Tuscany

• Brunello di Montalcino
• Chianti

This was decanted for sediment and then drink over a few hours.  This was drunk side by side with the 2012 Riserva which was interesting and fun.  This is a deep ruby with some purple at the core in color.  Darker than the 2012.  It seems to at peak right now.  Not showing old age but certainly mature, tannins resolved and getting close to sliding downhill.  The nose is earthy with damp tea leaves, cherries and just a hint of sandalwood.  Complex and layered with funk, forest floor and cherries.  Very good acidity.  Worked very well with food.  Nice finish.  This was probably never an amazi

One  of the best from Chianti.  This is a great wine.  It retails for under $50 which is expensive for Chianti but a great value for the quality offered.  Purple in color, ruby swirls.  The nose is great with cherries, tobacco, tea leaves, and a slight pine note.  With air, some cedar and earth emerge.  On the palate, this has firm tannins still.  Lots of dark cherry fruit layered with wet tea leaves (or maybe tobacco) and spice.  Deep and complex.  A strong backbone of acidity.  Long finish.  This is quite food friendly but especially meats and pasta.  Still young, this has at least 5 more

Sadly, this wine was just about DOA.  The cork was good.  The wine was pale ruby and watery looking.  The wine was oxidized.  Oh well, I had hoped for better but that was a lot to ask.  

Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, sandalwood and slight tea leaves.  Medium bodied.  Good not strong acidity.  On the palate, this is pretty close to peak but not quite.  Light tannins.  Good cherry flavor.  Plenty of depth.  Some layering of earth and fruit.  Nice finish.  Needs a bit more cellar time but quite nice.  

Love this wine but it is a monster that needs time or air.  i let a glass of this sit for over an hour for that purpose and that wasn't enough.  Still, its outstanding.  Purple in color.  The nose has cherries, dark cherries, sandalwood and tea.  On the palate, this has lots of fruit but not boisterous just intense.  Firm tannins.  Depth.  Great acidity.  Worked well with my pasta.  Long finish.  Needs probably another five to seven years and then should be good for another 15.  Or decant for eight hours now and enjoy over a meal.  Still some upside expected.  

There are a lot of Vin Santos out there.  Very few are very good and even less are outstanding.  This is one of the better ones.  Iced tea color.  The nose is very nice with slight chocolate covered raisins but also a bit of blood orange and caramel.  Clean and not oxidized.  On the palate, this is viscous.  Caramel, blood orange and raisins.  Complex.  It is sweet not cloying but a little goes a long way.  Long finish.  Worked well with a not too sweet dessert.  

Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, spice, and cedar.  On the palate, this has nice acidity.  Big, black cherry fruit.  Fruit forward.  Some tannins.  Drinks easy.  Seems more modern in style.  Still has some development left in it though.  It should gain in complexity.  

Chianti.  The name for some evokes thoughts of cheap wine.  Not so fast.  This is one of the best Chianti's one the market.  Not so cheap but well priced at around $45 per bottle.  This is a world class wine.    Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is great.  Cherries when young but with time it develops tea leaves and forest floor notes.  Also some sandal wood.  On the palate, this has a great backbone of acidity.  It really needs a decade or so to hit its peaks but even young is delicious.  With time, it has layers of cherries, dried cherries, hay and earthy notes.  Great with food but can be

I wondered if this were past prime, but no, it is drinking beautifully (at least this bottle).  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cherries, dried cherries, sandalwood and tea leaves.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  complex and layers of cherries, dried cherries and forest floor.  Great acidity.  Perfect at the dinner table.  Long finish.  Everything I want out of cellaring a wine for 20 years.  Still fresh and vibrant but also mature and complex.  Certainly no point in waiting on these.  

This is Cabernet Franc from Italy.  It is really quite good if a bit on the riper side.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, roasted herbs, and slight cigar box.  On the palate, this has a juicy acidity.  Plenty of dark cherry fruit.  Some tannins.  It is just getting to maturity at this point but not quite.  Certainly plenty of life left.  Food friendly.  Showing some complexity, it unwinds in the glass.  Has some upside for improvement.