Chianti

This bottle was a gift from my wife's cousin.  A very nice gift indeed.  This is reasonably priced, very enjoyable, and a winery that I don't recall trying before.  Ruby in color.  The nose is nice with cherries, green tobacco, and tea leaves.  On the palate, this has fresh cherry fruit with underlying earl grey tea and just a bit of anise.  Nice texture.  Great acidity.  This wine has a nice energy and a certainly elegance to it that is not often found by me in Chianti.  Light tannins.  It is very food friendly and will go with almost anything but light seafood.  It should be good for the

This is such an underrated bottle of wine.  It gets so easy to dismiss Chianti and especially those that are not the top bottlings of good producers.  This is a really good bottle of wine and its available for under $20.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, tea leaves, char and slight anise.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with light tannins.  A nice backbone of acidity.  Flavors of cherries with some underlying forest floor.  Good finish.  This should be good for the next ten years.  It went great with pasta and will work with most foods.  A great pizza wine.  

This is one of my favorite Chianti's.  Normally, I let the Rancia's rest a bit while I drink the "lesser" Felsina wines.  But, I had been hearing such great things about this wine, that I wanted to try one young.  Good move.  While this should improve, this was wonderful.  One of the top Chianti's I have ever had.  And, while this is not inexpensive for Chianti, it is for a wine of this quality.  Deep ruby in color, a bit lighter at the rim.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, some anise, and some tea leaves.  On the palate, this has juicy acidity.  Big cherry fruit over a forest floor

Chianti doesn't get enough credit.  The better producers consistently make wines that are great values especially in the great vintages.  And, 2016 is a great vintage.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has nice cherries, with wet tea leaves and dust.  On the palate, nice cherry fruit layered with some forest floor qualities.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  This is a perfect wine to pair with pizza or pasta.  It should be drunk in the next five to seven years, but it will probably still make good drinking in ten years.  A great value at around $10!

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.  

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

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.  

Looking for a great value?  Be sure to check out the 2015 Chianti's.  This one retails for $10 and is very good.  A bit modern in style and easy to drink.  Ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries and slight dry forest floor notes.  A bit of baking spices.  On the palate, there is a nice acidity here.  Cherry and black cherry fruit.  Round corners make it easy to drink on its own but of course, great for pizza and pasta.  This probably is better drunk in the next few years.  

Another in a series of 2004 Chianti Classicos.  This is also drinking quite well.  At peak or ever so slightly past but still with freshness and life.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, dried cherries, sandalwood and dry tea.  On the palate, this has lively acidity.  Nice texture.  Lots of cherries with underlying spice.  Good finish.  Food friendly.  Drink in the next three to five years.  

This bottle retailed for around $25 on release.  At age 14 years from vintage, it is drinking quite well.  It is certainly at peak (or just past) and won't get better from here, but what a nice experience.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cherries, dried cherries, black cherries, dried tea leaves, slight spice and some dried leather.  On the palate, this has vibrant cherries fruit along with some dried cherries and forest floor notes.  No tannins left.  Some layering.  Moderate complexity.  Nice acidity.  Works well with pasta, pizza and medium bodied foods.  Drink up in the next few ye