Antinori
Carpineto
Cipresso
Dievole
Dogajolo
La Massa
Le Cinciole
Lucignano
Novenceto
Pietraserena
Toscolo
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Antinori Badia a Passignano 1998 Chianti Classico Reserva
This is a very interesting Chianti Classico with it's bright fruit flavors and
solid structure.
On the palate there are bright, sweet, savory raspberries and eathy cedar.
Rich fruit flavors are balance by great acid and tannins.
This is as elegant and smooth as it is rich and interesting.
Retail price $50. Tasted October 5, 2003.
A noble bottle of wine earning three out of three  .
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La Massa Giorgio 2000 Primo
is a dangerously drinkable red.
The fruit is clean, yet echos notes of dried herbs and dried fruit,
toasted spices and toasted nuts, and rosehips.
This wine is elegant and drinks like a gem now,
but will most definately become more interesting as time goes by.
I wouldn't "pair" this wine with just any meal that fit the bill.
In fact, I would make sure the meal was a back drop to this bottle of wine.
As I said, it is a dangerously drinkable red.
Retail price $60. Tasted September 9, 2003. In the spotlight, earning 3 out of 3 .
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Pietraserena Poggio al Vento 2001 Chianti
is an impressive Chianti in the lower price category.
It is ruby in the glass with violets on the nose.
The fruit is blackberry, blueberry, and toasted vanilla with chewy tannins.
The acid structure is cutting, like dried herbs and sharp cheese,
but the ample fruit balance the tannins and acidity so that the
wine can be sipped on its own or served with grilled meat, pasta with peppers or tomato sauce,
or spicy recipes that need a wine that can hold up to the strong flavors.
Retail price $10. Tasted September 13, 2003. A great bottle earning one  .
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Dievole Novecent 1997 Chianti Classico Riserva
is named after an anniversary of sorts.
1090 was the birth year of the last winemaker and caretaker of the Dievole Estate.
Nine hundred years later, six direct descendants of the first Dievole, manage the Estate again.
Each of the six are winemakers, each brings his own talent to the collaboration.
Novecent is a celebration of the grapes, the ability to late-harvest, traditions, and resurrection.
As they at Dievole put it best, it is "Hazard and Opportunity."
Because the grapes dry and concentrate on the vine, the wine is aggressive,
thought provoking, and violet in the glass.
It conjures memories of Amarone or Ripasso, only different.
Mouthwatering flavors of plum, cassis, earth, chocolate, rosehips, and dried anise dance on the palate.
The acidity is "Old World" style and the tannins are sultry.
Retail price is $ . Tasted September 8, 2003. Three out of three .
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Dievole Vendemmia Chianti Classico 2000
Dievole’s single vineyards compose this lush, interesting, juicy, balanced Chianti.
This field blend represents the various Sangiovese clones on the Dievole Estate, along with
Malvasia Nera, Canaiolo, Colorino, and the heritage-varietals of
Barsaglina, Prugnolo, Saragiolo, and Mammolo.
Now that's a mouthful.
The fruit is ripe, the structure approachable, and the finish soft and earthy.
They have a talent for blending and an ability to consider history and then think outside of the box.
If you combine this with the terroir they've been blessed with,
I think we're going to be hearing great things about these six gentlemen winemakers in the future.
Retail price $17. Tasted September 8, 2003. An excellent choice earning one .
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Carpineto 1999 Chianti Classico
is a well made bottle of wine for its price range.
Made from 95% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo.
The nose is a touch floral and earthy.
On the palate, there are rich notes of cassis and tobacco and bright flavors of rosehips and anise.
It's a touch chewy, but the flavors on the front palate are seamless and rich enough
to handle the tannic finish.
The winemaker uses a touch of "New World" style in a traditional Italian recipe.
I'd serve this to my guests with pride.
Retail price $17. Tasted September 8, 2003. A solid pick earning one .
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Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 1998
is aged in large Sloavanian oak vessels for 10 months, this wine takes on a
subtle roasted flavors of spice seed, coffee bean, and vanilla bean flavor.
The spiciness is warm and inviting on the palate as the ripe flavors of plum, rosehips, and
blackberries seamlessly usher in the soft mouth-feel tannins.
The acidity is a lively host to the diverse flavors.
A perfect bottle for an elegant Italian meal.
Retail price $25. Tasted September 8, 2003. A well crafted wine earning two  .
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Toscolo 2000 Chianti
is a tasty Tuscan red in an apealing price range.
The fruit is ripe, earthy, and spicy.
The acidity is a bit forward, but fruit flavors of plum, raspberries, and currants, coupled with a
touch of cocoa-like tannins, balance the wine out pleasantly.
Pairs well with grilled beef, lamb, and tomato based pasta sauces.
An everyday wine with quality and value.
Retail price $8. Tasted September 8, 2003. Table wine for any night earning one .
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Lucignano Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2000
has been a consistent producer year after year.
Grown in one of the lesser know areas of Toscana, Chianti Fiorentini,
Lucignano proves that a bottle doesn't always have to have a roaster on its
neck to be a great bottle of Chianti.
Lucignano is a $10 bottle of Chianti that drinks like a $20 bottle.
The nose is very strawberry and the wine has notes of brighter fruit on the palate.
More strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, new leather, and mushrooms prevail on the palate.
The wine has great acidity and structure.
The tannins leave you with a pleasant white pepper feel.
Buy it while you can because this vintage will be gone soon.
Retail price $10. Tasted May 4, 2003. We give this wine two .
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Le Cinchiole 2000 Chianti Classico
has a beautiful ruby color and a freshly crushed black cherry aroma on the nose.
That aroma carries through with intense, spicy, black cherry flavors on the palate.
The acidity is classically gripping, but the fruit is ample to balance out the it's texture in your mouth.
The tannins are a soft finish on the back end of the wine.
The finish is lingering and memorable, which is always a nice touch.
It's elegant and fruity, a very well made Chianti.
Retail price $18. Tasted April 14, 2003.
In the Chianti category this wine dazzles with two .
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Cipresso 2001 Chianti
is a smooth drinking Chianti with lots of deep, ripe fruit flavors and interesting texture.
The use of malolactic fermentaion, forgives this wine of the typical
hard edge that Chiantis usually posses.
Even with its smoothness, Cipresso has a lovely tannin finish that balances the ripe
black cherry, blackberry, and earthy flavors that sweep the palate.
Whether you're sitting down with a glass to relax or serving it with dinner,
this is a great bottle for the money.
Retail price $10. Tasted July 30, 2003. Quality and price earn it .
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