Chianti

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 was a bit different than a bottle of this I recently opened.  Both were excellent, but this one had an issue or two.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, dust, slight anise and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Great acidity.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, this has cherries, slight black cherries, celery and spice.  The green note gets bigger on the finish.  Overall, this is a very good wine, but the green streak is  a bit disappointing.  Still, this wine is made to drink with food and that should help out that issue.  Pappardelle al R

There are a lot of Vin Santos being made but not a lot of outstanding ones.  This Vin Santo is consistently outstanding.  Amber in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with apricots, orange peel, honey, maple syrup and roasted cashews.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Great acidity.  On the palate, roasted nuts, honey, peach, apricot and a bit of maple.  Long finish.  Delicious. Complex.  This is great on its own and would be nice with Biscotti or another less sweet cookie.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

One of the  best values in top Chianti, this is fairly priced, ageable and outstanding.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sandalwood, spice, slight anise and black cherries.  Medium bodied.  Excellent acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries with some black cherries, anise and spice.  Long finish.  This is very nice on its own but it is made for food.  It will work with most foods (not seafood) and is a great choice with pasta or pizza.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

I am a big fan of Costco/Kirkland wines.  They often don't get the credit they deserve as people consider them "discount" wines, but it seems they are usually well done and from very good source.  This one was tasted directly after tasting nice other Chiantis that were a couple of years of older and it showed just fine.  It turns out that this wine is made by Baron Ricasoli, a quality producer in Chianti.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight dust, tea leaves and spice.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has br

This is a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo.  Ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, dust, sandalwood and herbs.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has nice cherry fruit with some spice.  Good finish.  This is better with food and would work well with pasta with a red sauce.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.

It was interesting trying this along side a bunch of Chianti Classico Riservas including this winery's 2019.  While both were good, I preferred the 2019 CCR.  And, its half the price.  This is inky purple in color with slight ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose comes across very "Bordeaux" like.  Aromas of black cherries, cigar box, fresh tobacco and spice.  Light to medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries, sour cherries and slight forest floor.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another six to nine years.  It will be b

Another great value in Chianti.  Ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is dusty with cherries, thyme, and sandalwood.  Light to medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries and some sour cherries.  Good finish.  This is an easy drinking wine that is ready to go.  Better with food, this would be perfect with weeknight Spaghetti & Meatballs.  Drink over the next couple of years.

Ruby in color, purple at the core, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is slightly earthy with cherries, anise, and spice.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with sour cherries, black cherries, herbal notes and spice.  Good finish.  This is drinking well and should continue for another ten years.  Better with food although nice on its own.  Braised meats would work well (and of course, Fava Beans and Liver).