Tuscany

• Brunello di Montalcino
• Chianti

This is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot from Tuscany.  Purple in color with some garnet swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  Great nose with cassis, black cherries, graphite and clay.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of cassis, clay and a bit of chocolate.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should have another eight to twelve years left.  Nice on its own, this would be a nice match with Spaghetti Bolognaise.  

Ruby in color with some browning, mostly clear and bright.  Great nose with cherries, sandalwood, and tea leaves.  Medium to full bodied.  Great balance and acidity.  Nice "slick" texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, flavors of black cherries with an interesting cola note and some earthiness.  Long finish.  This needs another five years in a good cellar to really take that next step, but patience will be rewarded.  The score should jump one to three points.  Great on its own but better with food.  Osso Bucco would be a great food pairing.  

Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is initially tight but with air opens to show cherries, black cherries, and slight cough drop.  very clean.  Plush texture, full bodied with firm tannins.  Greatt mough puckering acidity.  On the palate cherries and tart cherries with a hint of mint on the finish.  Long, clean finish.  This is young but drinking well.  The acidity/grape makes it better with food.  After all, it is Italian.  This would be great with Spaghetti and meatballs.  Drink over the next ten years.

This is a great value in Chianti and in fact red wine in general.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cherries, spices, hay, slight mocha and mint.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of cherries, earth and forest floor.  An interesting menthol note on the long finish.  This is made for food.  A great choice to pasta with a tomato based sauce.  Or a mid-week pizza.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

This bottle had been purchased at the winery.  Deep ruby  in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, sandalwood, tea leaves and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this seems at peak.  Complex and delicious.  Flavors of cherries, some black cherries, spice and char.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but much better with food. Perfect with a plate of pasta.  Drink over the next five to seven years.