet dried cherry, earth, and thyme with further time in the glass. Moderate acidity and firm tannins leading to a longer finish of autumnal red fruit and leather. Lovey, balanced wine but still young and in need of time in the cellar or a long decant.
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9/18/2017 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Balanced with sweet fruit and acidity; cedar and tobacco with blackberry and cherry - licorice; long sweet finish.
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9/9/2017 - sward13238 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfectly mature. No sign of fruit fading. Very nice balance. Library release from Felsina. Feel like the wine is in middle of mature plateau. Plenty of time left but at a very good point.
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9/2/2017 - SimonS wrote: 93 Points
Magnificent chianti, drinking nicely now and probably for another 5 years or so.
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7/20/2017 - cgoumas Likes this wine: 93 Points
WOW! Blindfolded I would have guessed 2009. So youthful and amazing. Fantastic Chianti Classico Riserva. Out of a mag. One of the best examples of Riserva I can ever remember.
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5/5/2017 - Old Claret Likes this wine: 93 Points
got better and better in the glass
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4/1/2017 - Tony Molester Likes this wine:
Popped and poured. Perfect cork,minimal soak. Long single piece cork.
Nose opens on leather, damp earth, some balsamic notes, sour cherry.
Mature wine showing no sign of decline. Characteristic tartness comes right through.
Drink or hold
13% abv
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12/21/2016 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Third bottle of this in 2016 and all three have been singing by showing a wine at apogee. Full, broad nose of mature sour cherry, earth tones, toasted herbs and spice. The palate is richly fruited and concentrated, yet restrained and so smooth. The acid provides a nice tension that extends the wine into a long flavorful finish. Great stuff year in and year out from Felsina.
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9/24/2016 - Scheper wrote: 95 Points
Wat a wine. Onze of the best rancias I've had sofar. Fully mature. Superb balance. Awesome density of red fruit with a classic Tuscan acidity
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8/4/2016 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Sangio night (Osteria Langhe): More or less pop n pour, though this was uncorked perhaps 30 minutes before drinking. Rocking and rolling at this stage and in a mature drinking plateau. Nose is full and concentrated with black cherry, earth, herbs and a kick of spice. Palate has medium body and good concentration. Acid provides grip and lift. Spice filled finish. Even better with food.
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6/25/2016 - sunnylea57 wrote: flawed
Previous bottles have been tannin monsters and full of sediment, so I decanted this one for sediment (a ton of it, and very chunky) 24 hours prior to drinking, then immediately rebottled.
Should have sampled it when I decanted, because it was undrinkable due to VA. Overwhelming plastic on the palate. Hope this bottle was a fluke!
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4/1/2016 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Elegant and classy. Aromas of smoked meat, licorice, roses, dried herbs, wood shavings, and balsamic vinegar. Tannins are still pronounced but perfectly balanced to my tastes. This may be the best Chianti I've ever had. While it certainly tastes like an old wine, it has plenty of power and I think it could age more.
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3/14/2016 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Served pnp and drank over 36 hours. Consistent with first bottle tasted on 1/30/16.
Deep violet in color with subtle bricking at the edges, this wine shows intense and focused aromas of licorice, dried cranberry compote and rose petals on the nose. The mouth feel is rich with firm tannins that softened over the 36 hours this bottle was open. The finish was closed at first but the last two glasses opened up beautifully, resulting in 30+ seconds of beautiful joy. 13.5% abv.
Purchased recently for $70US, this was a jaw-droppingly good wine that just appears to be entering its drinking window. Chianti this good? Wow, who knew?
Imported by Polaner Selections, Mount Kisco, NY.
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2/16/2016 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
On the nose I found dried cherry, undergrowth, dried flowers, smoke, and minerals. Feminine, resolved and earthy on the palate, graining flesh and richness with time in the glass. Dried cherry, inner floral tones and minerals saturated the senses. On the finish, leather, dried cherry and floral tones lingered long.
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2/1/2016 - Nanda Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby in color. Full powerful nose of black cherry, leather, herb and spice. Palate is medium-to-full bodied with robust sour cherry fruit, suave but firm tannin and bright, crunchy acidity. This has a ton of power and life -- really quite youthful at this stage. Medium+ finish is flavorful with sour cherry and leather and full of chewy tannin. Delicious. Not a Rancia expert, but I don't think this has hit it's plateau yet -- plenty of life ahead.
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1/30/2016 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep violet in color with subtle bricking at the edges, this wine shows intense and focused aromas of licorice, dried cranberry compote and rose petals on the nose. The mouth feel is rich with firm tannins that softened over the 90 minutes this bottle was open. The finish was closed at first but the last two glasses opened up beautifully, resulting in 30+ seconds of beautiful joy.
Purchased recently for $70US, this was a jaw-droppingly good wine that just appears to be entering its drinking window. Chianti this good? Wow, who knew?
