Q: 04 & '05 Chianti

What is the word on '04 vs '05 Chianti. '99 good but ready, '00 OK, '01 excellent and ageworthy, '02 forget it, '03 very mediocre, what about '04 and '05? For some reason I have not heard much press and since I dropped all newsletters I am not current on recent Tuscan vintages. Not really interested in Super Tuscans, just sangiovese and close relatives.
Walt

Walt, the current Decanter has a tasting of `04s and the results are enthusiastic.

Quote.......`04 classic year, structured year with good acidity. Will age well. Then mention that `05....many fresh fruity wines (but no tasting). Good educational article, am much impressed with this mag of late. Big improvements.

[David M. Bueker]

Walt,

All I can tell you is that I have really enjoyed my stash of 2004 Felsina CC half-bottles. I've gone through a ton of them over the last year.

Walt--
I haven't had enough '05s to form my own opinion, but my impression is that '04 is somewhat preferred. Not that you asked, but from what I've read (Hugh Johnson and somewhere else, I think) 2006 is the best Tuscan vintage in quite some time.

Walt,

All I can tell you is that I have really enjoyed my stash of 2004 Felsina CC half-bottles. I've gone through a ton of them over the last year.

Me too. I've liked the '05 Felsina (also in 375) too, maybe a half step behind the 04. A little softer, riper, less structured, but still a nice bottle of juice