2016 Donatella Cinelli Colombini Rosso di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$24.00USD

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

2013 Agricola San Felice Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Il Grigio, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Another very nice Chianti carrying the Gran Selezione designation which came about in 2015 and is the highest designation of quality in Chianti.  Of course, not all wines carrying this designation are created equally.  This is purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose is interesting with red apples and sour cherries also some balsamic vinegar and slight tea leaves.  On the palate, this still has medium tannins.  Cherry and sour cherry fruit with a bit of damp forest floor.  Slight port like notes of sweet alcohol on the finish but not enough to be an issue.  Overall, a very tasty Chi

2016 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$18.00USD

Along with Fontodi, my two favorite producers in Chianti.  For under $20, this is a great value.  Deep garnet in color.  The nose is dusty with high toned cherries.  Perhaps a slight touch of volatile acidity but for me, it lifted the aromatics and was not a problem.  On the palate, cherries, sour cherries and light tannins wrapped around forest floor notes.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This will probably not improve but it is drinking quite well and should hold at this point for at least a decade.  It will go great with Tuscan foods so think pastas but also pizza.  

2015 Fontodi Chianti Classico, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

From one of the best producers of Chianti and in Tuscany, this wine was showing great.  It kept improving all night long.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has dusty cherries with some tea leaves and a bit of spice.  On the palate, slight tannins.  Lots of concentrated cherry fruit.  Medium bodied.  Very nice acidity.  Almost a smoked cherry flavor on the palate which is very interesting along with fresh cherries and a bit of tea.  Good acidity.  This wine should continue to improve for a few years and be good for another ten to twenty after that depending on your tastes.  It is very food fr

2016 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Rosso di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This is a very nice Sangiovese from Tuscany and from a good vintage.  Garnet in color.  The nose is dusty with cherries and a bit of soy.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Nice sour cherry fruit over a bit of forest floor.  Slight complexity, this should continue to develop a bit more.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  It is ripe and has an almost sweet quality about it but not.  This will work with a wide variety of food.  Obviously pasta and pizza are go to dishes.  This might get a bit better but should last for another five to seven years if well stored.  

2004 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Vigna Asinone, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is the best that Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has to offer.  At age 15, it is still young and really needed some air time to open up.  Better than most Chianti's and many Brunellos.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is great with cherries, tea leaves and spice.  On the palate, a great backbone of acidity.  Lots of juicy cherry fruit layered tightly with forest floor notes.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  This really needs some food to soothe both the tannins and the acidity.  Pasta or Pizza would be great but it can stand up to meat dishes as well.  

2006 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

This was purchased on release ($30) and stored.  It is drinking well now and a good value if not trying to source it now.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, tea leaves, spice and slight roasted herb.  On the palate, this has nice acidity and begs for food.  Went great with Eggplant Parmesan.  Lots of juicy cherries with a slight raisin note.  Good finish.  Probably at peak but still has some time left.  

2012 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Consistently one of the better BdM's out there.  2012 was a good year if not stellar, but this wine was singing.  Pop and pour, it took about an hour to open up and was good to go.  Garnet in color.  The nose has cherries, tea leaves, and slight spice notes.  On the palate, this has slight tannins.  Nice cherry fruit.  Showing slight layering of fruit and forest floor.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This will work with a wide variety of foods and really begs for food.  It is still on the youthful side bu no baby.  It won't get better but should mature nicely for the next decade.  Drink anyti

2004 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Pop and pour, this wine is in a great place right now.  Ruby in color with some garnet swirls.  The nose is great with cherries, slight funk, and tea leaves.  On the palate, this has great acidity.  Lots of cherries with some dried cherries over some forest floor flavors.  Good finish.  This is past its time as a fruit bomb though it has plenty left.  It is developing some lovely tertiary qualities.  Of course, it needs some great pasta or other Italian foods on the dinner tables.  

2013 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries and a slight root beer note.  Strong tannins!  Sour cherry fruit on the palate.  Good acidity.  Some depth.  Despite the youth and tannins, this has a lovely elegance to it.  This really demands food.  It will work with a wide variety of pasta dishes with or without meats.  Should continue to improve for a few years and be good for another 15 after that.  Retails for $65.  

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