E' passato del tempo ma certi arrosti non hanno scadenza. Non so chi sia questo "genio" della degustazione, ma valutazioni e punteggi mostrano quanta strada ci sia ancora da fare per comunicare il vero carattere chiantigiano. I top della degustazione di questo "alieno" sono... leggete pure sotto (fermi con uova e pomodori!
). Come abbiamo imparato a nostre spese, non esempi brillanti di chiantigianità intransigente ma legittime interpretazioni in chiave moderna e internazionale. Che ovviamente non abbiamo l'obbligo di amare. E che non amiamo.
Dare 86/100 al Baron'Ugo 2006 (c'ero anch'io alla Leopolda e ho assaggiato, so quel che scrivo), e 90-91 a prodotti senza infamia e senza lode, significa non aver capito niente del Chianti Classico e del sangiovese tout court!
Ok per il gusto personale, ok per il gusto internazionale (che è commercio ma non territorio), ok per "il sangiovese è troppo acido"(o troppo poco... Monteraponi low acidity? ma che hanno scambiato la bottiglia del vino con quella dell'acqua?). Ma ok anche per "che ci venite a fare alla Leopolda quando ci sono tante ottime marmellate di legno in giro per il mondo"?
www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=9970Great event with 140 producers and almost 400 bottles!! I tried a different separation in stages, based upon the tipology. As usual rating strictly refers to the tasted bottle. Location was very good, a bit crowdy and dark. I reached a new personal record with 29 tastings...maybe more confused...
Some problems (for my experience) to rate pre-release samples.
Chianti Classico DOCG 2008
This is a pre-release tasting. Wine is already in bottles, but will be distributed in a couples of months.
* 2008 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Pre release tasting.
Light red, very good consistent. Good fruit at nose (Wild cherries)
Good body, a bit too tannic, but ready for bottling. Good equlibrium, but a bit too alcoholic (14%); Intra:85 (83 pts.)
* 2008 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Brolio - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Pre release.
Good fruit at nose, but not very intense. Nice taste, but still chewing tannins; Intra: 82 (83 pts.)
* 2008 Castello di Verrazzano Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Very nice smell and full mouth (Fruit)!; Similar to Fonterutoli, more body, but a bit lacking in acidity; 13,5%;
Intra: 83 (90 pts.)
* 2008 Podere l'aja Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Pre-realease sample.
One of the weakest. Still confused.
Nice purple colour, but not intense at nose. Not harmonic in mouth, not very pleseant. 14% (78 pts.)
* 2008 Ruffino Chianti Classico Tenuta Santedame - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Pre- release sample.
Technicallly correct, but nothing special.....nothing to remember. Intra: 87 (80 pts.)
Chianti Classico DOCG 2007
* 2007 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Intense in colour, and nice taste, but is not far above the others.
From choosen grapes and 20 months in barrique, small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (86 pts.)
* 2007 Marchesi Mazzei Chianti Classico Castello di Fonterutoli - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Nice smell and coherent mouth, with lots of fruit; good acidity, tannins still young.
16 months in barrique, will get better for sure. Intra: 85 (89 pts.)
* 2007 Castello di Verrazzano Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
One of the best of my tastings, rich nose, with fruit, clearly detectable. Good body, and fruity mouth, with some tannins still to smooth
WS: 85; LM: 84 (92 pts.)
* 2007 Fontodi Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Really a delusion. low intense odour..and not very pleasant. A bit better taste, but still harsh tannins.
LM: 86; AIS 80/85; WS: 91 (77 pts.)
* 2007 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Nice fruity nose, mature, almost jammy, but not particularly intense. Coherent taste. 13,5%; AiS : 80/84 (84 pts.)
* 2007 Monteraponi Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Nice colour, more intense than Coltibuono. Good fruit showing at nose, less intense in mouth. Low acidity. 13,5% . AiS 80/85 (84 pts.)
