Posted from CellarTracker
It’s been some years since I’ve tried Querceto, the reason being that I used to find too much oak. Tart and bitter are characteristics I often find in overoaked wines.
I find Chianti often has pleasant bitterness and a touch of tartness, of a sort that complements food rather than a sharper character. I would almost say tart cherry, cherry pit, etc. Those are classic Chianti notes that I think of as tart and bitter, respectively, without being a negative. They balance leather and earth flavors. That said, the bitterness usually fades a bit with time, so if they stand out after seven years maybe it hints at something else.
Funny, I don’t think I’ve ever had Querceto, despite it being widely available and not that expensive.
Of course, that is true. I’m here thinking of tartness and bitterness above what one would expect from the type of wine. I’m a great lover of Chianti, versatile, foodfriendly and not too pretentious wine most of the time, but have some issues with oak use. And they don’t need to be aged till the cows come home to be drinking well with reasonable complexity. Curious what others might think about Quercet0?
My 2 cents…I find these are inexpensive for a reason. Had the 2006 ($13 at Costco I think). Very meh, and I love Chianti. I think it is hard to find a better value at $18 to $20, but Quertico just seems flat with little fruit. YMMV but I’d look for San Felice Il Grigio or Monsanto for a good daily drinker. However, if you are oak adverse,… these wines have oak. Only a question of how much and balance for me.
The Monsanto CCR is neutral oak. I find they are best with a few years of age on them. I am drinking the 2008s now. No trace of oak there.
I think the 2010 Nozzole CC is better than the Querceto.
Byron
I don’t find Monsanto oaky either. Great value in Chianti. I recently bought a case of Vitticio which had been hammered here as being oaky and extracted, but I found it to be neither. Certainly more sleek and modern than the Monsanto CCR, which I prefer, but the Vitticio was an excellent deal, and not the riserva, so perhaps it saw less oak.
NHSLC had Mags of the 2007 Querceto CCR on sale a couple of years ago just before Christmas. With the case discounts, they worked out to $8/bottle. My best ever holiday party purchase.
Maybe Viticcio is dialing back the oak. I hope so. I always felt there was excellent fruit underneath the oak.
Byron
I love Monsanto CCR. And I like San Felice Il Grigio too but to me it slightly leans toward the modern side of things, however I like in a Chianti for a change-up once in a while. Two good value Chianti’s in my book. Have not seen the Querceto in my market.
Need I add Felsina? The Classico, Riserva or not, just can’t be beat.
I went through an Italian phase some time ago and am drinking again some of what I bought. Most are exceedingly good food wines. I find the bitter element quite prevalent in most of them which in small quantities is nice. We visited a Tuscan winery some time ago and their Chianti was not oaked.