Sangiovese

Citra is a collection of 3,000 growers who came together to form a winery, so basically a co-op.  Terre di Chieti is a growing area in Abruzzo that has yet to achieve DOC(G) status.  This is a charming red wine that is inexpensive and ready to drink.  The bottle is screw capped.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries and leather.  There is also a sweaty horse scent which I enjoyed.  It is warm and earthy and in the back ground so not over powering.  On the palate, this has a soft texture.  It is earthy but clean with nice cherries.  Slightly drying tan

Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  This is a big wine that is more about darker fruits than a more traditional Brunello.  The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, some spice and just a hint of forest floor.  On the palate, the black cherries and black raspberries come thru.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This wine is delicious.  It is still young but drinks well.  Great on its own but should work with bigger foods and roasted dishes.  

This is a blend of Sangiovese 60%, Merlot 30%, Sagrantino 10%.  It was purchased in Italy and brought back by friends.  This is one of those simple wines that probably tastes better young and certainly when consumed on vacation.  That said, it was delightful in a local Italian restaurant with some simple pasta dishes.  This vintage doesn't seem available in the US, but later vintages retail for around $16.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, roasted herbs and a bit of chocolate.  Just guessing, but this likely sees no oak.  On the palate, this has nice acidity.  The cherries come t

This is a very interesting take on Brunello.  It is big in a modern style sense but also more about minerality than fruit.  In any event, it is quite good and just starting to hit maturity.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, iron, minerals and slight tea leaves.  On the palate, this has light tannins.  Nice cherry fruit with underlying minerality.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This will work great with traditional Tuscan foods but any fowl or pork dish should also work well.  If drinking now, let it breathe for a few hours if you can.  This may improve for a couple of years and wi

If you own any of this, open a bottle.  It is drinking quite well and this bottle anyway, seemingly at peak.  100% Sangiovese.  Purple in color with ruby swirls and ruby at the rim.  The nose is great.  Mature, deep and intoxicating.  Aromas of cherries, forest floor, tea leaves, leather and a hint of menthol tobacco.  On the palate there are cherries and plums layered with tobacco and earthy forest floor.  Great balance with the acidity.  Just the slightest bit of tannin left.  Nice finish.  This in contemplative when drinking but will be even better with some pasta.  It certainly has a de

This is a nice solid Chianti for a very nice price.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries, anise and tea leaves.  Light tannins.  On the palate, sour cherries over slight forest floor.  Good finish.  This is very food friendly with excellent acidity.  Will go great with pasta, pizza and fowl dishes.  It should probably be drunk in the next few years but will probably be drinkable for five to seven if not at peak.  

This is a blend of 65% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, and 20% Merlot  from Umbria in Italy.  It is an excellent value that is just starting to hit its drinking window.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, plums, a bit of dry earth and char.  On the palate, this mostly about cherries with a bit of chocolate.  Medium bodied with good acidity, this is not a big wine but there is plenty of fruit.  It unwinds in the glass and shows moderated depth and complexity.  Good finish.  This is about or close to peak but should has another ten years at this level.  It will work well with pasta

 This is the entry level wine from this producer of Sassicaia.  It is 70 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 % Sangiovese.  And, from a great vintage, this wine showed very well.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, sandalwood and light strawberries.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the cherries and strawberries are there.  No tannins.  Bright acidity.  A delicious wine but probably needs to be consumed in the  first few years.  It drinks great on its own but will work with lighter foods or pizza and pasta.  

A perennial favorite in my household going back to the days when this was labeled as Chianti.  A very nice value and a wine that will age for a few years anyway.  Purple in color, slightly opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty, slightly smoky, with nice cherry fruit.  On the palate, this has nice layering.  Not too deep or complex but what is there is developed.  It certainly seems as though there are some Bordeaux varietals in this wine, but I am unsure of the blend.  It drinks more like a Bordeaux of similar price.  The fruit is riper though.  This may still have some upside but should be

A lot of wine sales people say to buy Rosso's in lesser vintages because they contain declassified Brunello.  I have never found that to be a successful strategy.  Buy Rosso's in good vintages and both wines are better.  2016 is a very good vintage.  This is one more example.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is warm with dusty cherries, plums, soy and tea.  On the palate, medium tannins and a nice back bone of acidity.  Ripe cherry fruit with some depth and an underlying tea/tobacco note.  Good finish.  This wine might get better but in any event, it is drinking well now and should continue