Imported by Polaner Selections, Mount Kisco, NY.
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12/22/2015 - lolo66 wrote: 93 Points
perfect condition.
I double decanted for an hour and let sit in fridge for another 4 hours and then let warm to room temp slowly.
First pour showed astringent acidity, but within 5 minutes this was singing. Wonderful mixture of flavors: red cherries, sweet mixture of savory herbs and subtle sweet spices. medium bodied. excellent depth. long finish. Matched beautifully with a variety of dishes - duck over lentils, pasta carbonara, and strip steak.
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12/19/2015 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still so young. PnPed and drank 3 glasses the first night. Each one was progressively better. Aggressive drying tannins, but still plenty of tart fruit and Sangiovese character. Revisited it 24 hours later and the tannins were still overpowering the fruit, and it was still somewhat astringent and drying. I think this is a great wine that still needs at least a few years. If you're drinking it now, it really needs food.
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12/17/2015 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Monthly Tasting Group LTB 2015-09; Classical Italian wines (By HV and FB): Mature bouquet with truffle, earth and autumn forest. On the palate earthy, herbs, a bit creamy, good acidity and drying tannin with still some bite.
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9/20/2015 - gzim wrote: flawed
a bit cooked, stewy
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9/18/2015 - LARich Likes this wine: 92 Points
Elegant and gentle with no sign of slowing down, this lovely Chianti continues to satisfy. Deep ruby color with notes of ripe plum and sandalwood in the medium bodied nose. Perfectly integrated tannins but a bit quick on the finish. Still enough acidity to stand up to a hearty pasta.
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8/19/2015 - Raddle wrote: 88 Points
Past its prime. Time to drink up.
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6/17/2015 - Mlermontov wrote: 93 Points
Eric's B-day: second time tasting this wine. The first was in 2005 (thanks Fernando) - and this time thanks Eric! It has evolved magnificently - and is still a young wine. Nose of cherry, violets, earth and soy. Mid is ripe with black cherry and minirality dominating. Long savory finish. easily WOTN for me.
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3/8/2015 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
Nose: There is a real perfume to the nose with red cherries, herbs, roses, violets, leather, savory tones and a touch of licorice.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. The acidity makes itself knows with red fruits, red cherries, herbs, violets, and some incense on the back end.
Overall: This is a lovely wine. It's well balanced with a real perfumed and savory quality to it.
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1/4/2015 - elledeca wrote:
Mmm can't decide with these bottles. This seemed too young and too old at the same time. Nose opened on poulaier and only later developed some cherry, prune and flowers. Still tannic and a bit bitter...keep or drink?
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12/7/2014 - gzim Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best bottle from the case yet. Decanted for half hour before serving then followed for the next hour, towards the end a very nice cherry candy core emerged mid palate and lingered on the finish.
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11/26/2014 - gzim Likes this wine:
showing well. Nose of sour cherry and leather, same on the palate with a touch of orange peel
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10/8/2014 - elledeca wrote: flawed
Very animal,not nice at all
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9/24/2014 - studleytrey Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice little anniversary gift here. Cloudy crimson color with moderate bricking. Aromas of dark red fruit, red flowers, potpourri, herbs, licorice, and smokey oak. Medium+ body and acid, medium finish, and flavors of black cherry, plum, herbs, licorice, and a dry, leathery note on the back end. Lovely aged Chianti for red sauce.
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9/21/2014 - gzim Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic, mature correct Chianti. Sour cherry and leather with some bricking at the rim
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9/20/2014 - Wfjohn wrote: 93 Points
Great bottle. Excellent balance with some nice bright acidity and subtle tannins. Dried cherry.
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9/17/2014 - kevinacohn wrote:
Dinner with Giovanni Poggiali (Fèlsina) (Zero Otto Nove, New York, NY): My second time tasting this in as many months. Beautifully aged. Dusty black cherries, earth, vanilla extract, mint, and licorice. A bit of Luden's Wild Cherry throat drops. Full bodied, with fantastic balance of fruit, acid, and tannins. With time in the glass it gets bigger—this wine needs food, and fatty food at that. Plenty of time left. Not quite at the level of Montevertine's rosso, which is my benchmark "Chianti Riserva," but darn good. Rated 1 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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9/6/2014 - theusualsuspect wrote: 90 Points
Nicely red fruity with a bit of gritty eathiness. Just me, but it also seems to have a sort of cognac note on the nose. Excellent aged Chianti by any measure, but not up to the 1997, a vintage superior to 1999, which I find to be the case pretty much across the board. Felsina is as consistent a producer of high quality Chianti as there is.
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8/16/2014 - Wfjohn wrote: 93 Points
Dusty and earthy. 8 months after my first bottle and this I found less bright fruit. Almost had a smoky character. Really enjoyable. Could have used a touch more acidity
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8/13/2014 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
No detailed notes but from recollection, medium bodied, well balanced, delicious.
