I have to say that I still do not understand this wine, it used be raved about and continues to be loved by the experts.
Is this Chianti? Is this in anyway typical? I just don’t get it.
Served blind I’d say a decent modern Napa Cab and for me there is sadly no pleasure in drinking it.
Checked on their site and it is indeed 18 months in new casks, my Italian is not great so please correct me.
My expertise level may not be ideal as it is limited by most standards. Castill’in Villa is my fav Chianti and if we include Montalcino I have Baricci back to 2001 as another favorite for Sangiovese.
Which brings me another query, why is it suddenly so difficult to find Castill’in Villa in LA?
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For my palate their regular Chianti is much better than the Rancia. Not that I’m buying any 2018 Chianti to begin with.
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I like Rancia but it is atypical for Chianti, I would say more akin to some Brunellos in being dark and concentrated. It requires a lot of time in the cellar typically. I haven’t tried the 2018 as it is a vintage I actively avoid/look for more classic vintages.
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Oak treatment increased heavily since the turn of the century I believe.
I somewhat agree with your assessment on the Rancia. I love Chianti, but if it’s Felsina, I reach for the Berardenga Reserve before the Rancia. It seems a lot more “Chianti-like” to me. My yearly Chianti buy these days is Castell’in Villa. And I usually buy from an east coast supplier where the pricing is not so dear. Suggest you also look outside the Classico region. I have a particular fondness for the rustic quality of wines from Selvapiana, not the gussied up bottlings, just their Chianti Rufina. The wine benefits from a few years of cellaring to unwind some of its youthful tension.
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Rule of 15 for Rancia
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The Rancia indeed requires many years in the cellar depths to show best. The 2004 is showing beautifully at the moment - and likely will for another decade. A very good wine.
Are you saying to age for at least 15 years? @Faryan_Amir-Ghassemi
I am not sure. Have a lot of the 04 and 06. They softened over the years. But little charm. Still a very dark and masculine showing and now with some soy sauce that comes from a hint of oxidation. Both wines stored in an active cellar. To everyone his own but I am not a fan.
I’ve bought one vintage of Castell’in from Saratoga Wine Exchange. They definitely have good prices, but find it difficult to find that right shipping window as their shipments go through Phoenix and I’m traveling 3-4 months every year.
I have done a lot of business with them and the wines have always arrived in great shape. My one rule of thumb on shipping is red wine only from East Coast vendors. Champagne and white wine from CA, OR, WA only…
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