On the Road with the Grape Guy

On the Road with the Grape Guy is a on-going feature that follows me from event to event ... I post my thoughts, feelings and reviews of what happened and what I tasted ... basically it is here that I review the events I attend and the things that thrilled me.

Chianti Lovers 2023

03 Aug 2023

(February 2023) … Chianti Lovers was a bit of a mishmash for me this year. Instead of trying everything, I tried to zero in on some regions and areas to see if I could distinguish differences. I looked at plenty of reserve wines as well. Wines from Rufina, Montalbana, Montespertoli, Colli Senesi were single out for tasting; and the ones that really impressed were the wines from Collli Fiorentini: they had a lovely freshness and florality to them that made them both interesting to drink as well as the aromas and flavours that made them exceptionally approachable. They won't be the best wines from Chianti you taste, but these wines were fun to drink and had an easy drinkability about them. Again, there were plenty still in barrel, so they are scored for potential on a Good / Better / Best scale.

In all, I tasted 59 wines from this part of the tasting - of which 26 are reviewed below - with selected notes.

Castello Sonnino 2021 Chianti Montespertoli DOCG ... (*** ½+)

Lanciola 2021 Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG ... (*** ½+)

Malenchini 2021 Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG ... (*** ½+)

Pietraserena 2020 Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG Riserva
Really good acidity and freshness, subtle white pepper, balsamic and cherry ... (*** ½+)

Poggio Salvi 2022 Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG    
Another with a lovely lift of floral and fruit, light touch on the acidity ... (*** ½+)

Marchesi Gondi 2020 Chianti Rufina DOCG Riserva
Generous spice and acidity with a little balsamic-strawberry ... (*** ½)

Montalbino 2021 Chianti Montespertoli DOCG ... (*** ½)


Unfinished Wines

Pietraserena 2022 Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG
Fresh and fruity - this one is going places if they can keep it  ... (Best)

Cantine Fratelli Bellini 2020 Chianti Rufina DOCG Riserva ... (Better)
Castelvecchio in San Casciano Val di Pesa 2021 Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG ... (Better)
Fattoria Selvapiana 2020 Chianti Rufina DOCG Riserva ... (Better)
Podere dell'Anselmo di Forconi Fabrizio 2021 Chianti Montespertoli DOCG ... (Better)
Tenuta di Artimino 2022 Chianti Montalbano ... (Better)
Tenuta Moriano 2020 Chianti Montespertoli DOCG Riserva ... (Better)
Bindi Sergardi 2022 Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG ... (Good)
Borgo Macereto 2021 Chianti Rufina DOCG ... (Good)
Fattoria di Gragnano 2020 Chianti Rufina DOCG Riserva ... (Good)
Fattoria il Lago - Famiglia Spagnoli 2021 Chianti Rufina DOCG ... (Good)
Fattoria Torre a Cona 2020 Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG Riserva ... (Good)
Fattoria Torre a Cona 2020 Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG Riserva ... (Good)
Fattoria Torre a Cona 2021 Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG ... (Good)
Fattorie Giannozzi 2020 Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG Riserva ... (Good)
Geografico 2022 Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG ... (Good)
Mannucci Droandi 2022 Chianti Colli Aretini DOCG ... (Good)
Marzocco di Poppiano 2021 Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG ... (Good)
Podere dell'Anselmo di Forconi Fabrizio 2020 Chianti Montespertoli DOCG Riserva ... (Good)


Morellino Di Scansano

Within the same tasting were the wines of Morellino di Scansano. This year, I decided to give the riservas my undivided attention, 14 in all, of which eight are reviewed below - not a bad ratio. Only four of the wines were finished, the rest were barrel samples and fall into my Good / Better / Best system, used to judge the potential of the wine.

La Selva 2020 Morellino Di Scansano DOCG Riserva
Nice spicy edge to the black cherry fruit ... (*** ½+)

Bruni 2020 Morellino Di Scansano DOCG Riserva
There's a little cooked fruit, but there is nice spice around it that makes it an interesting wine to drink ... (*** ½)

Vignaioli de Morellino di Scansano 2020 Morellino Di Scansano DOCG Riserva ... (*** ½)


Unfinished Wines

Santa Lucia 2020 Morellino Di Scansano DOCG Riserva ... (Better)
Alberto Motta 2020 Morellino Di Scansano DOCG Riserva ... (Good)
Fattoria le Pulpille 2020 Morellino Di Scansano DOCG Riserva ... (Good)
Morisfarms 2020 Morellino Di Scansano DOCG Riserva ... (Good)
Terenzi 2020 Morellino Di Scansano DOCG Riserva ... (Good)

 

Vino Nobile Anteprima 2023

01 Aug 2023

(February 2023) … I tasted all 63 wines presented this year at Anteprima Vino Nobile, there were some standouts (as usual), plenty of good wine, and of course three that rose above the rest. In all, I scored 31 wines between 4+ and 3 and ½ stars ... None of the wines presented indicated they were tank or barrel samples, and only those four-stars and above have a corresponding note ... I'm looking forward to the Pieve wines, which should be ready next year; and that should bring Nobile to a whole new level, fingers crossed.

TOP TIER WINES

Boscarelli 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva  
-- A real treat, as Boscarelli does not make Riserva every year; and they just know how to do them right. This one follows in the footsteps of previous vintages of which I made a video for the 2018 (see it here).  (****+)

Boscarelli 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano  
-- Red fruit and juicy with a pretty closed nose; but the past is prologue on these wines and it should open up quite nicely - the acidity is bright and pleasant.  (****+)

La Braccesca 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva - Vigneto Santa Pia
-- Delicate fruit, good choice on the wood treatment - this is a lovely wine (****+)

Tenuta Valdipiatta 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione - Vigna d'Alfiero
-- There is a nice fruit core with subtle baking spices and a real sippability all backed by good acidity on the finish.  (****+)

Manvi 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Arya
-- There seems to be some delicacy to this one: red fruit and acidity play on the palate, with vanilla and a smoky character that help on the finish.  (****)

Poliziano 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano  
-- Juicy and fruity with a touch of wood - this is a nice little wine to sit and sip, not often said about young Nobile.  (****)

Tenuta Trerose 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Santa Caterina
-- There's a rustic quality to the wine, but there's also some modern fruit styling and nice acidity. (****)


THREE-and-a-HALF Plus

Bindella 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva - Valilocaia 
Canneto 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti - Riserva
Dei 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 
La Braccesca 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 
Le Berne 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Lunadoro 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Selezione - Pagliareto
Podere Casa Al Vento 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti
Podere Casanova 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti
Tenuta Poggio alla Sala 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano


THREE-and-a-HALF

Antico Colle 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Carpineto 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
Casa Vinicola Triacca 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti - Santa Venere
Contucci 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti - Selezione Mulinvecchio
Fattoria del Cerro 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Silineo
Godiolo 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti
Guidotti 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti
Icario 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti - Selezione Sansasla
Il Macchione 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti
Il Molinaccio 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva - La Poiana
La Ciarliana 2018 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti - Selezione Vigna 'Scianello
Le Berne 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Marchesi Frescobaldi 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Tenuta Calimaia
Palazzo Vecchio 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano - Annate Precedenti - Maestro
Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano 2020 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

 

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