On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report from : Chianti Classico 2024 Anteprima

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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)

Report from : VINO NOBILE 2024 Anteprima

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

Vino Nobile is one of my favourite stops on the Anteprima journey. With 64 wines in total (a very doable amount at a morning tasting), and hopefully a few winery visits it is the best of both worlds. That is about to change next year, when the Pieve wines will also be on the table (a new tier of wines that I will explain in more detail in next year’s report) – so obviously, the wines portion will grow – fingers crossed I can still do them all in one sitting.

Vino Nobile continues to raise their own bar – once a region that rested on their laurels, they now understand that just because you are one of the first does not mean you are going to stay there forever (this is not Bordeaux). The quality of wines continue to improve and I now believe it to be a highlight of the Anteprima Toscana.

Of those 64 wines tasted, 35 made the list.

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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 (there is one exception: a new player is in town and they have launched their first Nobile).

The Wines

Antico Colle 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Rustic, but in a pleasant way; the fruit dances around with the acidity and tannins.  (BETTER)

Azienda Agricola Tiberini 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano “Podere Le Caggiole”
Super juicy, which seems out of character with these wine - this is a style that will bring new recruits, but may turn off fans.  (BETTER)

Bindella - Tenuta Vallocaia 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Selezione “I Quadri” ... GOOD

Boscarelli 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Riserva
Deep, dark and brooding with fruit and cedary notes. This one should come around it another 5 years; but the fruit forefront and that makes this one a winner in my book.  (BETTER)

Boscarelli 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Continues to be a highlight of this tasting - good tannins and acidity and the dark fruit plays off of those characteristics.  (BEST)

Canneto 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Riserva ... GOOD

Cantina Chiacchiera 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ... GOOD

Carpineto 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Riserva
The fruit is dark and it doesn’t get hidden in a ton of oak - in a few years this will be even better.  (BEST)

Casa Vinicola Triacca 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Selezione “Poderuccio” ... GOOD

Contucci 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Selezione “Pietra Rossa” ... GOOD

Contucci 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Well-balanced fruit and acidity - tannins don’t rip at the tongue and the finish is clean, if not a little short.  (BETTER)

Crociani 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ... GOOD

Dei 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ... GOOD

Dei 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Riserva “Bossona”
The fruit is dark, the acidity is moderate and the tannins bite - but the fruit is the star and that is one of the most important parts.  (BETTER)

Fattoria Svetoni 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ... GOOD

Godiolo 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Riserva ... GOOD

Godiolo 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ... GOOD

Icario 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Riserva “Vitaroccia”
Fruit driven with notes of smoke and licorice - acidity is aggressive but allows the fruit to show itself upfront, but does demand attention on the finish.  (BETTER)

Il Molinaccio di Montepulciano 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano “La Spinosa” ... GOOD

La Braccesca 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ... GOOD

La Ciarliana 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Selezione "Vigna 'Scianello" ... GOOD

La Ciarliana 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Something about this wines makes me happy: the fruit is dark and spicy and there's a mocha coffee cake feel to the finish.  (BETTER)

La Combarbia 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
There is some high-tone fruit notes here (almost shrill), but it plays well with the acidity - first sip, not a fan, but by the third sip I was really enjoying it.  (BETTER)

Le Berne 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Total opposite to Some of the other wines, but still with something to offer: lovely dark fruit and spice, but the tannins and acidity are a bit more aggressive. It will resolve over time.  (BETTER)

Le Bertille 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Riserva  ... GOOD

Lombardo 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ... GOOD

Marchesi Frescobaldi 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano "Tenuta Calimaia"
Frescobaldi's first foray into Nobile is very international in style - they will bring new fans to the region - but can the region hold them with their more rustic nature ... GOOD

Podere Casanova 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Selezione "Settecento"
Red fruit, currants and cherries kick things off and then in sweeps the acidity, cleaning things up for sip after sip. Playful and fun.  (BETTER)

Poliziano 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Fruit forward wine backed by acidity and well-managed tannins.  (BEST)

Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Riserva ... GOOD

Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Spicy red fruits, with cherry and strawberry leading the charge - red currants join cranberry on the finish.  (BETTER)

Tenuta di Poggio Uliveto 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ... GOOD

Tenuta Poggio alla Sala 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano ... GOOD

Tenuta Valdipiatta 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
There's a nice dark fruit and licorice aspect to the wine that seems to play with the acidity, making it a feature on the finish and not on the mid-palate.  (BETTER)

Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Riserva ... GOOD