WTN: Chianti and MSR QbA

A couple of wines from last few days:

Betsy used the 2006 Gabbiano Chianti for the stracatto Monday. Recipe called for a bottle, but there was a cup+ of the Faithful Hound, so she started with that. I rebottled the 1/3 bottle of Gabbiano in a empty 8 oz bottle I was saving for bottling vinegar, and refrigerated. Last night I had it with leftover stracatto. Perfectly good light Sangiovese, with bright acidity and cherry fruit. A little earthy/leathery note. Not a lot of length, but nice and food friendly. I'm glad I tried this night rather than before, when the Fontalloro would have overshadowed it. Nice wine for ....$6! B/B-
(thanks to Richard A,. I remembered his note when I saw in store)


On and off over 5 days, the 2005 von Hovel Estate Riesling Qba. Peach with a squirt of lime juice, good length, a little mineral. A little sweeter and more ponderous than my favorite QbAs, but certainly a nice wine. Holds up well over 5 days. Good, but there are other $14 Rieslings I like a bit more. B-/B

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency

2006 Gabbiano Chianti . . . Perfectly good light Sangiovese, with bright acidity and cherry fruit. A little earthy/leathery note. Not a lot of length, but nice and food friendly. . . . Nice wine for ....$6! B/B-
(thanks to Richard A,. I remembered his note when I saw in store)

Based on a bottle last week, ditto. My thanks to Richard as well. I also tried the Gabbiano '04 Chianti Classico. For $2 more than than the basic, it's a couple shades darker in color and flavor. Both bottles are better than I recall this producer. The '05 CCs are hitting the shelves now, and my curiousity is piqued. Sad it's become so tough to find good inexpensive Chianti.