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5/30/2014 - elledeca wrote:
Cherry and plum, very fresh with a bit of iron in the mouth. Very nice but preferred previous bottles, try again soon.
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5/26/2014 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Did not take detailed notes. Recall that the wine was nicely balanced between the fruit and tannins. Delicious.
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3/9/2014 - Osiris021 wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes.
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2/1/2014 - Easter Everywhere wrote:
lots of leather & funk, fruit has dissipated, good but maybe drink up
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1/26/2014 - AudunG wrote: 87 Points
Pronounced acetic acidity. Also cherry, oak and leather aromas. Decent structure and length.
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1/18/2014 - LARich wrote: 92 Points
Continues to defy expectations with integrated tannins and sweet but slightly light cherry-balsam flavor. Color remains solid and overall a totally enjoyable wine that still has a fair amount if life left.
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1/1/2014 - WST wrote:
Atypically for a young Rancia, this seems to be within its drinking window. Red fruit and tons of tertiary notes; leather, cedar, pipe tobacco. Very nice.
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12/21/2013 - gzim Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very dark brooding in color, classic nose of sour cherry, leather and some balsa wood. Lots of sediment, next bottle should be stood up for a few hours before decanting. Plush round mouthfeel.
Great sour cherry on the palate, followed by the leather and light wood. Lots of very fine fully integrated tannins. Nice sour cherries lingering on the palate with a big dose of acidity. Very classic, correct and lively, but I suspect this might be on a slow downward slide from post-peak. This was a very nice bottle of Chianti.
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11/19/2013 - LARich wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful! Tannins are balanced and nuanced. Gorgeous deep red color with mild vibrancy. Beautiful nose with overtones of strawberry and toasted cedar. Satisfying medium finish pulls it all together. Glad we have a few more!
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7/17/2013 - tewino Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is rocking right now. Dried red cranberry and tobacco and tasting aged/secondary. Very nicely balanced. And it's only been 5 min so far.
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6/23/2013 - elledeca wrote:
classic nose of plum, flowers, red fruits, herbal. sharp acidity and still a bit of taninins, drinking well now and for a few years longer.
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6/7/2013 - Rezy13 wrote:
Dense core with crimson rim; little funk along with sandy cherry, cedar; a tick of alcohol, orangey finish, good depth, very drinkable, smooth; very youthful as I thought this was 2005; better than many Brunellos.
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5/3/2013 - mattias_hansen@hotmail.com wrote: 90 Points
matte red, with a clear rim. Nose is restrained, with sour cherry, menthol, cranberry, raspberry, and cedar. Palate revels ripe and sour cherry, more menthol and cedar, in a medium body with bright, sharp acidity. Just starting to develop tertiary notes so it may be a bit awkward presently. It retains a ton of structure and backbone which is at the forefront, right in your face . A bit hollow in the midpalate. The finish delivers a dry velvety set of tannins, ending a bit faster than expected from the palate. it seems more shut down than over the hill, Dont know if it will improve, or fade with more time. i am leaning towards giving this more time, but i am unsure if the fruit will last.
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4/13/2013 - ricknat1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Felsina delivers again
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2/17/2013 - elledeca wrote:
ruby red. classic nose of cherries, plums, herbs, a bit of tobacco. medium bodied with balanced mouth on the acid side, full of flavours consistent with nose. still going strong and very good match with ossobuco.
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2/10/2013 - FredrikL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sweet and ripe. Chewy. Really nice. CCR from a great vintage.
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12/6/2012 - Redteeth wrote:
Last bottle and good to the last drop. It held up well to two 1999 Brunellos.
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11/26/2012 - Redteeth wrote:
I was very happy with this bottle. It was showing its age but in a very positive way. I will drink the rest of my holding soon as I don't think this is going to improve with further aging.
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10/11/2012 - LARich wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful. After 13 years this has finally found its stride. Medium body with cherry, menthol, and tobacco nose. Slightly sweet and balanced mid-palate delivered by smooth tannins. Still acidic enough to stand up to almost anything. Delicious and plenty o life left here.
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9/21/2012 - Paul D wrote: 93 Points
Medium/deep garnet core, medium pale garnet rim. Intense, complex nose showing sour red cherries, earth, notes of undergrowth and tobacco, slight mineral edge. Compelling. Palate is medium/full bodied, deep, laced with sour red cherries, soil, fizzing with electric acidity which contrasts brilliantly with the rich flavours. The tannins are firm, but very fine and well integrated and covered by the fruit and the finish is good length and juicy. This is lovely, drinking well now but absolutely no hurry. Superb.
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8/26/2012 - Winecat wrote: 90 Points
Lovely balance of dark fruits and savory notes. Fruit very well balanced and not overpowering. Excellent with a simple pasta and sauce.
