My flight to Italia is tomorrow, so I’m doing my best to post a few more notes of recently tasted, new-release wines from the Chianti Classico zone. In some days, I should have a comprehensive list that will also rank the wines by scoring. There are some wines here that you’ve probably not heard of before; many are worth a read/finding.
2016 Le Corti Corsini Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – Quite good, and over-delivers on the bargain price. This medium-bodied, classically built wine offers aromas of fresh cement, stone fruits, soil, and fresh cherry juice. Impressively structured, and balanced for a base bottling; 95% Sangiovese, Colorino. 80k bottles produced; organically grown. Very nice; drink 2020- thru 2035. (90-92)
9/30/2019 – Translucent brick red, clear. Opens with pleasing notes of cement, and fresh cherries; a touch of citrus and soil. The addition of 10% Merlot works pretty well here (clearly quality grapes picked at an ideal moment, i.e. not too ripe), and is rather well integrated already. It’s showing the energy, and freshness of the higher-quality organically grown vines. Really solid value; drink 2019 thru 2029. 50k bottles produced. (90-92)
2016 Poggio al Sole Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – I didn’t have the luxury of tasting this gem over several days as I did during my first encounter. That said, I’m in love with it – such freshness, so bright! Lovely soil notes complemented by cherry, and bright floral aromas. Medium body, traditionally styled, with a cheeky, rewarding final. Clearly has the goods for further improvement. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, and the balance from other local, approved grapes; drink 2019 thru 2032, though I advise a thorough decant if opening anytime soon. Organically farmed, and highly recommended. (90-92)
2016 Poggio al Sole Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – I didn’t have the luxury of tasting this gem over several days as I did during my first encounter. That said, I’m in love with it – such freshness, so bright! Lovely soil notes complemented by cherry, and bright floral aromas. Medium body, traditionally styled, with a cheeky, rewarding final. Clearly has the goods for further improvement. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, and the balance from other local, traditional grapes; drink 2019 thru 2032, though I advise a thorough decant if opening anytime soon. Organically farmed, and highly recommended. (90-92)
9/30/2019 – Quite good, and really well-priced, too. Lovely soil notes, followed by bright, fresh cherry, herbs, and leather. The body is closer to medium(-) just now, though with some time in the glass, and on the finish, too, some weight and length appear, if fleetingly, just now. Perhaps a tad backward at the moment, though it’s got the raw material to improve. HOLD, and drink 2021 thru 2036. 100% Sangiovese; 40k bottles produced. (90-92)
9/30/2019 – Highly traditional and still quite young. Classic flavors, and aromas, with a nicely proportioned, and fresh structure. Very much to my taste (impressively so for their base wine, and in this challenging vintage, too); should drink nicely, perhaps even improving a bit 2020 thru 2031. 21k bottles produced; 100% Sangiovese. (87-89)
2015 Podere il Palazzino Chianti Classico Grosso Sanese Riserva Sangiovese
9/30/2019 – Showing more initial restraint (i.e. a tad backward just now), than say their 2011 Grosso Sanese Riserva did at release. That said, this is a beautiful effort that clearly has the deep, and broad focus that this vineyard brings to the table. The finish shows great energy, and length, and surely it’s built to age, and improve as it does. Just 10k bottles produced; 100% Sangiovese that’s organically grown. Edoardo’s attention in the vineyard’s and his light touch in the cellars is, not surprsingly, rather brilliant. Highly recommended, though it’s strongly advised to HOLD for another 5 years, at least. (90-92), with great potential to go to the next scoring level if it’s given the time it requires.
2015 Podere il Palazzino Chianti Classico Argenina Sangiovese
9/30/2019 – Very good, with obvious freshness, and lovely purity. Crystalline brick red, with a racy, fresh, and complex palate; the finish is good, with suggestions it will improve along with the rest of the wine in the coming years. 100% Sangiovese, organically grown. 25k bottles produced; drink 2020 thru 2030. (90-92)
9/30/2019 – Bright, lively brick red, with the energy flowing over to the highly traditional nose. The palate is medium-bodied, quite fresh, and clean; the finish is impressively long, and shows great purity and focus. Very good likelihood that this will improve in the next 2-4 years, and bracket up score-wise. Very good. 15k bottles produced; 98% Sangiovese, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. A BIO grown wine; drink 2021 thru 2036. (90-92)
9/30/2019 – Recovers nicely on the palate, which is to say (and the wine is still quite young) that the palate began somewhat awkwardly, with a forward, slightly inconsistent nose with interesting spurts of racy red fruits making fleeting appearances. With just a few minutes, and some aggressive swirling in the glass, the medium/medium(+) palate reveals really good balance, freshness and some interesting sous bois notes. In the end, this is easily, and enthusiastically recommended. 30k bottles produced; drink 2020 thru 2033. 100% Sangiovese; BIO grown. (90-92), with a fair likelihood of improving from here.
