Search results for: 'chianti'

The 2018 Chianti Classico is classy, polished and exceptionally beautiful. Like so many wines in 2018, the Chianti Classico is aromatic and gracious in feel, more finesse than power. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright Sangiovese fruit. From start to finish, the 2018 is all class. ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2019 Chianti Classico Berardenga is a classic wine for the year. Bright, perfumed and light on its feet, the 2019 Chianti Classico Berardenga is so wonderfully expressive. There is a feeling of vibrancy to the 2019 that is hugely appealing. A wine of energy more than power. Crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon linger in a gorgeous Chianti Classico that is more about transparency than power. ANTONIO GALLONI

A beautiful, creamy red with cherry and chocolate character. Hints of dried earth. It's medium-to full-bodied with creamy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. shows firmness and tension. Very drinkable now, but will improve beautifully with age JAMES SUCKLING

The 2019 Chianti Colli Senesi is a fresh, fruity red to drink now and over the next few years. Sweet red cherry fruit and floral notes are nicely lifted in this mid-weight, perfumed Chianti Colli Senesi. Best of all, the 2019 is a terrific value. ANTONIO GALLONI

Red fruited, spicy and attractively perfumed. As with the previous vintage this is a Chianti that is all about uncomplicated pleasure and it is built for enjoyment and to be consumed with food. Cherry and aniseed notes, somewhat gritty tannins and a faintly bitter twist of cherry pith on the finish all adding a little more interest and making me really want some salumi and to be sitting in the sunshine somewhere in Tuscany. Not sure what to say here, this wine seems to always deliver on quality verse hip pocket damage in a serious way. Outstanding value. ROSCOE

With a staggering 18+ tre biccherie awards to their name, Fattoria di Felsina is not only one of the greatest producers of Chianti Classico in the zone, but can also lay claim to being one of the greatest estates in Italy.

Located on the southern boundary of the Chianti Classico zone at Beradegna, Felsina is run by the thoughtful, Giuseppe Mazzocolin, and together with consultant oenologist Franco Bernabei, he has guided the estate masterfully through the massive changes that have taken place in Tuscany in the last 30 years, always mindful of only making changes he thought would further the quality of the wines without obliterating the regional nuance.

The 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is endowed with so much class. In 2018, the Classico is a bit more restrained than it can be. That mid-weight sense of structure, though, gives the wine quite a bit of early appeal. Even so, I would cellar the 2018 for a few years, as all the elements haven't fully come together just yet. Dark cherry, game, smoke, licorice and earthy notes are a reminder we are in Castelnuovo Berardenga, even if the 2018 has less weight and overt power than Fèlsina fans are used to seeing. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous.com

Antinori is a name synonymous with wine in Italy, the equivalent of the royal family of wine in the country. Intimately involved in the wine industry of Italy since 1385, initially in Tuscany, but in more recent years their influence has grown seeing them involved in wine-making projects across the country.

They were instrumental in the renaissance of Chianti and their portfolio of wines includes some stellar names such as Tignanello - the Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc blend that was most influential in the Super Tuscan movement, Solaia - the Cabernet dominant blend also from the Tignanello Estate and, of course, the beautiful Peppoli Chianti Classico. PWS

The 2018 Chianti Classico Pèppoli is gracious and beautifully perfumed. Crushed red berry fruit, spice, blood orange, mint and orange zest give this silky Chianti Classico lovely flavor depth. I would prefer to drink it over the next few years. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

The 2018 Chianti Classico is classy, polished and exceptionally beautiful. Like so many wines in 2018, the Chianti Classico is aromatic and gracious in feel, more finesse than power. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright Sangiovese fruit. From start to finish, the 2018 is all class. ANTONIO GALLONI

This remarkable estate is the life-long passion of Sebastiano Cossia Costiglioni and before him his father, Guiseppe, who planted the first vines at the estate as a hobby in the early 1970's. Giacomo Tacchis and Guido di Santi were bought on in the formative years as winemaking consultants and directed the estate to biodynamics.

Today the estate's technical direction is overseen by another of Italy's greatest winemaking talents in Luca Currado of famed Piemontese producer, Vietti, while day-to-day running of the estate's vineyards and winemaking is handled by a passionate team led by Dales D'Allesandro and Manfred Ing. New investment in the cellars over the past years will also continue to push the quality of the wines to new levels and maintain Querciabella at the top of the Chianti tree. PWS

Wow! This was such a wonderful surprise and terrific value Chianti from the estates of Andrea Cecchi. Made from 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino, the wine does not see any oak and has a tradiotional leaning and plenty of character, particularly for a wine at this price. The Cecchi family has 125 years of winemaking history and have some excellent vineyards at their disposal.