* 2007 Podere l'aja Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
A bit better than 2008, with more fruit at nose and mouth, but similar. 14% (79 pts.)
* 2007 Ruffino Chianti Classico Tenuta Santedame - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Very nice fruit at nose, with a intriguing balsamic scent.
Full mouth, one of the best, but not excellent. WS: 85 (88 pts.)
* 2007 Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Not excellent at nose: low intensity; very good mouth, also if a bit lacking in body.
LM: 84; AiS 80/84; WS: 86 (86 pts.)
Chianti Classico DOCG 2006
* 2006 Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Perfect nose, full of fruit and a clear remind of CHOCOLATE. Good body and full mouth,
11 months in tonneaux and second-hand barriques. LM: 81; WS: 84 (91 pts.)
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2007
This is a pre-release tasting. Wine is already in bottles, but will be distributed not before year's end.
* 2007 Badia a Coltibuono Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Pre release tasting.
Much richer and finer nose than the Classico and finer in mouth, then similar.
A bit lacking in body (more alchol than texture, 14,5%); Intra: 82
The Vineyards start to have some problems with the increase in temperature, resulting in too alcoholic wines (85 pts.)
* 2007 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Riserva Rocca Guicciarda - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Rich at nose: Fruity: plums, cherries; some spices (?). Full mouth. One of the best, lacking in acidity; Intra: 87 (87 pts.)
* 2007 Castello di Verrazzano Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Nice wine, but still too young compared to Classico 2007, rate will need a resting in a couple of years (89 pts.)
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2006
* 2006 Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Nice nose and very equilibrated mouth. One of the best for 2006; 13%
20% Canaiolo (86 pts.)
* 2006 Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Good fruity nose, also if not very intense. Coherent taste. In the average. (82 pts.)
* 2006 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
In the average with the others, a bit lacking in acidity, like most of the 2006'. 13,5%.
24 months in tonneaux. Ais 80/85; LM 83 (82 pts.)
* 2006 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Riserva Vigneto di Campolungo - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
15% Cabernet in it, giving some roundness (better than Ruffino), but no personality. Still tannic, but not lacking acidity. LM: 82; AiS 80/85 (81 pts.)
* 2006 Monteraponi Chianti Classico Riserva Il Campitello - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Nice, but a bit weak in body and acidity. Tannins are still harsh and no poor acidity to sustain alcohol (13,5%). From vineyards 35/40 y. old.
AiS 80/85 (82 pts.)
* 2006 Monteraponi Chianti Classico Riserva Baron'ugo - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Good fruit both at nose and mouth, but (like most of the 2006) lacking in acidity - a bit closed. Intra: 90+ (86 pts.)
* 2006 Podere l'aja Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
In the average, with good structure and texture, but still harsh tannins.
8% Merlot, 2 % Colorino (83 pts.)
* 2006 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
In bottle, but not yet distributed. 36 months in Tonneaux.
Original nose, with a scent of game, then fruit: complex, but the "wild" reminds appear in mouth too...
Too young and tannic, alcoholic. Intra: NR
20% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (78 pts.)
* 2006 Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Probably the best tasting.
Very rich nose: fruity, balsamic and a bit spicy.
Coherent mouth full and good body. A bit of tannins to smooth. LM: 84; AiS 80/84; WS: 88 (90 pts.)
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2005
* 2005 Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Very nice fruit, at nose and mouth!!1 Still young and tannic. 1/3 in new barriques. LM: 82; WS: 87 (90 pts.)
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2004
* 2004 Il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Riserva Il Margone - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Nice smell, very rich, with reminds of coffee, dried flowers and , for sure, red fruits.
A bit lacking in acidity in mouth and still harsh tannins. 13,5%; LM: 83; WS: 83 (89 pts.)
An overall good quality, level is high, but, at the moment, before ageing, a bit flat. More aged (mature) samples normally have a higher rating. Special mention to Castello di Verrazzano, Molino di Grace and Villa Cafaggio