DeCantStopTasting Wine Blog

Relaxing by the fireplace after a long run of Christmas activities, we popped open very special Chianti to just enjoy all by itself.  Well, I did eat a little dark chocolate at the onset.  But never mind that, because nothing could have been more perfect for the occasion than this wine.

There really is one word that describes this wine, as we kept saying it over and over… every time we stuck our nose in the glass, every time we took a sip.  Beautiful.  The aroma was our instant indication of the “class” and beauty of this wine, although the deep color (one of the darkest Chianti’s we’ve seen) gave us a clue that we were in for bold flavor.  But we smelled the plum, black cherries, nice floral quality, and a little fine Cuban cigar and fell in love.  In fact, it was like every time we took a sniff it was like the choir sang Hallelujah! 

It actually took us a while to taste it, but once we did, we were not disappointed.  Dark chocolate, blackberries, raspberries, black cherries, and black plum with a nice dose of flowers, largely rose, with very ripe tannins.  This tastes at least twice its age.  The mouth-feel is luscious and creamy, with perfect acidity and perfect tannin structure.  This would pair well with a lot of food, but personally, I wouldn’t want to share it with anything.  The finish is silky smooth… a long fade of dark chocolate, rose, and plum.   Lasted about 45 seconds… at least.  If I had to pick two flavors/aromas that describe the whole wine experience it would be dark chocolate and rose petals.

I know with this review you’re probably thinking we’ll score it near 100.  But we haven’t lost our minds in all the bliss the wine provided.  I do recognize that it isn’t as complex as it could be.  It wasn’t like we were complaining at all, but when it comes time to score this wine, we have to think what we would want in a 100 point wine, and we felt it was lacking the complexity that 100 points would require.  That said… this wine cost us $35 bucks and I just can’t imagine getting a better wine for that price.  I highly recommend this wine and think you should try it as soon as you can.

Rating:  95

Price:  $35

95 points Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar: “Impressive dark ruby color. Expressive aromas of blackcurrant, plum, mint and cigar box, all lifted by a mineral element. Dense and rich, combining pinot noir-like texture and refinement with syrah-like flavors of rare meat and raspberry liqueur. This boasts a wonderfully tactile feel and a remarkably long, palate-staining finish. A great Chianti with loads of personality.” (July/Aug 07)

IWC 95pts. – Tre Bicchieri – Tasting Notes – Brilliant, rich ruby red. Spicy nose with floral notes and wild berry nuances. Spice continues in the mouth, nicely complemented by a dense, soft fabric of youthful tannins; excellent structure and superb overall character.