Gran Classico

Castello di Monsanto

Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2021

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 Riserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, red flowers, old wood, dried green herbs and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. A young, taught Monsanto CCR and I believe this will open with some more time on its side. Drink now if you must but better after 2031 and through 2046. — 18 days ago

Daniel, Joel and 10 others liked this

Inama

Soave Classico Garganega

Inama Soave Classico 2024 - Veneto Italia

Very good. Fresh, well balanced, very slightly woody, not too citrus. Goes well with almost everything, fish, seafood, poultry, grilling. SAQ Cellier
— a month ago

Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga

Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2022

Chianti Classico tasting 🇮🇹 @ Ai Fiori — 2 months ago

Somm, Robin and 6 others liked this

Pieropan

Soave Classico Garganega 2024

Surprisingly good flavor — 2 months ago

Tom and Doug liked this

Agricola Querciabella

Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2020

Chianti Classico tasting 🇮🇹 @ Ai Fiori — 2 months ago

C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España)

Imperial Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2005

This is the best bottle of wine I’ve had from my cellar in years. Nearly perfect. Bought it in 2008 for $30 and one of my great finds. Good lord it was just divine. I’m sure there have been better vintages but I can’t imagine it. — 2 months ago

Poderi Aldo Conterno

Riserva Gran Bussia Barolo Nebbiolo 1985

Had high hopes as this wine/vintage was an absolute stunner 7-8 years ago when I last had a bottle but this one was a bit shagged (as my newly minted MW friend likes to say). Hoping it’s just this bottle, but maybe it’s peak has long past. Slightly maderized and very little fruit left. Thin. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Bodegas Faustino

Gran Reserva Faustino I Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2009

Vanilla! But once it calms down, good round tannins, good body, super smooth at this point, perfect for the obligatory Father’s Day steaks — 4 days ago

Sagee, Tom and 2 others liked this

Ruffino

Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2021

Deep Ruby red color with aromas of berry fruit and earthy spice, aged for 24 months in stainless and large oak barrels, Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend, #17 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025. On the palate flavors of cherry and plum with tobacco, floral and earthy flowery notes. Full-bodied, well balanced approachable tannins on a medium+ finish ending with fruit, espresso and a mineral character. Grab some Italian food and enjoy. — a month ago

Juan, Paul and 1 other liked this

Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga

Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 1999

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1999 Chianti Classico pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with lovely notes of ripe and some dried red fruits: Bing cherry, raspberry, red flowers, Pu-erh tea, porchini, dried green herbs, a whiff of varnish (letting you know it’s Italian), old leather and wood and gravelly, iron rich earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This 27 year old CC is sensational and further proof that Sangiovese rewards the patient. Drink now through 2039. — 2 months ago

Paul, Joel and 7 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Riserva Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2022

Chianti Classico tasting 🇮🇹 @ Ai Fiori — 2 months ago

Azienda Agricola Fontodi

Chianti Classico Sangiovese

Chianti Classico tasting 🇮🇹 @ Ai Fiori — 2 months ago

Castello di Volpaia

Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese 2019

Good Chianti @ThymeRestaurant — 3 months ago

Tom, Kapyrick and 3 others liked this

Luigi Righetti

Capitel de Roari Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Corvina Blend 2022

Nice balance between fruit and soft tannins. Perfect with pastas. — 2 months ago

Tom, Douglas and 1 other liked this

Isole e Olena

Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2021

Nice - not quite as deep or expressive as other 2021s, and at 14.5% the structure is pretty high, but still a nice Sangiovese overall. — a month ago

Zach, Doug and 6 others liked this

Giuseppe Quintarelli

Valpolicella Classico Superiore Corvina Blend 2017

Medium ruby , with a relatively wide ruby garnet rim , healthy bright colour . Quite a lot of dried dark fruits , cassis , spiced dried cherries , dried cut herbs , coffee . On the palate this has high acidity and good extract , well integrated alcohol , though it clocks in at 15% . Dried cherry , roasted herbs , cassis , earthy touches . Good length, and quite grippy but fine tannins . Enjoyable this evening but there is no rush this will probably improve over the next 5 or so years and last well over the following 5-10 years . At Ristorante Greppia, Verona. — 21 days ago

Tom, ESF and 2 others liked this

Bodegas Toro Albala

Don PX Gran Reserva Montilla-Moriles Pedro Ximénez 2000

vintage 1987 | a treat! Figs, dates, walnuts, nectar — a month ago

Daniel, Dave and 7 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Peter van den Besselaar, the label says 1987, your note says 1986, and Delectable says it’s 2000 — hmmm, Who’s on First?
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers Thx. The label! I don’t know why Delectable describes 2000, tried to change the identified wine but that does not work.

Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga

Riserva Rancia Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2005

Chianti Classico tasting 🇮🇹 @ Ai Fiori — 2 months ago

Billy liked this

Viña Real (CVNE)

Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2017

Medium deep ruby with quite a thin lightly garnet rim. Spiced dark cherry , with some sweet blackberry , raspberry , vanilla , cocoa , earthy leather and grafite . Quite young , dense and compacted on the nose. On the palate this quite intense with quite high acidity , slightly strict with lightly gritty tannins , cherry , blackberry , spiced raspberry , some touches of grafite , dried spices and leather . This is quite young , needs a little more time but is promising with good density , freshness and balance . Come back in 3-4 years and will drink well over the next 10-15 — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister, Somm and 5 others liked this