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5/26/2012 - gesusser wrote: 93 Points
agree w/ dougsmith; after a 3 hour decant this was the smoothest chianti i have ever had; great balance; tasty; what a pleasure to have with a great veal marsala; drink now;
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4/3/2012 - dougsmith wrote: 92 Points
Deep garnet color. Intense nose of humus, almond oil, cedar, dry black cherries and spicebox. Great presence on the palate as well.
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3/14/2012 - EMTAME wrote: 91 Points
Last of three bottles and, for whatever reason, this showed tightest of the three, needing over an hour to strut its stuff. Dark red fruit and some notes of leather and earth in this serious, moderately tannic chianti.
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2/19/2012 - gregg g wrote:
Seems to be in it's mature window. Velvety, red currants, tobacco, long, complex. Drinking really well right now. Will drink my last bottle within 2 yrs.
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2/3/2012 - Karlaar wrote: 89 Points
Mature color, hint of brick on the rim. Classical Sangi - nose , sour cherries, secondary aromas of tar, hint of spice. On the palate. Very elegant, well structured with long aftertaste. A really good to excellent Chianti Ris. On par with Fontodis Vigna del Sorbo but if I had to choose I would have chosen the Sorbo
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2/2/2012 - Ian S wrote:
starting to show a little age in the colour with a touch of red/orange at the rim, but not looking overly mature.
Attractive nose, with still lively vibrant/fresh fruit, a touch of tobacco and also an Italianate balsamic element. Pretty complex.
Lovely balance on the palate, with a little cocoa/chocolate joining the aromas from the nose. The acidity does a good job at keeping it fresh and moreish, yet without seeking to dominate. Still some residual tannins, but they're effectively in the background. The balance of the wine makes it such a pleasure to drink.
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12/30/2011 - Pknut wrote:
Terrific wine, and cct's note below nails it on the descriptors. Dark strawberry, herbs, very savory on the palate, with tannins that have smoothed out considerably. This wine is in a great place now. No degradation overnight, the fruit on the palate has grown darker, with a blood orange note, and the texture is just so smooth and resolved, it's almost like a young, soft wine and makes me think that this wine has come full circle, back to its youth. This seems to have shown more complex a year or two ago and is now showing more textural softness than complexities or nuances on the palate. Very glad I cellared this wine years ago.
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12/1/2011 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 90 Points
Very nice
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11/14/2011 - cct wrote: 92 Points
great mix of fruit and savory, with dark strawberries, dark cherry, and stony fruits, with excellent clarity and minerality. Pure and deep but not heavy, there is some cool herbal and floral notes, along with some spice, that add to the very well done but not overdone fruit. Medium to full bodied but it quite light on its feet. While mostly resolved, there are some almost chewy tannins on the back end. I seem to get this type of tannins on Sangiovese FWIW. This is nicely focused and has great balance. In a great place right now. I am sure it will hang out at this peak level for several more years, but I doubt I will see it getting better. Excellent! 92 pts
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10/11/2011 - Eric wrote: 92 Points
Much more open and forgiving than a bottle opened a few months ago. Clean cherry and cedar.
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9/16/2011 - winemaker wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured into 2 375s. First one poured right away. This is a serious Sangiovese. Color is beginning to lighten a bit showing some bricking with a hint of brownish red.. Smells of dark cherry, damp earth and road tar. Taste is of a big blast of bright cherry fruit, damp earth, firm tannins. The acid and the tannins make this wine a mouth puckerer. Very good, but not as refined as a lot of Chiantis and Brunellos. This is a muscular wine, that even at 11 years of age seems to need more time. Plenty of fruit, acids and tannins for it to go the long haul. With air, this opens up more and is absolutely a terrific Chianti.
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9/2/2011 - EMTAME wrote: 90 Points
Less earthy than my last bottle, this showed more red fruit and worn leather. Enjoyable, if not a head turner.
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7/1/2011 - Eric wrote:
Stern and reticent. Quite closed, dark and unforgiving at this stage.
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6/1/2011 - UTPK wrote:
Left bank Bordeaux in the nose. Some tell-tale tannin structure points toward Tuscany, but hard to believe that this is made of 100% Sangiovese. Very oldfashioned and lovely!
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5/30/2011 - Yagil wrote: 90 Points
Felsina tasting (Wine Depot, Tel-Aviv): Dark red brown
Old ripe cherry aroma
Round med-body tannic balanced silky short after taste
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4/22/2011 - LARich wrote: 90 Points
Earthy, classic chianti that is still holding it's own very well.
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1/23/2011 - LARich wrote: flawed
Probably flawed bottle (Editor's note: scored as 83 but changing to flawed)
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1/22/2011 - Whitman wrote: 90 Points
Very earthy nose, clearly suggesting this is a wine with some age. Good juicy and lively palate with plenty of fruit like bitter cherries and good acidity. Good medium finish. Felsina just makes classic chianties.
