TN: 2010 Chianti Classico's and a couple of others

WINE TALK
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2010 CHIANTI CLASSICO’S AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS - Chris H’s home (11/19/2014-11/20/2014)

Last night my tasting group met. Our theme was 2010 Chianti Classico. The wines were consumed blind over the course of a couple of hours. Breads and cheeses were served along side. Most of the wines were pop and pour (except the Felsina). I think Chianti Classico is such a great area. There is value here. There are also expensive wines that need to be cellared. And, I think Chianti does cellar better than most people would think. This is a vintage that I will be putting a bunch of wines away for a decade or more as I did in 97, 01, 04 and 07.

Its a funny thing though, this is a wine not to open with non-geeks. Usually, it is the more expensive wines that casual wine drinkers just don’t really appreciate, but in the case of Chianti, everyone knows the name, but casual drinkers seem to associate it with low quality. They don’t always get the difference between and Chianti at $6 and a Classico Riserva at $30 just by the label.

  • 2009 Uvaggio (L’Uvaggio di Giacomo) Moscato Secco Bella Vigna Vineyard - USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi (11/19/2014)
    Light gold in color. The nose is interesting. Someone said Torrontes which made sense. It has grapefruits, tangerines and pine(?). On the palate, a lot of tart yellow grapefruit. There is a bit of an industrial quality that comes and goes. Overall though a very nice white that I bet was better a year or two ago but is holding up better than I might have thought. (88 pts.)


  • 2010 Antinori Chianti Classico Pèppoli - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/19/2014)
    Purple/ruby in color. The nose has cherries and menthol. Juicy cherries on the palate. There is some depth, but this was the simplest on the table, but not in a bad way. Happy to drink this and I think it should be good for 7 to 10. (89 pts.)
  • 2010 Castello Vicchiomaggio Chianti Classico Vigna La Prima Gran Selezione - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/19/2014)
    The first wine I can remember carrying the Gran Selezione designation that I have tried. It is still quite young and in need of time. The nose is tight. Revisiting later in the night shows cherries, dark cherries, and some cedar. It is both thinner while being more tannic than most of the wines at the table. There is plenty of fruit so I think a few years in the cellar will do this good. More of a black cherry profile. My first time trying this winery. (91 pts.)
  • 2010 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/19/2014)
    This was love it or hate it. It was my WOTN, but not so for the group who had it second last despite two first place votes. Many found it too tannic. I also think it is more of a dark cherry profile than cherries so perhaps no coincidence that the two of us who had it first and not huge fans of Pinot Noir. The nose has dark cherries, pine, spice and is quite tight. Hugely tannic right now, this wine needs cellar time. This bottle had been open for 8 hours and allowed to breath which was not enough time. It is tightly would but there are layers of complexity. Rich black cherry fruit on the palate. I loved the wine now, but its best days are ahead. (94 pts.)
  • 2010 Castello Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/19/2014)
    People love to trash this winery. They make a lot of wine and I find most of it solid and respectable wines for the price. At under $20, this provides some nice value for a wine to bring home and drink. The nose is simple with cherries. Soft and accessible on the palate. The least acidity of any wine, but enough to work with food. Nice cherries. Clean. No faults. Certainly a step or two above boring. (87 pts.)
  • 2010 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/19/2014)
    From a 375. This is very tight and took a while to open. The nose is dusty with cherries and some anise. Tart yet jammy cherries on the palate. There is some initial warming on the finish. Over the evening this seemed to open and show more complexity. Needs time. (90 pts.)
  • 2010 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/19/2014)
    Another wine that people seem to dismiss because it is so ubiquitous. More than solid, this was outstanding. The nose is very tight on opening. With air it shows cherries and sandalwood. Perhaps some menthol too. On the palate, lots of tannins. Dusty, juicy cherries and some spice. Nice backbone of acidity. Needs a couple of years I think but drinking well today. (91 pts.)
  • 2010 Fontodi Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/20/2014)
    Really outstanding. This was my #2 and the groups WOTN. It is shut down initially, but with air, this has cherries, dark cherries, black licorice and spice. Full bodied. Tightly layered with a lot of depth. Needs five years IMO. Black cherries and tannins. great texture. (93 pts.)
  • 2010 Podere il Palazzino Chianti Classico Argenina - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/19/2014)
    I have not had this before, I am more familiar with the Grosso Senese. The nose has a slight funk/barnyard on it. Not sure if it is brett or not, but not something I often find in Chianti. Also some thin cherries. On the palate, more black cherries. Not much complexity but it drinks fine. Nice acidity. I would drink in the first five years anyway if not right away as I doubt it gets better. (88 pts.)


  • 1997 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (11/19/2014)
    Really nice showing. I opened this, bought on release and stored by me, to show that Chianti does age well. This worked out great. Still purple in color with ruby at the rim. The nose has cherries, some fennel and some old furniture qualities. On the palate, this does not drink old, but also does not show a lot of age. Slight tannins. Plenty of cherry and dark cherry fruit left. Nice bright acidity. Some layers of complexity. Long finish. Based on this bottle, while it may not improve much, no hurry either. (91 pts.)
  • 2009 Giovanni Chiappini Bolgheri Superiore Guado de’ Gemoli - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore (11/19/2014)
    This was apparently a Wine Enthusiast 100 point wine. I might not go that high, but it is clearly a very special wine. My first time trying it. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, dark cherries, chocolate, and spice. Full bodied. Lush texture. This seems like it is drinking well today, but no hurry either. still in its youthful exuberance stage. Showing a nice complexity. Reminds more of a California Cab/Merlot blend than Italy or old world. Very smooth and lush. Great wine. (95 pts.)

