2017 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Friday!  I am doing a quick dinner and glass of wine before my rehearsal this evening for the production I am in at the Elkhart Civic Theatre.  So, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2017 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out,  I reviewed the 2010 Vintage several years ago, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, just as you might expect from a nice Sangiovese based wine.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, oak, cherry and eucalyptus that bring the earthy notes of Tuscany to your mind.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe cherry fruit that evolves to some earthy notes of tar, tobacco and oak, before returning full circle to some notes of cassis on the finish.  The tannins are subdued, providing for a very pleasant, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very pleasant drinking Chianti, and a value at just $13!  This wine would pair well with a variety of Italian dishes, from risotto to hearty pasta, cured salami to classic hard cheeses.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a classic linguine carbonara based on a new recipe I tried tonight.  Cheers!

2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Saturday!  So today was the day that I took down all the Christmas decorations, so another holiday season is officially in the books (though I'll probably be encountering tinsel until March).  After all that work this afternoon, I've decided to open a bottle of wine that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva is a 100% Sangiovese for a classic Chianti, bringing the freshness of Tuscany to your table.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity as you'd expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of bright red berries, cherry, raspberry, currant and strawberry with undertones of floral and Tuscan herbs.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of red fruit, raspberry, tart cherry and currant that transitions to some earthy notes of tar, tobacco and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well structured with some bright acidity to provide for a vibrant but very dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant, easy drinking Classic Chianti, that was also a terrific value for just $13!  This wine would pair well with classic Tuscan dishes, from a Bistecca Fiorentina to a Tuscan toast with fava beans.  Tonight I am going more of a traditional Italian pairing, enjoying this wine with some porcini mushroom and truffle ravioli with some Italian sausage marinara.  Cheers!

2016 Castelli del Grevepesa 'Castelgreve' Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a short while since I've posted, so I thought why not go for a mid-week treat?  Tonight I have decided to go Italian and open a recent bottle from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2016 Castelli del Grevepesa 'Castelgreve' Chianti Classico Riserva!  This Tuscan classis is a blend of Sangiovese (90%) and Merlot (10%) which lends to it's somewhat richer color than a typical Sangiovese based wine.  So, let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, with great clarity.  A swirl of the glass releases aromas of strawberry, cedar and floral aromas that are typical for a nice Chianti.  Take a sip and you're greeted with delightful flavors of black cherry, tobacco and vanilla bean, with undertones of earthy tar and leather.  The tannins are nicely structured providing for a velvety dry finish with a reprise of savory notes at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful example of a Chianti Classico, at a typically value price point for an Italian red.  This wine would pair well with grilled steaks, pastas or risotto, many of the Italian dishes that have become our favorites.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Italian sausage with onions and peppers and some spaghetti tossed with garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2018 Basilica Cafaggio Chianti Classico

Happy Sunday!  I spent the afternoon doing some work along with laundry and other chores around the house before heading out for a bike ride before the sun set.  So, not it's time to make some dinner and open a bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle I recently found at Costco, the 2018 Basilica Cafaggio Chianti Classico is a 100% Sangiovese that was just released.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, just as you would expect from this varietal.  A quick swirl in the glass releases aromas of black cherry, currant and the faintest hint of anise and prune.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of cool black fruit, cherry, currant and plum that wash over your palate before transitioning to some notes of spice box and violet midpalate.  The tannins are soft, but well structured for the long, smooth dry finish with just a kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine that would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes.  This wine was also a solid value at just $9!  This wine would go well with hearty pasta dishes, steaks and chops, and even a midweek pizza.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some hot Italian sausage with onions and peppers along with some spaghetti with garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2016 Famiglia Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Saturday!  I basically spend the day working around the house and running errands, and with some cooler weather, I'm looking forward to a fire on the patio tonight.  But until then, it's time to open a bottle of wine and enjoy some dinner.  Tonight I've opened a recent purchase from Costco, the 2016 Famiglia Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva.  Who doesn't love a nice Sangiovese based wine, and this one should be just about to hit its stride, so let's have a taste!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, just as you would expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of cherry, strawberry, leather and oak with undertones of spicy peppery notes.  Take a sip and your greeted with plenty of ripe red fruit, cherry, strawberry and currant that lingers on the palate before transitioning to earthy notes of dusty limestone and a hint of anise midpalate.  The tannins are soft, creating a wonderfully supply, dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really pleasant drinking example of a Chianti Classico at a value price of just $14 at Costco.  This wine practically begs to be paired with Italian food, and I would enjoy it with a classic bistecca Fiorentina to a risotto alla Milanese, hearty pasta with red sauce or my dinner tonight, some sweet Italian sausage sautéed with onions and peppers along with some linguine tossed with garlic and olive oil and broccoli rabe, topped with shaved Parmesan.  This is the type of dinner that reminds me of the great Italian fests, like for San Gennaro back when I lived in Hoboken in the 1990s.  Cheers!