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12/18/2010 - EMTAME wrote: 90 Points
I was expecting a bit more stuffing and maybe a little less of the earthy element that this wiine seems to really embrace. Relatviely pleasant, but never really blossomed despite 2+ hours of air. I have 2 more and will hold to see where these head over the next 2-3 years.
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12/4/2010 - Pknut wrote:
Opened this after Deb loved the 2006 Monsanto CCR on Friday at Da Pietro. Wow, is this lovely. Complex and cerebral, showing black fruits and nuances like: iron, sage, bay leaf, blood orange, earth. More black fruit than red. Traditional, old world Chianti, showing very well, with good fruit, good richness and juicy, vibrant acidity. Tannic structure is softening. Deb notes that at the two hour mark, the fruit seems to have fallen off. This is heading into tertiary territory, but I think still has lovely, vibrant dark fruit, soft and worn but not dry. The kind of wine I can smell and sip for hours, noting each subtle change as it airs, and then when it’s all gone from the glass, wishing there was more. Deb loved this too.
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11/18/2010 - wabi47 wrote: 90 Points
dry (tho still with some sweetness) dark cherry with notable structure; has some subtlety with some tobacco and earth; good with gnocchi/lots of cheese; still opening up at an hour and can age more, tho not sure if the fruit will outlast the structure.
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10/22/2010 - Paul D wrote: 85 Points
Attractive mature medium/deep garnet core, medium pale garnet rim. Slightly bitter, sour red cherry, minerals, hint of chocolate, a little sun-dried tomato. Medium/full bodied, slightly sour red cherry fruit, earth, lovely, lively acidity, tannins quite dry and obtrusive on the medium length finish. Nice complexity but seems a little stretched and not sure about its longevity on this showing.
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8/13/2010 - mattwoolley wrote: 93 Points
Deep elegant nose of dark cherries, plums, star anise, hint of leather, vanilla and cloves - could smell this all day. Typical Chianti tannic structure, ripe and chalky, lifting the pure cherry fruit to a dried herb and licorice finish. Supremely elegant and shows why Chianti riserva can outperform Brunello. Years to go.
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8/1/2010 - larsth wrote: 91 Points
Drinking nicely now. Good balance between tannins' fruit and acidity. Excellent food wine
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7/16/2010 - bretrooks Likes this wine:
One of my favorites of the evening. A nice edge of blood orange acidity along with notes of leather, cherry, and fennel. Savory and delicious. Makes me want to track down more aged Italian wines.
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2/20/2010 - Ian S wrote:
A very attractive nose, with subtle cherry fruit, a little milk chocolate, some licorice, a hint of coffee. Nothing dominant, but each adding to the whole.
On the palate, nicely savoury though the fruit still has decent depth. Tangy acidity and a very slight hint of Chianti bitter twist on the finish make this very handy with food, but it's subtle enough that it works ok without food. There are some light residual tannins on the (not particularly long) finish.
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2/14/2010 - Pknut wrote:
Excellent wine. Black fruits, sour cherry, bay leaf, forrest floor and a terrific, savory unami quality. The tannins have softened, but the acidity is still lively and imparts great freshness and lift, especially at the savory finish which shows blood orange acidity. The fruit is still direct and pure at eleven years, but surrounded by lovely nuances and the savory finish. Much preferred to the '99 Fontalloro the previous night, because this Rancia is not effected by new wood, which defined the Fontalloro. Yum.
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12/30/2009 - BonnieM wrote:
Old world style of dried fruit and leather. This is a wonderful example of what chianti should taste like.
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12/12/2009 - 5laton wrote:
Great bottle. This is very nearly in the pocket. Classic sour cherry with developing complexity - mushroom, old wood, leather, dried herbs. Still some structure from chewy tannins. Great now, but still perhaps a year or so from peak.
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12/12/2009 - gukarl wrote: 90 Points
Very good, starting to hit its drinking window. Fine cheery-fruit with hints of leather, tobacco and some earth. Good acidity, and a nice finish which is just a bit dry.
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12/4/2009 - BonnieM wrote:
Drinking nicely now, old world old style chianti- leather and dried fruit.
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11/10/2009 - Frijole wrote:
brown, maroon, brickish hue, medium clarity
Nose: burnt cherries, smoke, oak, earth, chocolate, espresso
Pal: cassis, oak, smoke, coffee, earth, sage
Feel: medium, full, savory
Finish: medium, long
TC9
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10/5/2009 - Ian S wrote:
Still a fine youthful colour, with some mahogany/orange at the rim.
On the nose a mixture of cured meats, milk chocolate and dark fruits, albeit with a prickly creosote-like aspect before swirling.
On the palate, quite refreshing tangy acidity supporting a decent (and mouth-watering finish). Still a tannic presence that helps give structure. On it's own the acidity unbalances the wine, yet with food (basil & italian herbed chicken) it came across as perfectly balanced.
Funny - I enjoyed this wine more than it sounds from the note!