It's a wonderfully vibrant & fresh expression of sangiovese that retains its fleshy and soft fruits throughout with a pillowy texture. Hints of black cherry and wild forest fruits with a touch of leather and some savoury dried herbs.

The 2018 Chianti Classico opens with a burst of sweet red berry fruit, spice and wild flowers. Exuberant and racy, the 2018 is endowed with tremendous energy and tons of personality. Time in the glass brings out the wine's inner sweetness and radiance, with a closing flourish of red flowers. This is a fabulous wine for the money. Don't miss it. ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2017 Chianti Classico is an attractive wine to drink now and over the next few years. Quite unusually for Montefili, the 2017 is a bit light and ethereal. There is good Sangiovese translucence, but the wine is a touch light. It would have been nice to see a some more body. Hints of spice, mint and crushed red berries linger nicely. ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Ripe cherry, new leather and liquorice, plenty of perfume and dried herb. It’s medium-bodied, but fleshy and flavoursome, savoury but packed with juicy cherry, freshness and suede-like tannin, chewy and long, with a discreet raw almond bitterness. Pretty much all you could ask for in a classico here. It’s a delight. GARY WALSH, www.winefront.com.au

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Besides a healthy dose of Canaiolo Nero, proprietor Paolo De Marchi blends in a dash of Syrah to give backbone, especially in lighter vintages - he believes it to be less invasive than other international varieties. Fragrantly expressive, enticing notes of aromatic herbs, rose, fennel, clove and fresh forest floor greet the nose. While wonderfully medium in weight, this packs a lot in, especially tangy blackcurrant. Chalky tannins are subtly assertive and will carry the wine through the midterm. DECANTER

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is shaping up to be a real stunner. Bold and sweeping in style, the 2013 unfurls on the palate with remarkable grace, purity and finesse. Seemingly endless layers build to the captivating finish. There is so much to look forward to here. (96+) ANTONIO GALLONI
Here is another highlight of the vintage. The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a dark, moody and sophisticated wine. It does not reveal itself immediately or in any obvious way. Instead, it doses out its intensity in careful measurements. The whole performance is seductive to say the least. That slow momentum leads to dark cherry with spice, grilled herb, wet earth and dried rose. Felsina's Riserva Rancia is a very elegant wine, both on the nose and in the mouth. (95) MONICA LARNER, The Wine Advocate

The 2006 Fontalloro is much more sweet and open than the firmer Rancia. Enticing, expressive aromatics lead to an expansive core of fruit. Round, finessed tannins give the wine an additional level of polish. Today the Fontalloro is fleshier and more ready than the Rancia. There is superb purity to the fruit and wonderful overall balance. Tar, smoke, licorice, and grilled herbs come to life on the finish. Fontalloro is made from vineyards in both the Chianti Classico and Chianti Colli Senesi appellations. Simply put, this is a great, majestic Fontalloro. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2018.

If you were to cut proprietor Giuseppe Mazzocolin’s veins the man would bleed Sangiovese, such is his passion for Tuscany’s most important native grape. Mazzocolin has a terrific set of new releases on his hands. The 2006s are glorious and benefit from a warm growing season that also saw good alternation of day and evening temperatures before the grapes got a final kick of heat that informs the wines. In 2007, I have only tasted the Chianti Classico so far, but if that wine is indicative, Felsina could have another superb vintage in store for fans of this venerable property. So far 2007 looks to be a vintage of ripe wines made in a more generous, if early maturing style, than the firmer 2006s. Not only are Felsina’s wines magnificent, they also remain exceedingly fairly priced in relative terms. Mazzocolin deserves much credit and support from readers for his consumer-friendly approach, especially in these challenging times. ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2015 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is one of the most finessed young Rancias I have ever tasted. Silky, aromatically precise and nuanced to the core, the 2015 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. This is an impressive showing. (94-97) ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Domaine Vin de Savoie Dupasquier Jacquere 2017
Ricca Terra Bronco Buster White 2020
Racine Picpoul de Pinet 2019 
Fattori Soave 2020
Le Moss Frizzante IGT
Bondar Rose 2021
Onannon Mornington Pinot Noir 2019
Gentle Folk Vin de Sofa Red 2021
Monteguelfo Chianti DOCG 2020
Des Grande Esperances Java Rouge 2018
De Bortoli Villages Tempranillo Touriga 2019
Rizzi Barbera d'Alba 2018
 

That's nearly 20% off at $255 (shelf price $314)

With the eye of the world turned to Tokyo for the Olympic Games we are looking forward to watching old rivalries of sport battle it out in the arena. While the traditional powerhouses tend dominate the top spots, Australia always holds its own performing admirably. And so it is in the world of wine. With Italy, Spain and France vying to reign supreme, Australia has burst on to the scene over the last 25 years with its no-nonsense, easy going wines challenging the market and taking on the powers that be.