Thanks Chris for hosting!
Posted from CellarTracker

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Snark alert and not to be taken as a personal insult: Now this is what I call score inflation!! :wink:

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Please post your notes and scores on these wines. I would find that helpful. Thanks.

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It was a snarky joke man. Not wanting to insult nor looking to pick a fight.

If you’re 89 or 91 on those, more power to you.

I have neither notes nor scores. (Though I have tasted almost all the wines, not necessarily same vintages.)

Cheers.

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Thanks for posting. Good to see some broad coverage for the 2010 vintage in one posted TN. Point being, you make a good argument to load up on 2010 CC/CCR. I already knew this I guess, but this helps.

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No worries Geir. Just looking for more reference points.

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Those scores seem in-line to me.

I have the 2010 Fontodi Chianti Classico. I’m not aware of a straight Riserva.

Was this the del Sorbo?

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You may be right Rob. I don’t have the bottle and probably hit the wrong box on CellarTracker. Definitely not the Vigna del Sorbo.

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Ok, so it was probably the straight Chianti Classico?

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Thanks for the notes, Loren, they’re very helpful since I’m buying and drinking more Chianti all the time; it really suits much of what I like to have for dinner.

As for aging, last summer I had an '88 Felsina CCR that was one of the very best Tuscan wines I’ve ever had.

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Great post and theme, Loren. I think Tuscany, and more specifically Chianti, is the most underrated fine wine region in the world, and I think part of that reason is what you alluded to - the apparent inability of a lot of drinkers to diffentiate between the Chianti they used to buy in a straw holder, and today’s Chianti.

I also think that 2010 is a vintage that holds a lot of promise for longer-term drinking. To date, I’ve tried:

Rocca di Castagnoli CC
Castello di Gabbiano CCR
Castello di Bossi CC
Felsina CCR
Farnatella CCS

I think my two favorites of that grouping are the Felsina and the Farnatella - if Chianto Classico is underrated, then wines from Senese and Rufina are even more so.

One other point I would mention is that when people are looking at Chianti, they should also consider Rosso’s from quality producers as well. I think my favorite 2010 Sangiovese so far has been the Salicutti Rosso, which I liked even more than the Felsina CCR, and the 2010 Rosso fom Stella di Campalto was also quite nice, albeit displaying less typicity than the Salicutti IMO.

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Thanks for the notes. I picked up some of the Felsina Rancia from PC on one of their weekend sale emails, so it will certainly have more cellar time by the time I get it!

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Bob,

I’ve been drinking Rosso di Montalcino with steak recently, relatively young wines that were perfect with the food. I am glad you like the Salicutti, me too.

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Yup. Thanks for catching that.

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Yes, and especially when pricing is a factor.

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You’re welcome. Thanks for the notes. It’s great to get your take on a good selection of Chiantis from this vintage, especially the Fontodi, which I have resting in my cellar.

I recently tried the 2010 San Giusto Rentennano CCR Baroncole and found it to be excellent. Have several of those in my cellar, too.

Count me as another who believes Chianti is under the radar, under appreciated and a great bang for the buck.

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Nice tasting Loren and useful notes.

I spent a week near Greve this September, on holiday with my partner. We stayed at Vicchiomaggio as I know John and sell his wines in the UK. With that in mind, as a disclaimer, I’ll say that I think the 2010 VLP is superb. Needs a bit of time for the oak to integrate but it has great potential. Based on a small vertical we had this year, I’d say the sweet spot for this wine is at after about 7yrs age.

During our week we drank mostly Chianti normale and riserva, either picked up locally or at restaurants and bars. I love the stuff and found an authenticity and toothsome sappiness that’s kind of missing in a lot of otherwise ‘classic’ wines today. Especially when you add in the accessible price points. Our stay coincided with a Chianti Expo in Greve so, unusually, I persuaded the missus that it would be cool to go on a wine tasting - otherwise it’s too much of a bus man’s holiday. In particular I loved the wines from Fattoria di Lamole and Panzanello, neither of which I’ve seen in the UK…yet…

Cheers,
Matthew

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The Fontodi note was corrected above to indicate that it is the basic Chianti Classico.

Thanks for the suggestions as well.

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I drink a lot of chianti, with a boatload of Italian food. As a matter of fact, when I get home tonight, I’ll be having homemade spaghetti(homemade noodles also), remains to be seen whether my wife will use her special meatballs or italian sausage this time. I haven’t had all of those, but agree that some like the Ruffino Ducale are so common they are ignored. My everyday favorite, though, is Monsanto.

The Banfi is a good dinner wine as well, and I’m all about good food wines that are cheap.

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To be honest, I think folks who have been buying Chianti for a long time tend to ignore both Banfi and Ruffino because they are large volume producers that in certain vintages have managed to release very indifferent/so-so wines. That doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of producing acceptable to good Chianti (although I have never had a wine from either producer that I would rate as a “best in class” wine in any recent vintage), but when there are a plethora of available wines to choose from, including a number from producers like Felsina with a long-established track record of better than average quality, a legitimate question is why should I take a chance on buying a bottle of Banfi or Ruffino given prior less than satisfactory experiences.

While I am a somewhat lazy wine hunter in that I rarely go out of my way to track anything down any more, if I see something cross in an e-mail, three producers that I tend to buy year-in and year-out are Felsina, Castell 'in Villa and Selvapiana - fairly consistent, and in Felsina’s case, a nice selection at different price points. [cheers.gif]