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9/17/2009 - JBVino wrote:
this one is moving into prime time...really improved since last bottle three years ago. depth and length have upped the anty. great secondary flavors, rustic wine with great balance and structure.
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8/19/2009 - LARich wrote: 92 Points
Truly a beautiful expression of Sangiovese, made even better with a little bottle age. Ripe cherries, smooth tannins, and a little chocolate edge define this wonderful wine. Can't wait to have more!
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8/9/2009 - Winevestor wrote: 91 Points
I'm not a big Chianti fan, which is strange as I love some Brunellos. This however is a great benchmark Chianti. Earthy, dark red fruit on the nose, it has big mouthfeel, leather and more earch, and is very integrated and balanced. Acidity, tannin, fruit all tied together seemlessly. Medium finish. I always read Chianti tasting notes looking for what I'm missing. There is always a lot about when it is ready to drink but very little commonality about the character of the wine. At least I have found a reference point.
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7/25/2009 - Ian S wrote:
Red-claret colour with no real sign of age at the rim
Quite spicy nose, with quite restrained plummy/black cherry fruit with a whiff of coffee in there.
Juicy acidity carries the palate well, with good but not OTT fruit and some coffee/milk chocolate (presumably oak derived). Fine tannins remain a part of the wine and overall it comes across as a nicely balanced wine. That said, there's just a feel that the oak treatment makes the wine 'impressive', but does it help it as a drink? Still very good though.
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5/31/2009 - LARich wrote: 91 Points
Excellent classic representation of Chianti, with well-rounded light cherry character and hints of licorice. A bit soft, but still solid in overall character. Decanted about 1 hour before serving. Glad we have more....
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5/14/2009 - Redteeth wrote:
Double decanted and drank. It was delicious.
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4/21/2009 - jajo seattle wrote:
Drinking well right now. Plenty of fruit. Tannins fairly smooth. Good balance of acidity and fruit. May have 3-4 years more of good drinking.
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2/1/2009 - Pknut wrote:
Enjoyed during the Superbowl. A very good showing. This wine is heading towards its arc and should be pretty spectacular in another couple of years. The fruit is still quite solid but not as primary, the tannins showing some softening, surrounded by lovely Sangio nuance of earth, spicebox, bay leaf and light leather. Long, nuanced finish. Much more savory than the '99 Caparzo Brunello one night prior which showed a more modern, polished style. This Rancia is quite good now and will get better with more age.
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1/17/2009 - TheBusiness724 wrote: 88 Points
A well balanced wine. The nose is smoky, even char-grilled. The aroma turns slightly floral the longer the wine sits. There is sufficient dark fruit on the palate, and some oak. Sweet. Medium bodied. The tannins smooth out after an hour in the glass. Finish is a bit spicy, peppery. Good amount of sediment formed in the bottle, so pour carefully or decant first.
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1/16/2009 - smorris291 wrote: 93 Points
Hadn't tried this in almost two years, and the wine was even better than I remembered. Beautiful aroma of dried red fruits, roses and a hint of earth. On the palate it was reminiscent of a blend of pure sangio (dried red fruits), a Volnay (floral quality & acidity) and an Hermitage (spice and tobacco notes). Got better over the course of the evening...I'm sad that this is my last bottle.
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9/21/2008 - garambler wrote: 92 Points
We drank this with steak Puttanesca on 9/21/08. It had a wonderful nose of strawberry, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, mushroom, cinnamon, leather and a wet decomposing tree stump aromas. On the palate there were flavors of tart cherry, strawberry, vanilla, cinnamon & mushroom. It had very solid structure, was moderately dry and had very round, well integrated tannins.
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9/20/2008 - greenblanket wrote:
This is first class Chianti and was easily the wine of the night among five great Italian reds served with spaghetti in a classic red gravy. (This has to be the macaroni and gravy that Paulie Walnuts longed for in that famous Sopranos episode in Italy.) The wine had depth and complexity with dried red fruit, sweet earth, and cured tobacco. The nose carried all these notes along with intoxicating hints of heirloom roses. It was just beautiful, sang alongside the sugo, and has miles and miles to go as it continues to mature. Outstanding and sure to improve.
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9/7/2008 - rarewineman wrote: 94 Points
Just loaded with plum, dried fruit, tobacco, Complex and stil much moe to give over the years. expansive and exciting.
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7/11/2008 - Redteeth wrote:
Great Chianti - tastes of dried fruit (Cherries), leather, and earth. Well balanced and enjoyable with food. The wine is in very good shape and probably has a number of years left in the bottle.
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5/26/2008 - BarneyBuzz wrote: 91 Points
Perfumed nose of earth, little mint. Medium-bodied. Dark fruit with a hint of vanilla on the palate, silky tannins showing great balance of weight and acidity. I think it was my wine of the night in an assorted blind tasting.