So, with that in mind not only is this months dozen a great pack of awesome drinking wine, you get to decide who did it best! That's right. This pack has 6 wines from Australia and 6 from France, Spain and Italy. We have picked classic varietals from each country and matched them with their Australian counterparts.

Australia's wine industry has been built on classic French varietals and we have taken those and made them our own putting our own stamp on them while always striving to push the boundaries of style and quality. We have also eagerly and happily adopted a number of varietals from Spain and Italy and made them our own. The likes of tempranillo and sangiovese have thrived in their adopted home and with a changing climate they have slotted beautifully and easily in to the Aussie wine vernacular. Other varietals like Nero d'Avola are growing in popularity while the likes of gamay see planting increase every year.
So whatever or wherever you like to drink from, this is going to be a little bit of research we think you will be happy to do.

Chardonnay

To start we are going to look at Chardonnay and what a treat this will be. It's a head-to-head between Burgundy and Victoria with a brand new wine from Nicola Potel versus one of our favourite chardonnay's by Matt Harrop (Curly Flat). Both are generous and soft with lovely crunch and pure fruits offering incredible value.

Gamay

Gamay is growing in popularity here in Australis with plenty new plantings gong into the ground. We have two crackers with the Aviron Villages sourced from some of Beaujolais most famous towns versus one of favourite Aussie version from Rising in the Yarra Valley. The rising is pure and fresh while the Avrion offers up a little more savoury cut. These are both made by young-guns in their respective homes so will be a worthy challenge!

GSM/Rhone

Back to the classic varietal blend of grenache, shiraz and mouvedre and two recent releases in the market. The Pierre Amadieu makes fantastic wine from both the Rhones north and south with his Roulepierre offering up some of the easiest drinking you will find around. Dandelion vineyards out of the Barossa seems to do no wrong these days. Their latest release is soft, plush and forward with plenty of spice and juicy kick.

Tempranillo

No doubt Tempranillo is here to stay. The Jericho team are producing some of the coolest and most delicious wine out of the Mclaren Vale and Adelaide Hills. They are modern and pure wines, wonderfully made. From Spain we have a real treat with a project headed up by Scott Wasley sourcing fruit from Bodegas la Eralta, based in the south-eastern village of Agoncillo. This is a special wine with Scott at the head. It represents the best of the old and the new from Spain and is delicious to boot!

Sangiovese

Another varietal we have adopted happily and made our own. This can run the gambit from easy and light to serious and rich both here in Aus as well as its home in Italy. For this months pack we have to fresh, bright and crunchy versions that are the perfect pizza/pasta wines. Mel Chester at Sutton Grange has nailed this latest version and we are not surprised, the lady is terrific winemaker. The Fontaleoni hits all the right notes too and is airy and bright Chianti from the higher hills of Tuscany.

Nero d'Avola

Nero seems to be a variety that we have latched onto and you can see why. It always offer lovely dark polished fruit, sweet spice and a subtle earthiness that is quintessentially Italian. The Ricca Terra is a great example of the varietal that brings all the fruit to the fore without being overly simple or juby while the Vinuva comes along with a little extra earthy richness and sunkissed fruit from it's warm home in southern Italy.

This is the little brother/sister of "Le Trame" from Podere Le Boncie.  The wine was originally sold only through the winery only and was essentially created from fruit of vines younger and/or less well-positioned.

The original composition was sangiovese, conaiolo, mammalo, colorino and fogliatonda butnow consists of mainly Snagiovese and two rows of conaiolo. Now it is mainly a blend of sangiovese with a touch of conaiolo with grapes sourced from outside out the Chianti Classico zone.

This comes off with a pretty and nuanced nose of red fruits, red cherry and a subtle minerally spice that accents the clean fruit profile. Mid to light in style with nice focus and a little bump of plush fruit through the middle palate that carries the wine along nicely. The 2018 is a touch plusher then usual which suits the style well. Unmistakably Tuscan, unmistakably sangiovese. Great stuff.

It's back again! That's right, the Mighty, Mighty Half bottle dozen is here. Getting a steady selection of half bottles has been quite the challenge lately but we have put together a fantastic pack full of awesome drinking. What these lack in stature they make up for in punch.