2014 Canto dei Mori Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Wine Wednesday!  When I was growing up, Wednesday was Prince spaghetti day, and what goes better with spaghetti than a nice Italian wine?  Tonight I have a classic, the 2014 Canto dei Mori Chianti Classico Riserva, a 100% Sangiovese from Tuscany.  I am a big fan of Tuscan red wines, whether the classics based on Sangiovese or Super Tuscans incorporating Bordeaux varietals, these wines are invariably interesting and a solid value for the price.  So let's see how this Chianti is tasting!

The wine is a light garnet in the glass with great transparency, just as you'd expect from the varietal.  The nose is rather subdued affair, with notes of ripe cherry, dried rose petals and some mineral notes.  The taste is classic Chianti, with a rush of tart cherry up front that transitions nicely to some notes of strawberry and vanilla midpalate.  The tannins are soft, providing a bit of balance to the acidity in the wine, and a soft, dry finish that lingers a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a nice, easy drinking Chianti that's ideal for midweek dinners, and it's a solid value at just $12 from Wines Till Sold Out!  This wine would pair well with a broad range of Italian dishes, from classic pastas to mushroom risotto, to a nice proscuitto and capocollo anti pasti.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple pasta with spinach alfredo sauce topped with a bit of shaved Parmesan.  Tutti a tavola a mangiare!

2010 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Friday!  I've been enjoying my staycation and went and did a little shopping today, but when I came home it started raining, so I altered my dinner plans from something grilled to something pasta and what's better with pasta than a little Italian red?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2010 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva, the office wine club selection that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out, a 100% Sangiovese from Tuscany, so let's see what she has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, and I've let it breathe for about an hour or so.  The nose presents aromas of tart cherry, cedar and a bit of earthy musk.  The taste is quite nice with a blast of ripe black fruit up front that transitions to some dusty limestone and a bit of "twang" midpalate.  The finish is dry and very smooth, not as abrupt as some dry red wines.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it is a very pleasant Chianti and a terrific value at just $13! This wine would pair well with a variety of roasts and game, but tonight I am going Southern Italian and enjoying this wine with a classic spaghetti and meatballs!  The earth and fruit notes are a perfect foil to the spicy Italian sausage in the meatballs while the dry finish is perfect against the red sauce and parmesan, Tutti a tavola a mangare!

2010 Spalletti Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Monday!  I just got back from the gym and now I'm cooking dinner, and what goes better with cooking than a nice glass of wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2010 Spalletti Chianti Classico Riserva that I bought recently during the Wines Till Sold Out "Cheapskate Marathon" which is always a favorite event!

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass with great clarity as is typical with a nice Chianti.  The nose is pure Tuscan Sangiovese, with earthy aromas of leather, smoke and peat over a fruit foundation of ripe plum and blackberry.  The taste takes be back to a lunch of Tuscan Toast I had in Florence back in 1995, with some ripe blackberry and plum at the outset that transitions effortlessly to some notes of peat and nearly Bordeaux style funk midpalate.  The finish is very nice, as many mass produced Chianti have a very lackluster finish, but the tannins on this wine are well developed, providing for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice example of a quality Chianti at a value price of just $15!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some Parmesan crusted walleye with lemon garlic butter, wild rice and some haricots verts almondine!  What could be better with a nice Tuscan red than a mild fish married with butter, garlic and Parmesan?  Cheers!

2010 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Happy Friday before Pi-Day!  Tonight I am enjoying the last of the four wines we tried on our Snooth.com virtual tasting with Ruffino Wines, though this is my third review - man I really messed up the order on these!  At any rate, tonight it's the top of the heap, the 2010 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, a blend of Sangiovese (80%) with the remainder composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Colorino.  The wine was aged in large oak casks for about a year, then transferred to barriques for another 12 months, followed by an additional four months in the bottle.  Now let's taste the result!