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5/11/2008 - gr8r84u wrote: 92 Points
Shared with my mom who came back from Italy a Chianti fan last year. This had a beautiful nose and great flavors, went very well with grilled burgers and dogs. Don't have much to compare it to as I am not a big Chianti drinker but enjoyed it very much and my mom liked it which is important considering it is mothers day.
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4/20/2008 - Employee500 wrote: 91 Points
Terrific Chianti...great nose, rich fruit (dark cherry) lots of pleasant sweet tannins.
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1/30/2008 - mjpaustin wrote:
Deep plum color. Nose of dark cherries, earth and a bit of oak. This has improved in the past 18 months, but is still a bit chunky and youthful. Lots of cherry fruit, and slightly bitter oak tannins on the finish. Drinkable, but better in a few years.
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11/10/2007 - mouton45 wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at Anacapri with Al, Pablo and wives
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9/9/2007 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:
I've had quite a few of these and I have loved every one. It may still improve, but it is also very good now. Dark red and picked up some weight and complexity through the dinner. Beautiful cherry, earth, and some spice. Quite a bit going on. It was great with every course (carpaccio, pasta fagioli, and tagliatelle with porcini and pancetta). Sad to only have a couple left.
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7/14/2007 - raadams wrote: 92 Points
Opened about one hour before consumption. No real notes taken but this wine exhibited a full nose of dark fruit and cigar box. The palate exhibited cherries, dark fruit, cigar box, earth, and spice in a nice balance of acidity and weight.
This wine held overnight and was pretty consistent with the first night.
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5/17/2007 - mjpaustin wrote:
Deep ruby color, with a bright nose of cherries and soil. The palate has lots of Chianti character, but is a bit of a bruiser right now, as the tannins and acid really clamp down mid palate. The oak is not yet fully resolved, either. Enjoyable, but nowhere near at peak.
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3/7/2007 - 5laton wrote: 92 Points
Tuscan Sangiovese (San Francisco): 100% sangiovese, from vines 25-50 years old. Double decanted 8 hours ahead of serving. Sweet sappy red cherry nose. Hint of aromatic herbs. This has gorgeous balance on the palate. Perfumed, sweet red fruit, dark minerality, dried herbs, hint of vanilla. Nice length with chewy tannins turning more silky with time in the glass. Easily my WOTF. Fantastic wine that is just beginning to enter its drinking window -- but while tempting to drink now, this will be even better with a couple more years in the bottle.
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2/18/2007 - abbulf wrote:
Toscana 99 with Vitis Bergensis (Hotel Terminus, Bergen, Norway): Different from Fontalloro on the nose. Black currant? Not quite as intense and good. Better on the palate than the nose. Lots of tannins. A good wine.
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2/9/2007 - smorris291 wrote: 90 Points
Consisten with the first bottle of this--cherry flavors and good finish.
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1/29/2007 - Aschwartzdc wrote: 91 Points
Excellent balance. Good fruit and ripe tannins.
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1/22/2007 - smorris291 wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby color. Bright cherry flavors and wonderful complexity. Not the longest finish or the heaviest wine around, but a nicely drinking, lovely wine, even better with food. I have a few more bottles and am looking forward to see how this changes over time.
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1/16/2007 - Paul D wrote: 90 Points
Medium/deep ruby, medium pale garnet rim. Lovely, trademark savoury, sour red cherries on the nose, some spice and chocolate notes, lifted and classy. Elegant and fresh on the palate too, no heaviness here but good depth with sour red cherries, spice and chocolate and then beautiful fresh acidity and fine tannins through a good length cherry finish.
Lovely now, made for drinking with food (perfect with lasagne), but still with improvement potential. To 2014ish.
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1/15/2007 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Cigar notes, spice box. Deeply colored chianti with condsiderable weight. Drinkly very well right now.
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12/28/2006 - BonnieM wrote:
Distinctly lean and closed, wish I had checked Cellar Tracker notes before opening. Darn!
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12/3/2006 - BonnieM wrote:
Old world chianti, dark, dry fruit, leather and spice. Definitely a food wine. I will give my two remaining bottles a few more years.
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11/24/2006 - Pknut wrote:
Not a great showing. Lean and closed. Needs time.
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11/17/2006 - monty401 wrote: 90 Points
Fine counterpoint to Italian cuisine.
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10/27/2006 - carlwhat wrote: flawed
corked wine...
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10/16/2006 - DougLee wrote: 89 Points
well, waited almost a year. Still pretty tight on the nose and palate, but did open up enough to be a pleasant, somewhat austere wine. Needs 1-2 more years.
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10/11/2006 - wmbar wrote: 90 Points
Flavorful.
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10/7/2006 - Tad GW wrote: 90 Points
50+5+11+16+8=90
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9/23/2006 - sparkling vouvray wrote:
Not as good as the Fontalloro; nowhere near the complexity, concentration, secondary characteristics, or finish. But quite nice. Drink up.
