1979 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 90.5 points

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  10/15/2022 - winedupe Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Somehow I managed to buy one bottle about 40 years ago, and save it until today. Long forgotten, but found during a rummage through the cellar. Price tag was $14.99, quite a bit for a bottle of wine back then (I believe I bought Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet 1984 a few years later for $16...).
  Fill was still into the neck, cork was very tight and only stained about halfway. Color was still red with only slight browning. Not much nose, but taste was surprisingly pleasant and concentrated: lots of wood and red cherry, with no flaws. I am amazed that a Chianti has lasted this long. My cellar is passively uncontrolled with temp about 68 F in summer and 58 F in winter, with a slow change. I was impressed enough to try to find some more recent vintages.
  Interestingly, there was no sediment at all in this bottle. Most wines this old have quite a bit of sediment (at least for Cabernets). I have no idea what determines the amount of sediment in a wine. If anyone knows, please reply back!
  Thanks! - Winedupe

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  6/14/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points

  Casual (Mostly) Italian Wine Dinner with Friends (Paris Club - Chicago IL): Open, decanted and poured (decanted because of cork extraction problems). I bought these at auction 15 years and they've been rested quietly since. Surprisingly dark color with lots of spice and floral notes. Fruit aromas of both black and red cherry, fresh for its age, showing at least as much fruit as evolved character. Identical on palate. Some sweet spice and orange rind at end. I thought this would be best in its first 20-30 minutes, but it held up very well for the entire time in glass, well over an hour.

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