The wine is a lovely garnet hue in the glass with ruby along the edges, and great clarity.  The nose is classic Chianti, with lovely aromas of blackberry, cherry and some floral aromas of violet and a hint of spice.  The taste is quite nice, fruit forward with lots of cherry, plum and a bit of spice, maybe a bit of cumin.  The flavors easily transition to some lovely dark chocolate and mocha notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated, lending support for a long, smooth dry finish that lingers as if to tempt you into another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's exactly what a great Chianti should be, though it's still a bit young - I really wonder how this will develop over the coming decade.  At about $40 retail, this is certainly worth putting up a few bottles in the cellar.  Tonight I am pairing it with a classic American version of bisteca Fiorentina, a rare grilled porterhouse with a baked potato and some steamed asparagus (for once I can enjoy the wine relaxing by the grill since it's above freezing!).  The wine is ideal for big steaks of just about any hearty Italian dish (think meaty lasagna, eggplant parm or mussels fra diavalo with linguine!).  Cin Cin!

2012 Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of participating in another Snooth Virtual Tasting, a great opportunity to taste wines with other wine fans while listening to winemakers talking about their products.  This tasting was all about the wonderful Chiantis produced by Ruffino, a maker that's been producing Chianti since 1877.  We tasted four wines that made up a vertical by vintage (2010-2013) and by price (from $8 to $40).  Given my dinner tonight, I've decided to review the second of the group, the 2012 Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico, a blend of Sangiovese (80%) with the balance made up of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with great clarity and somewhat lighter body which is typical of Chianti.  The nose exhibits notes of green herbs and tart cherries with light undertones of leather and tar.  The taste is very fruit forward with notes of raspberries and plum with bright acidity that transitions to some tart cherry midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with some well structured tannins supporting a smooth dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very easy drinking wine at a value price of around $12.  Tonight I am pairing this with pizza and a baby arugula and radicchio salad!  Yes, this is an ideal pizza wine, as the nice fruit and bright acidity are ideal complements to the richness of the cheese and toppings of a nice pizza.  Stay tuned for reviews of the other four wines in the coming days.  Cin Cin!

2011 Il Giglio Chianti

So, my second wine blog from Prague features an Italian wine, the 2011 Il Giglio Chianti which I bought from a wine store at the mall for 190 Kc (about $10.50).  What was I doing at the mall you ask? Especially when you are on vacation in a lovely European capitol?  Funny you should ask, it seems last night I did something in my sleep and knocked my glasses off the night stand and the frames broke.  At first I thought a screw came loose, easy fix, but no, it was broken where the lens fits to the frame.  So my helpful front desk clerk, Pavel directed me to an eyeglass shop in the mall that was open today!  It took most of the day to fix them, but I have them back now and can see, but boy do I need a glass of wine!

This wine is quite typical of the lighter bodied Chianti being produced so widely now, so the color is a light ruby throughout, with very little opacity.  The nose is somewhat alarming with a robust aroma of wet dog or wool, but when that dissipates there is a strong aroma of berries and spice so typical of Tuscan wines.  The taste is surprisingly fruit forward, with a burst of fresh fruit, strawberries, ripe plums which transitions easily to a good bit of peppery spice midpalate.  The finish is somewhat abrupt, but still pleasant as I could see myself enjoying this one on a sunny patio over an afternoon.

Overall, I would rate this one a 7, if only for the wet dog on the nose, but once you get past that it's a really easy drinking wine, and I certainly can't complain about the price!  Tonight I will once again be pairing this with nothing since I'm enjoying this as an aperitif before heading off to dinner.  Tonight it's more traditional Czech fare at the Olympia Restaurant, so follow me on twitter if you want to see the meal!  But for this wine, it would be perfect with Italian dishes like a pasta with red sauce, or some grilled Italian sausage, as the fruit would really balance out the spiciness of those dishes.  Tady je na jiný dobrý den v Praze!

2008 Castello Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva

Yesterday I was talking with a colleague who is taking a trip to Italy over the holidays, and as a result of that conversation, I really had a hankering for a nice bottle of Italian wine.  Hence, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2008 Castello Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva!  Now a good Chianti is a classic Italian wine from Tuscany, made entirely from the Sangiovese grape, making it a lovely accompaniment to a variety of Italian dishes, from basic pastas, to risotto, to bistecca alla fiorentina, the classic Tuscan porterhouse!

The wine itself has a lovely deep ruby color in the glass and presents a nose of leather, licorice and some floral notes that almost feel chewy as you breath them in.  The taste is somewhat fruit forward, with flavors or ripe plum and tart cherry at the front end, transitioning to some wonderful earthy, spicy notes midpalate.  The well structured tannins and bright acidity make for a lovely smooth, long finish.  It's exactly what you would expect from a nice Chianti Classico.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a great example of a classic Italian red wine, and I found it for a decent price of only $22 at my local wine merchant, G.B. Russo's.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a very simple dinner of linguine with some sausage and arrabiata sauce, as the spice of the sauce really plays well against the fruit and spice notes in this wine.