These are wines from the worlds greatest producer and winemakers from Tuscany and Piedmonte, Mornington and Adelaide hills through to Chablis, Alsace and New Zealand. They are perfect for the park and even better with friends so take a look below at this brilliant, little, selection.

The estate is situated in the foothills of Monte Amiata and, whilst Sangiovese is the principal variety, the conditions – 320 metres above sea level and constant ventilation (due partly to the proximity to the Tyrrhenian coast and partly to the 15% incline) – allow other varieties such as Ciliegiolo, Montepulciano and Vermentino to thrive. Production is based on organic principles (guaranteed and certified) and winemaking is carried out in the architectural award winning four story gravity feed winery.

70% Sangiovese, 15% Ciliegiolo, 15% Montepulciano

This is such a great wine and so underrated when it comes to Tuscany. It has a little more weight and heft then its cousins in Chianti and there is a wild edge to the wine that is so appealing. Situated further down the coast but with good elevation that provides a cool and fresh snap. PWS

Dark berries, walnuts and dried flowers on the nose follow through to a medium body with firm tannins and a fresh finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. JAMES SUCKLING

Looking at a map of Italy it is incredible to think about the diversity and distinctiveness of the wines that hail from its multitude of often breathtaking terroirs. The numerous and assorted climates from the warm southern coasts, the high altitudes of its northern reaches and all in between, provide a canvas for a majestic array of wine.

Add to that, Italy’s wine scene is as exciting as it has ever been with an assortment of indigenous varieties and wine styles that we are only just beginning to appreciate. This is a great way to explore all that this ancient country has to offer.

Every quarter we will be putting out a seasonal drinking pack which will be updated as we see great new wines, new vintages and the latest and greatest to hit our shores. At 15%-20% off or more, this a great way to explore Italy offering exceptional value and delicious drinking.

Don’t forget to check back often to see what the latest version of the Italian Drinking Dozen has installed for you.

The 2004 Fontalloro (100% Sangiovese) comes across as fresher and brighter than the Rancia. Light on its feet, this graceful, delicate wine opens with sweet, perfumed aromatics that meld into raspberries, flowers, spices and a touch of sweet oak that lingers on the finish. It offers remarkable clarity and precision in a pure, focused style, with superb balance and finessed tannins. Drink 2010-2019.\n\nThere is not too much more I can say about the wines of Felsina and proprietor Giuseppe Mazzocolin, except that they are reference point wines for anyone who wants to discover the essence of contemporary Sangiovese from Chianti Classico. This is a compelling set of new releases from Mazzocolin and long-time consulting oenologist Franco Bernabei, one of the giants of modern Tuscan oenology. Even better, the wines remain very fairly priced. ANTONIO GALLONI\n\nGood full ruby. Richer and even more minerally on the nose than the '04 Rancia, offering plenty of orange zest, lily and pleasantly tart red cherry aromas. Lush, very ripe red fruit flavors and a salty edge give this immediate appeal, but make it a bit less refined than the Rancia in '04. The tannins, though, are smoother and slide effortlessly along the very long finish. STEVEN TANZER\n\n

Querciabella has been on a roll over the last few years. I can’t say enough good things about these wines, all of which merit your serious consideration. Querciabella doesn’t make a big deal about the fact that their vineyards are now biodynamically farmed, but then again they don’t have to? The wines speak for themselves.....  ANTONIO GALLONI

This remarkable estate is the life-long passion of Sebastiano Cossia Costiglioni and before him his father, Guiseppe, who planted the first vines at the estate as a hobby in the early 1970's. Giacomo Tacchis and Guido di Santi were bought on in the formative years as winemaking consultants and directed the estate to biodynamics.

Today the estate's technical direction is overseen by another of Italy's greatest winemaking talents in Luca Currado of famed Piemontese producer, Vietti, while day-to-day running of the estate's vineyards and winemaking is handled by a passionate team led by Dales D'Allesandro and Manfred Ing. New investment in the cellars over the past years will also continue to push the quality of the wines to new levels and maintain Querciabella at the top of the Chianti tree.

Raised in concrete to retain varietal character and freshness the name of the game here is drinkability and Mongrana delivers that in spades with its cohort of plump, juicy, red and dark fruit characters, lovely perfume and gently giving tannins. It's built to over deliver on character while remaining fresh and inviting, it's most at home on the table with food, family and friends. This is a perennial favourite with us for its sheer deliciousness and the 2017 is no exception. A Little darker than last year's iteration but also with a dollop more lip-smacking fruit. Great little wine. ROSCOE