Tag Archives: sangiovese

Castelli del Grevepesa Panzano Gran Selezione 2017, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy

10 Thursday Aug 2023

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Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of sour cherry, pomegranate, roses and perfumed lilac.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  A medium body gives me red fruit that is tart in nature along with some pretty florals and a hint of oak.  This is not a very complex Sangiovese which surprises me considering that fact that it is Gran Selezione.  I purchased it after drinking the delightful 2016 Panzano.  This vintage is of  lesser intensity and lacks power, garnering 88 points from me.  At $24 it rates 3 stars in my books.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Castellani Sangiovese Toscana IGT 2019, Tuscany, Italy

09 Sunday Jul 2023

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Medium ruby colored with a touch of staining and medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV).  Aromas of lavender, violet, charred oak, dried plum, tar, black cherry and some bramble.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins.  Medium bodied- it has flavors that echo the nose- cherry, oak, florals and tar.  The tannins are interesting, they grip on the underside of my tongue rather that on the palate.  The finish is surprisingly long with red fruit and oak nuance.  Not overly complex- this is a great party wine that will pair nicely with pasta, burgers and stews.  It’s drinking nicely now and will cellar till 2028.  89 points for this $15 quaffer makes it a 4 star wine.  Salut….

Milani 1985 Sangiovese Primitivo 2022, Puglia IGT, Italy

02 Sunday Jul 2023

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Deep ruby with hints of garnet- the depth of color coming from the Primitivo (Zinfandel) that is blended with the usually pale Sangiovese.  Medium viscosity legs (13.5% ABV) and very little staining on the walls.  The nose has medium intensity aromas of red cherry, raspberry, dusty bramble, violets and orange peel.  The palate is  slightly off-dry with juicy acidity and lithe tannins that are well integrated.  Medium body which is supporting the red fruit and fresh florals.  There is a hint of oak usage, perhaps used French barrels with the focus on freshness and verve.  This 89 point wine is going to go really well with our sausage laden pasta and Endive salad.  For $15 this is not a bad drop that gets 3 stars from me.  Drink till 2027.  Salut….

Marchesi Antinori Santa Cristina 2014, Chianti Superiore DOCG Tuscany, Italy

31 Wednesday May 2023

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Every so often I’ll buy a bin-end wine to hopefully give it one last shot at stardom.  This Chianti is pretty old and perhaps over the hill.  In the glass it is medium garnet with high viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose shows it’s age- stewed plum, baked cherry, dried herbs, porcini mushrooms, a touch of vanilla and coconut along with some coffee.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium tannins that are pretty well integrated.  The fruit notes are somewhat subdued and center around tart cherry pie with some baking spices and vanilla.  The stewed/cooked nature of the fruit is not as pronounced on the palate as the nose.  The body is medium in weight and carries through to a shortish finish.  It’s not a bad drop all things considered as I only paid $11 for it.  List was originally $22.  As for a score- 88 points from me and a drink by 2024 window, it’s getting tired and the structure won’t hold up much more.  4 stars considering what I paid.  I found this Sangiovese online for $14 for current vintages.  Salut….

Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 2009, Tuscany, Italy

19 Wednesday Apr 2023

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A murky, deep garnet colored with some light staining and medium viscosity legs (14% ABV).  The nose is stupendous- pronounced intensity aromas of ripe blackberry, vanilla, baking spices, cedar, tobacco, cassis, crushed violet, white truffle, baked black cherry- it’s over-the-top.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are polished and very fine grained.  Full bodied, this blend of 75% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc gives me flavors of cassis, blackberry and black cherry along with the secondary and tertiary notes I got on the nose.  It all turns a touch tart on the mid-palate, something Old World wines tend to do.  The silky mouthfeel is smooth and leads to a long finish that is layered and delicious.  The cassis and vanilla lasting for an eternity.  This wine has matured beautifully for me and I’m proudly serving it with Pappardelle and Meatballs- it’s my birthday week after all so I can do what I want.  95 points from me for this $ 175 bottle makes it a 5 star treat.  Salut….

Renieri Invetro Toscana IGT 2018, Tuscany, Italy

10 Friday Mar 2023

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Deep dark purple color with medium legs (14% ABV).  The nose of this Sangiovese, Merlot and Cab Sav blend has some exotic dark fruit aromas- mulberry, boysenberry, elderberry with vanilla, coffee bean, baking spices, eucalyptus and camphor (yup).  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and finely grained medium (+) tannins.  The body is full and the flavors echo the dark berry notes I got on the nose.  I’m missing the pungent camphor but I get oak influence by way of vanilla and baking spice.  The wine retails for $18 and got a big score.  I’m thinking 91 points and 5 stars.  Tonight- it’s pasta with meatballs, sausages and meat sauce- this will pair beautifully.  Drinking window till 2026.  Enclosed by a glass stopper btw.  Salut….

Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Reserva DOCG 2018, Tuscany, Italy

20 Sunday Nov 2022

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We went out to dinner last night and ordered this $21 Sangiovese ($65 at the restaurant 😳).  I did not take notes but loved the wine.  At 4 years of age it was showing plenty of earthy, tertiary notes along with some fruit and oak influence.  The leather fingerprint of this varietal was abundant and the tannins had really integrated. Acidity was en pointe and the wine had a lovely mid length finish.  Well worth the price of entry even at a restaurant.  91 points from me and a drink till 2025 window.  5 stars.  Salut….

Castelli del Grevepesa Clemente VII Riserva 2016, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG Tuscany, Italy

03 Saturday Sep 2022

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Pale to medium ruby colored with thick, droopy legs.  The nose has aromas of steeped cherry, rose, baking spice, white raspberry, coconut, cherry cola and vanilla bean.  The palate is dry with high acidity and medium tannins.  Medium (+) bodied I get delicious flavors of cherry, vanilla, coconut, raspberry and spice. It finishes long with a tart cherry note and some lingering, integrated tannins.  This is a delicious and mature Sangiovese from the heart of Tuscany.  It will cellar well into 2028 and pair beautifully with pasta (duh!) and perhaps a ribeye with Roquefort sauce.  It is very pinpoint btw.  93 points from me for this $28 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Salut….

Tenuta di Renieri Chianti Classico DOCG 2019, Tuscany, Italy

29 Monday Aug 2022

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Pale ruby colored, this Sangiovese has lovely aromas of red cherry, tar, rose petals, orange peel, leather, green herbs (dill) and sandalwood.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity and medium (+) tannins.  Medium to full bodied- I get flavors of tart red cherry, leather, rose petal and that dill component.  A slight charred oak note follows on at the mid palate and the finish is short.  A serviceable Chianti that lacks a real oomph, it gets 89 points from me and for $22 it is a 3 star effort to drink till 2027.  Salut….

Castelli del Grevepesa Panzano Gran Selezione 2016, Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy

18 Monday Jul 2022

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Medium ruby colored with a bit of cloudiness in the glass.  The nose of this Sangiovese is medium intensity with aromas of crushed rose petals, tomato stem, red cherry, dusty earth, dried leather, vanilla and baking spice.  The palate is dry and tart with high acidity and medium tannins.  Fruit-wise I get tart cherry, roses and that green tomato stem note followed by secondary flavors of earth, leather, vanilla and spice box.  The wine runs 14% ABV giving it a medium (+) body.  The finish is long and sour with the cherry component that lingers.  I would pair this with a fatty cut of meat, think lamb or ribeye steaks.  It needs something to offset the acidity and tame the tannins.  It has good structure to cellar till 2030.  91 points from me for this $28 effort makes it a 4 star wine.  Salut….