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8/21/2006 - JBVino wrote:
Solid traditional styled chianti...definitely open...combination of lighter red fruits with a bit darker (cherry) flavors...nice secondary flavors of earth, leather...could have a bit more size and length but enjoyable
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8/15/2006 - jaimetown wrote: 89 Points
A very pretty wine - medium-bodied with lots of dark fruit, a hint of sandalwood. Aromatic, mellow and delicious. The finish is a tad short, which is my only issue with this bottle, but very pleasurable overall.
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8/4/2006 - Chuck Miller wrote: 84 Points
With pizza. A definite wollop of oak on the nose that is not what I look for in a Chianti. Disturbing. Disipated slightly with a second glass, but couldn't finish the bottle.
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7/27/2006 - wtnick wrote:
Light and fruity; nice with the pizza we ate.
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3/17/2006 - lbosche wrote: 90 Points
A nice bottle - hopefully it will improve with a little more age. Nothing wrong with it now but perhaps a little tart still.
Good fruit underlying the acidity and the medium tannins.
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2/24/2006 - Tad GW wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful Chianti. A little muted on the nose, but will give it a chance to open more and try it again tomorrow. Beautiful drink.
50+5+11+16+8=90
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2/22/2006 - Rupert wrote: 88 Points
Edinburgh Offline (Centotre, Edinburgh): Smooth, cherries, classy - nice gentle wine
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2/19/2006 - Paul D wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby core, narrow/medium strawberry rim.
Medium +/pronounced nose with deep dark cherry, minerals and hints of chocolate and cocoa. Rich, attractive, brooding and enticing.
This medium + bodied wine has tightly wound, medium + ripe tannins wrapped around a concentrated mid-palate showing dark cherry, minerals and hints of chocolate. It has an extended finish with sour cherry notes and medium +, fresh acidity.
A lovely Chianti Classico, just about drinking now, should improve over the next 5 years.
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2/18/2006 - bknysak wrote: 90 Points
A serious wine, crammed with cherries, strawberries, earth, and half a hide of leather. If the textural profile was plotted, two distinct spikes would occur for the tannin and acidity, with an even baseline of fruit. Improves in the decanter, evening the plot, becoming reminiscent of a good Burgundy. Impressive, but not stunning; it needs to harmonize. Right now, the regular Chanti Classico is much more pleasurable.
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2/12/2006 - Jaytee wrote: 89 Points
deep garnet - leather, earthy, sweaty aromas.
Juicy cherry fruit with plenty of depth - concentration and length. Matched well with rigatoni and meat sauce.
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1/14/2006 - DougLee wrote: 89 Points
Dark ruby purple. Initially muted nose of flowers, leather, and spice. Still darkly tannic, but black cherry fruit is beginning to come to the fore. Finish is harmonious. Would wait another year before trying again.
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11/3/2005 - dougsmith wrote: 88 Points
Thursday at Fernando's (Forest Hills, Queens): This is a nice Chianti Riserva. On the nose a lot of red fruits, tending to the "dryer" rather than "juicier" end of the spectrum, with real earthiness, licorice notes, and perhaps a touch of brett funkiness. On the palate it gained acidity with time in the glass ... it's less my cup of tea that way, and clearly needs food to show itself off to the best.
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11/3/2005 - Mlermontov wrote: 93 Points
Thursday night - NY meets Rob: WOW ..actually this was almoust too much at first - the fruit just too powerfull...but with time in the glass the wine morphed - and out came the cleansing bright acidity and the lean and mean streak which i just love in these wines. but the fruit stayed pure - with cherries dominating. leather and spices adding to the mix.YUM!
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10/24/2005 - trond1 wrote: 91 Points
One of the best chianti riservas. Will keep
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10/16/2005 - Jaytee wrote: 86 Points
Ruby to garnet colored. Lovely nose of dark cherries, with wood overtones. Cherry flavors carry to the palate, perhaps a suggestion of cough syrup - some spicy and licorice notes round out the palate - balanced and drinking nicely, if a touch too "polished" for my taste.
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5/1/2005 - duchamp wrote: 89 Points
Similar to the Fontalloro but more depth and concentration but less acid, overall less memorable than other Felsinas
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4/29/2005 - shacke wrote:
Excellent chianti - earthy, slightly tannic and interesting. Nice example of a Chianti Classico at a good price.
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3/23/2005 - jlm wrote:
Spicy, dark, subtly spicy sangiovese fruit on the nose (like dark cherries, but with a wilder side than found in burgundy) that also shows some leather, chocolate, and a hint of licorice with some air. Good concentration of fruit framed in dusty tannins that give more chocolate notes before the finishing of notes of leathery cherry and spice. I enjoyed this very much though it is at least 3 years away from the beginning of its maturity.
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9/1/2004 - Easter Everywhere wrote: 88 Points
High-toned fruit, plenty of structure, good & funky, very nice wine, give some time
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