30
Sep
2024
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
To be totally honest, the Riserva part of the Chianti Classico tasting is probably my least favourite. I kind of wish this segment of the category would morph into single vineyard, single plot or something else interesting without having to spend more time in oak – (does that extra year really create a better wine, or just a woodier one?). While changes are afoot in Chianti Classico to sub-divide the region; it would also be good to look at this regulation and drag this category into an era that does not see more oak as a better wine.
That said, there are some fine examples of the wine. I tasted 37, 26 made the cut – that said, I was also very selective about what I chose to taste; that’s what years of experience brings (knowledge).
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I applied my Good, Better, Best approach to the Chianti Lovers this year – and instead of separating the wines into their categories I put them in alphabetical order by way of producer. Also, any wine that received BEST or BETTER has a note why I believe it deserves that score.
The Wines
Antinori 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Marchesi Antinori" ... GOOD
Antinori 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Villa Antinori" ... GOOD
Badia a Coltibuono 2019 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva ... GOOD
Banfi 2020 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva
Juicy, drinkable, dark fruited and slightly spicy. The acidity is clean and bright. (BETTER)
Borgo Salcetino 2020 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Lucarello" ... GOOD
Borgo Scopeto 2019 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Vigna Misciano" ... GOOD
Brancaia 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva 
It has some wood notes but there is some freshness of fruit to back it up. (BETTER)
Cafaggio 2020 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva
Spicy dark fruit with firm tannins and spice on the finish. (BETTER)
Caparsa 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Doccio a Matteo"
- Barrel Sample : rated on potential - ... GOOD
Castellare di Castellina 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Castellare" ... GOOD
Castello di Ama 2020 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Montebuoni"
Dark fruit, mocha, black cherry, herbs and spices all play across the tongue - nice balance and structure. (BETTER)
Castello di Gabbiano 2020 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva ... GOOD
Castello di Monterinaldi 2019 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva ... GOOD
Castello Vicchiomaggio 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Agostino Petri" ... GOOD
Dievole 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Novecento" 
Plum and blackish fruit at its core, the wood hangs around but its a bit player - acidity balances. (BEST)
Famiglia Zingarelli 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Tenuta Le Macie Sergioveto" ... GOOD
Felsina 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Rancia"
- no notes written down - ... (BETTER)
Frescobaldi 2019 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Tenuta Perano" ... GOOD
La Lama 2017 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Terzo Movimento" ... GOOD
Poggio Borgoni 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Borromeo"
- Barrel Sample : rated on potential - ... (BETTER)
Querciabella 2020 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva 
Juicy red fruit ... lovely acidity ... perky and playful. (BEST)
Ricasoli 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Brolio" ... GOOD
Rocca delle Macie 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva ... GOOD
Ruffino 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Riserva Ducale"
Acidity pops right off the hop, nice spice, good fruit core. Has a few years ahead of it. (BETTER)
San Felice 2020 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "Il Grigio" ... GOOD
Tenuta di Nozzole 2020 Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva "La Forra"
Mocha start, good acidity. plum and spice. long finish. (BETTER)
23
Sep
2024
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
Due to the popularity of the Gran Selezione wines, sometimes the regular, everyday Chianti Classico wines take a back seat – I know some writers who don’t even bother to try any of the current vintage. I think that’s a mistake because it is good to know how the current vintage is (2022), but you will also notice a number of older vintage wines on this list as well. The question becomes, or is often asked – are these wines too simple to age? The answer is no, there is great complexity to these wines and great age-ability, as witnesses by a retrospective of old Chianti Classicos I attended demonstrated (see it here).
I tasted a grand total of 36 Chianti Classico and 32 made the cut – the best ratio of all the tastings I did – this bodes well for this category of wine, which stil captivates the imagination of everyone who has ever been, or wants to go to Tuscany.
On a side note, and apparent from the above and below pictures: Happy 100th anniversary to the Consorzio Chianti Classico.
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I applied my Good, Better, Best approach to the Chianti Lovers this year – and instead of separating the wines into their categories I put them in alphabetical order by way of producer. Also, any wine that received BEST or BETTER has a note why I believe it deserves that score.
The Wines
Badia a Coltibuono 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG 
Ripe and ready with good tannins and acidity. (BETTER)
Banfi 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG
Fresh fruit and easy to drink - nice cherry runs through the heart of this wine. (BETTER)
Bindi Sergardi 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "La Ghirlanda"
Dark with a little forest herbs and spices. Plus there's a balsamic-strawberry finish. (BETTER)
Borgo Scopeto 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG ... GOOD
Cafaggio 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG ... GOOD
Carpineto 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG
- Barrel Sample : rated on potential ... BETTER
Castel'in Villa 2019 Chianti Classico DOCG
A 4 year old Classico that sings with some coffee notes and dark fruits - acidity is playful, wine drinks well now and over the next 5 years. (BETTER)
Castello di Monsanto 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG
- Barrel Sample : rated on potential - ... BEST
Castello di Volpaia 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG "Volpaia"
- Barrel Sample : rated on potential - ... GOOD
Castello Vicchiomaggio 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG "Guado Alto"
Good fruit, leans a little on the darker side, juicy and pretty with nice tannin structure and medium length finish. (BETTER)
Dievole 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "Petrignano"
Purity of black fruit and spice that lifts the wine and makes it quite drinkable - set it down a few years and you'll be even happier. (BETTER)
Fattoria di Lamole / Paolo Socci 2017 Chianti Classico DOCG "Castello di Lamole" 
Clean if not a little old, but the acidity is really the winner here, and so is the customer who buys it now. (BETTER)
Felsina 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG "Berardenga"
Slightly smoky with cherry and blueberry, red currant and excellent tannins - this needs a couple of year. (BETTER)
Fontodi 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "Filetta di Lamole" ... GOOD
Fontodi 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG ... GOOD
Frescobaldi 2020 Chianti Classico DOCG "Tenuta Perano" ... GOOD
Il Molino di Grace 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG ... GOOD
Isole e Olena 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG
Juicy mix of fruits, both red and black with a little purple plum thrown in for good measure. Pencil shavings and mocha also find their way into the mix; balanced by really good acidity. (BEST)
La Lama 2018 Chianti Classico DOCG "Sottolaia" ... GOOD
Lamole di Lamole 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "Duelame" ... GOOD
Lornano 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG ... GOOD
Monteraponi 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG 
Dark and juicy ... lovely rich fruit with a nice tannin bite - opposite to the Monsanto but just as good. (BEST)
Nittardi 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "Belcanto"
Nice purity and drinkability - good spice - fruit shines on the heel of subtle wood characteristics. (BETTER)
Nittardi - Casanuova di Nittardi 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "Vigna Doghessa" ... GOOD
Ottomani 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG ... GOOD
Poggio Borgoni 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "Curva del Vescovo"
Nice juicy quality, easy to drink and pleasant. Good red cherry fruit. (BETTER)
Querceto di Castellina 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG "L'aura"
Good expression of the vintage. (BETTER)
Querciabella 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG ... GOOD
Ricasoli 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG "Brolio" ... GOOD
Rocca delle Macie 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG ... GOOD
Tenuta di Bibbiano 2022 Chianti Classico DOCG "Bibbiano"
A dark and juicy wine that ends with a little red cherry and vanilla. (BETTER)
Tenuta di Nozzole 2021 Chianti Classico DOCG "Nozzole"
Pure fruit driven wine. Lovely acidity. Real pleasure to drink. (BETTER)
