1999 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia- Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (12/21/2013)
Very dark brooding in color, classic nose of sour cherry, leather and some balsa wood. Lots of sediment, next bottle should be stood up for a few hours before decanting. Plush round mouthfeel.
Great sour cherry on the palate, followed by the leather and light wood. Lots of very fine fully integrated tannins. Nice sour cherries lingering on the palate with a big dose of acidity. Very classic, correct and lively, but I suspect this might be on a slow downward slide from post-peak. This was a very nice bottle of Chianti. (92 pts.)
Not the Rancia, but a few months ago I had an obviously well-stored bottle of their 1988 Chianti Riserva and it was sensational, easily among the best wines from Tuscany I’ve ever had - rich, totally resolved while still very lively, just wonderful in every way. It was a relatively recent purchase (from Benchmark) and I couldn’t have been more pleased.
I hear people saying this, i hear AG constantly confirming this, and i would love to try a really aged and well stored bottle. On my few encounters with Rancia, it just seems hard for me to comprehend, as i also had a feeling the 1999 was past its prime and the others i have tasted around the 10 year mark from vintage) also seemed to be drying out. To be fair they had been sourced on the secondary market several years from vintage, so always the possibility of provenance issues.
Which vintage would you receommend for drinking now to convert me into Rancia lover?
I cannot speak to the provenance of the wine I drank. I recently purchased a case at a Zachy’s auction. The case was in its original cardboard box, and the wine looks perfect, but who knows if it has been stored in a temp controlled cellar, or not. Maybe it was stored is a non-cooled cellar and the wine is more advanced that others with better storage conditions.
My comment about being past its prime was just a hunch, as I couldn’t really know. The wine drank beautifully, but based on a recent bottle of the '06 I had, it didn’t have nearly the same verve or fruit present (which should be expected) but the wood and tannin were much more integrated (also expected).
I am happy with this purchase, and will probably drink another bottle soon… Happy to report back, but would also love to hear others recent experience.
I had quite a different experience a week ago. It was tough, with hard tannins and little charm, even after decanting and air. The leftovers – decanted and then refrigerated – were only slightly more giving the next day. I will leave my other bottle for five years, probably. I can’t say I am that optimistic, but I have almost no experience with very mature Chianti, or Felsina in particular, so I am glad to hear people here say these need 20+ years.
Just decanted the 2000 Fontalloro. Also might do a Riserva. All my Ranica wines are from 2004 forward so too young. Felsina ages very well. For the price hard to beat them in what they do.
I am waiting with excitement on the 2010’s and my plan is to by a bunch and try one and then cellar the rest so I will be able to join the conversation in about 20 years’ time
@ Martin and Mattias I will gladly join and bring another mature Tuscan wine if you are planning on meeting in Copenhagen?
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