2004 Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico San Marcellino (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

Killer bottle of wine. Popped and poured to be consumed with some of my homemade Pizza. Stunning nose. Dark red color and a soaring nose of dark plum, cherry, earth, mediterranean brush, dried herbs and violets. Just as stunning on the palate as on the nose. Cherry, chocolate, earth, leather. Finish is sensational. A total home run Chianti Classico.

2006 Fontodi Chianti Classico (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

A reliable bottle of wine. Dark garnet red color. Seems tight on night 1. More generous with some air. Dark chocolate, cherry, earth, and dried herbs. Solid finish. Just about a perfect "pizza wine" at the $18 I paid for it.

2004 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

Completely different wine from the one I had nearly six months ago. Nose shows blackberry and plum along with some leather, earth and tobacco. Surprisingly funky. High acidity and silky texture that shows nice fruit in the red spectrum. Long finish and some pretty good structure. Very much in balance, but the acid is the most obvious component right this moment. I like this a lot, and it's a great food wine. When I first opened, it was darker, less penetrable, and heavier. With 4 hours of air, this has turned silkier and more finesse driven. An absolute buy in my book.

2004 Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico San Marcellino (Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico)

Excellent bottle. When I first popped and poured, it was a tad disjointed, but with about 30-60 minutes, it began to sing. Laser focused cherry fruit and scorched earth, dried herbs, and sun dried fruit. Weighty fruit with ample acidity and tannins for a Sangiovese. This is built for aging, just like its sister cuvee, the Geremia IGT. Finishes extra long and it's definitely a food wine. Was a great match for a slow roasted frenched pork loin tonight. Something about slow roasted pork and the texture of Tuscan wine that makes the combo irresistible. Lovely wine.

THREE VALUE ITALIANS - (3/10/2008)

A few weeks ago, I saw these three wines and chose to find myself an inexpensive go-to red. Tonight, I got to try the three wines head-to-head.

• 2004 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
  90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and Colorino. Aged 20 months in used oak barriques. Opened last night and re-corked and re-cellared. Cherry juice-like color that's completely translucent yet dark. Nose is dusty, earthy, with cherry, plum, bitter chocolate and some oak. Big footprint on the palate with loads of sour cherry and earth. Has good sweetness of fruit while being completely dry, and ample acidity. Dark chocolate on the finish with a hint of bitterness. Very structured wine that will probably need a few years to fully integrate the structure, acid, and oak. Right now, not particularly enjoyable to drink, but it shows great promise, I believe. Clearly a wine whose price-point belies its requirement for at least 3 more years of bottle age.


• 2005 La Massa Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
  60% Sangiovese, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.Opened last night and re-corked and re-cellared. Very dark color with ruby at the rim. Nose is blackberry and balsamico with a good dose of oak and a certain green herbaceousness (but not in a bad way). Fresh on the palate with zingy blackberries and blackcurrant and some dusty mushroom. Fruit is extremely pure, plush and ripe. Finishes well, but for me, the oak is sticking out just a tad. Ready to drink now with a vigorous decant or should hold for at least 5 years (although I'm not sure if it'll really improve vs merely mellow out). May buy again, but in small quantities. Just not distinctive enough for me to go crazy over it.


• 2004 Scacciadiavoli Sangiovese Montefalco Rosso - Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Rosso
  60% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, 15% Merlot and a few other red varietals. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for one year in large Salvonian oak foudres. Opened last night and re-corked and re-cellared. Dark garnet to ruby opaque color. Nose is blackberry and blackcurrant with leather and gamyness. Fresh berry fruit and garbed leather along with some mossy tree bark on the palate. Super pure fruit. Fresh, racy finish with some hints of fresh herbs. Finishes outstandingly with no hard edges. I think this can go for years while improving, but it drinks really nicely right now. Has a little bit of Northern Rhone beef blood and meat character. Love this wine and what a QPR. My favorite of the three wines. Would buy again.

The Scacciadiavoli was my favorite and I am looking forward to exporing more Montefalco wines.