2018 Monte Bernardi Chianti Classico Sa’etta Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (1/23/2026)
– decanted 1 hr. before initial tasted –
– tasted non-blind over 2.5 hrs. –
NOSE: somewhat reserved deep cherry aromas; hint of horse tacking/leather, with a hint of mineral. Quite nice.
BODY: violet-garnet color of medium depth. medium bodied.
TASTE: medium-light leather wash; moderately aged cherry fruit; tannins start out on the lighter side, but seemed to intensify over a couple hours; medium+ acidity; 13.5% is a touch noticeable; I like where this is at now, but I bet it handles at least a few more years just fine. I have the sense this may be natty, as it hints at a wild side, but nothing is haywire; lots of stuffing for a Chianti. Low-level excellent. I’d buy again.
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Such an interesting winery, born as an ambitious passion-project, but the road was rocky. The Stak era wines were quite big, but not IMO OTT. Perhaps dialled back a little with the new ownership?
To the extent your question was not a rhetorical one, you’re asking the wrong guy. I just bought some when Lopa offered them a couple/few years ago. I, too, have enjoyed them a lot and will be looking to rebuy if/when I am presented with the opportunity to do so. 
Not rhetorical, just intrigued.
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I’ve also liked the few bottles I tried but I must admit I don’t know much about the producer. It sounds like you do! When did the change of ownership happen?
Quite a while back, maybe early 2000s? (edit: 2003) From memory Stak Aivaliotis and his wife divorced, forcing the sale of the winery to enable the divorce settlement. His ambition was unbridled, from memory setting himself an incredibly high target for where his wine would be perceived in the wine world. My experiences from the late 1990s wines Paris, Sa’Etta & Tzingana, first coming across them in a couple of **mixed auction lots when first diving into fancier Chianti region wines, later finding them at a local wine shop who still have stock from the Stak era.
** The others Isole e Olena Cepparello, Felsina Rancia and Selvapiana Bucerchiale… that really was a superb introduction
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