9/30/2019 – A good/average Riserva wine from the Castelnuovo Berardegna area; just 2k bottles produced. Typical aromas, with the added benefit of some stone fruits, and citrus that add some interest to an otherwise unremarkable effort. Drink 2019 thru 2026; may improve slightly from here. (NR)
2017 Oliviera Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – Equal parts soil, and candied red fruits on the nose. The color is a bit lifeless, and the palate too, comes across as hollow, and a bit meh. Seems traditional, but lacks soul, freshness. Off bottle? too young? perfectly representative? 80% Sangiovese, with equal parts Canaiolo, and Colorino. (NR)
9/30/2019 – The riserva Nittardi is composed of 95% Sangiovese, Merlot. The aromas are complex, and full of freshness and energy, with a thin buckle of modern/dark fruits that merely accent as opposed to dominate. The medium/medium(+) palate shows impressive, traditional build, and the finish seems to want to improve even if it’s already rather long, i.e. really good potential for improvement. Just 8k bottles produced; drink 2020-2036. (93-96)
9/30/2019 – Open and approachable already, this is a step behind their 2016 Classico, but it think that’s more of an honest representation of vintage than any attempt to create a style. Plenty of limestone, cherry, soil, and fruit pith on the nose, keeping things interesting, and moderately complex. The medium/medium(+) bodied palate is delicious, juicy, and shows good structure. Drink now thru 2034; just 3k bottles produced. 90% Sangiovese, 6% Canaiolo, Colorino. Buy it if you see it. (90-92)
9/30/2019 – Opens with a touch of VA, but within a few minutes, this has mostly resolved. Dark, and savory aromas offer average interest, but to its credit, it shows better on the medium-bodied palate, offering good tension, freshness. It’s well-balanced, structure, and in a year or three will have begun its preferred plateau. In the end, it brings soul, and joy. HOLD for a few more years to have a more complete picture. 90% Sangiovese, 6% Canaiolo, Colorino; sadly, just 8k bottles produced. (90-92), and highly recommended
2016 Montecalvi Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – Fascinating nose offers a burst of freshness, followed by red fruits, dust, stone, and cherry juice; a cord of truffle/tar seems to bind it all together. Lovely, classic palate with good Greve in Chianti typicity. And though the finish is a bit short/medium today, it’ll likely improve with 1-3 more years of rest. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon; drink 2021-2034. Just 4k bottles produced; worth the effort to find some, though most (all) will remain in Europe, i.e. non-US. (90-92)
2017 Monte Bernardi Chianti Classico Retromarcia Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – Impressive nose, and equally bright and interesting on the medium-bodied, well balanced palate. Though the finish is moderate at this point, it may well improve with 1-2 years of cellar rest. This BIO/Organic wine is easily recommended for those in search of purity, and soul. Drink 2020-2031. (90-92)
9/30/2019 – The nose if typical of many in the area – some soil, dosed with simple, fruit with little to say, i.e. pretty lifeless. On the wrong side of meh, with little chance for improvement. 650k bottles produced; blend is not listed. (NR)
2016 Lornano Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – A value-priced Chianti, with typical aromas, and flavors. The medium body offers a short-ish, simple finish; finding little complexity. The wine is clean, and correct, but it’s missing freshness, and energy. 150k bottles produced, drink 2020 thru 2027. In this vintage, it may very well improve a bit from here. (NR)
2017 L’Erta di Radda Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – Classic color, but the classic qualities lend themselves to some notes of soil, and leather, and with a few minutes, muddled fruit takes over. The palate is medium/medium(+), and comes across (today) as hot, and imbalanced. Not finding any harmony, just yet. Not something I can recommend, or would purchase IF this bottle is representative. Organically grown. 12k bottles produced. (NR)
2015 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto di Campolungo Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – Much darker than their Classico (2016) tasted alongside; note this is 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 95% Sangiovese. And it’s no surprise, to me, anyway, that this comes across as more made than grown – which, for the bulk of value wine consumers is just fine. If you’re a fan, you’ll like this just fine; not something I would purchase/drink. 20k bottles produced; drink now thru 2025. For the style, (87-89)
2015 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Riserva Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – Darker brick red, with aromas and flavors consistent with more modernly styled palate preferences. The palate is round, linear, and offers little to no complexity. But, I don’t think people choose this wine for its complex nature, but rather for its round, supple lines, and juicy finish. 50k bottles produced, drink now thru 2025. 95% Sangiovese, Canaiolo. (87-89)
2016 Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico Etichetta Bianca Sangiovese Blend
9/30/2019 – A classic nose of place, and grape (90% Sangiovese, 10% altri vitigni), and for the house, as well, e.g. a pinch of modern-ish aromas, but also stones, dust, citrus and ripe red fruits/berries. Clean, rather tight entry at first, and showing lively, fresh acidity. Seems a safe, if not very interesting choice, and may improve a little from today. 133k bottles produced, drink 2020-2026. (87-89)
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