Snooth Talk: Chianti

: Posted by penguinoid, Aug 5, 2009.; Chianti is something I've been meaning to try for some time. I took a Chianti to a friend's house a few days ago when I went for dinner, but was a little disappointed. I know there are some not-so-good ones out there, but not certain if I hit one of these or just a disappointing bottle.

The wine I tried was the Sensi Chianti Riserva 2003. Smell was beautiful -- cherry, dark berries, spice and maybe earth/truffles. The taste was a bit thin -- some dark berries and cherry, and that was about it.

Any suggestions for other Chiantis that I should look out for?

439 455: Reply by oceank8, Aug 5, 2009.; I find Chiantis to be a bit on the lighter side. Not always what you want. Good with most pizza though!

0 2: Reply by CelfDestruk, Aug 5, 2009.; Well, the Chianti's I've liked are from Castello di Verrazzano. The Chianti Classico Reserved 2001 is very good. And if you're ever in Florence (Firenze) Italy, they have a restaurant undo the same name. Very good wines.

114 69: Reply by deconut, Aug 5, 2009.; Try: Under $20 - DaVinci, Ruffino Classico Reserve, Carpineto - Ruffino has the Gold label also if you want to spend more - there are so many others but these are the basic old reliables.

153 360: Reply by penguinoid, Aug 5, 2009.; Okay, thanks. I'll try looking around for the Chiantis mentioned.

For some reason, I'd been assuming that Chianti was a rather full-bodied wine. I guess this shows not to trust assumptions ;-). I might also try it with a lighter meal than a roast next time.

I'll make a mental note of Castello di Verrazzano for if I ever do get to Italy. I'm hoping I will -- but it won't be for a couple of years, I guess.

114 69: Reply by deconut, Aug 5, 2009.; The above I mentioned are full bodied but if you are looking for something a little richer you may looking for some Super Tuscans - not sure what your pocketbook will allow but Castellare I Sodi Di S. Niccolo 2001 is a wonderful Super Tuscan as well as Ruffino Modus 2005 - I think you will like the Chianti's I mentioned above though - they never disappoint and are far from light wines! Enjoy!!

153 360: Reply by penguinoid, Aug 5, 2009.; I'll try one of the ones you suggested, if I find them -- I'm in Australia at the moment, and it's very much luck of the draw what you can find with imported wines. I notice one review of the Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro 2001
http://www.snooth.com/wine/ruffino-...
notes that "has recently become a more internationally styled wine" -- I hope this does not mean they are making wines in more of a new-world style. I'm not that much of a fan of fruit-dominated new world wines.

The Super Tuscans are also wines I've been wanting to try, but from the sounds of it the Castellare I Sodi Di S. Niccolo is one that will have to wait until my wallet has something other than moths in it ;-)

gavin,

114 69: Reply by deconut, Aug 6, 2009.; First of all - I do not think the "right" chianti is a light wine so you are drinking the wrong wine for certain!! Light wines in the red family are the Pinot Noirs. Chianti should not taste that way - if they do, you have the wrong wine!
Hey dont worry about the wallet - my friends swear by the Basic Ruffino chianti which is $9.99 for the large bottle - I have tried it and I think it is ok for the price - it might be what you are looking for - lots of nose and flavour - can be harsh but a good everyday wine which I think you may be looking for - you cannot beat a fairly good wine for $9.99 for the large bottle - not my taste but I drink it and am not snobby about it -very inexpensive as far as chiantis go and more full flavour which I think you may like - not as light as you are describing ....so that may be just what you are looking for. The DaVinci Chianti is $9-13 a bottle and well worth it - of course there are the reserves, etc. but the basic Chianti is excellent for the price - Make note of the others listed here - they are more than worth it when you can afford them - no rush....they are not going anywhere!! Enjoy!

153 360: Reply by penguinoid, Aug 6, 2009.; From the looks of it, I just got a disappointing bottle. It's quite possible that this isn't even representative of the Sensi Chianti Riserva. I'll have a look and see what Chiantis are available next time I go to my local wine store -- and there's a tasting of some South Australian and some Chilean wines tomorrow evening, so that sounds like another good excuse :-)

Thanks for the advice!

0 1: Reply by sajanibrahim, Aug 11, 2009.; Hi,

I feel you should try Montegiachi Chianti Classico Riserva, don't think u will be dissappointed ever again after nosing them.
Chin Chin!

153 360: Reply by penguinoid, Aug 11, 2009.; Thanks for the suggestion. I'll have a look round for it, but lookingg for specific wines seems to be harder than you'd expect. My local wine store had only two chiantis, and that's a fairly good store. I ended up getting a bottle of Poggiotondo 2006 Chianti Superiore, which I'll try this week. I'll look in a few other stores too.

http://www.snooth.com/wine/poggioto...

Could be worse -- I've also been looking around for muscadets (I like minerally white wines). So far I've found approximately zero bottles. One store apparently had never heard of them.

I shouldn't complain too much, though -- there are some nice things in amongst the selection of what they *do* have.

6 4: Reply by KiltedDrinker, Aug 11, 2009.; If you're willing to look beyond the (reasonably) protected Chianti region, try some Rosso di Montalcino - the one in my house at the moment is Poggio San Polo. Had it at the weekend and it's a perfectly lovely drop with a rich pasta sauce. If you wanna spend a bit (or a lot) more on a Tuscan wine, get hold of a Brunello di Montalcino. Be warned though, it's an expensive habit as the more you spend, the better it gets.

10 4: Reply by Imperial210, Aug 11, 2009.; La Marronaia Capriforno Chianti is excellent for $10/bottle! Stock up.

153 360: Reply by penguinoid, Aug 12, 2009.; I'm in no way biased against wines which aren't chianti ;-). It's just a style of wine I've been wanting to try for a while. I'll look out for the Rosso di Montalcino, but don't hold my breath as to my ability to find it. As for Brunello di Montalcino -- yes, this is a wine I'd really like to try. But, as with Barolo, whilst there are more affordable ones out there I never seem to be able to find them in the shops. I think they'll both have to wait till I'm back in the UK, and have a wider range of European wines to choose from.

I'll look out for La Marronaia Capriforno Chianti too!

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