WTN: 8 Blind Tuscans

Friday Marc was hosting our local tasting group, with a Tuscan theme. I thought Thursday night of canceling, as I had a bad cold (no wine Wed or Th!!), and knew I'd be pooped as I was taking out a group Thursday night. But Friday I woke up feeling better despite 4 hours sleep, so that evening went to Marc's with my bottles. Wed and Th I had little appetite and could barely taste food, the funny thing Friday was I had my appetite back, could taste, but my nose was still stopped up. So consistent theme was that I had trouble getting much with nose, though flavors in mouth seemed fairly clear (retro-nasal smelling?). But in any case treat notes with even more caution than usual. All wines blind:

1978 Castello di Monsanto " Il Poggio " Chianti Classico Riserva
Not blind for me, my bottle. I had liked this 8 or 10 years ago, took a chance couple years ago, but never got around to opening. Cork is pure sawdust, corkscrew bores right through. No AhSo handy, I bore the hole and use a funnel with screen to decant (glad I have a backup bottle, very pessimistic). Wait a second, great color! Maybe backup isn't needed. Sweet lively fruit, cherries and dried cherries, some leather, some herb. Drinks well, everyone likes, I'm even more shocked when a taste 2+ hours later is still kicking. B+/A-

Next wine is a light to middleweight, but with a nice underlying structure, more acid than tannin. Black cherry fruit, its the 2001 Poggianto Chianti Classico Riserva, B+/B

Following wine is a bit riper, fuller, very young. I guess 2003 CC, but it's the 2005 Querciabella Chianti Classico. B

Next wine is not my fave. Simple cherry and plum fruit, short finish, acidic, not a fan. I can't remember thing about vintage. ??? Tomaiolo Chianti Classico Riserva C+

Then: Earth, a little mint, solid red plum fruit. Seems to be a bit more mature, ripe, I think maybe a BdM from a lighter vintage like '96. Nope. It's the 1998 Ciacci Piccolomini Rosso di Montalcino. B+

Next up: Round and lush, blackberry and black plum fruit, a bit of vanilla. A bit too international for me, but a hit with some people. 2000 Gaja Ca' Marcanda "Promis" Toscana IGT. B

Following wine is a bit more my style. Bright red fruit, forest floor and cocoa. 2004 Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva. B+/B (but I think I liked their regular CC better)

Last wine of the evening (good timing, Betsy calls that she is leaving city, arrange for her to pick up myself and our neighbor Rob). Blackcurrants and plums, moderate ripe tannins, soft but not flabby acidity. Good length, some pencil lead. Not Sangiovese. Several of us laugh when the 2004 I Greppi "Greppicante" Bolgheri is revealed, as we were splitting a case of the 2005 (untasted, but Zachys had on sale for excellent price). If 2005 is like the 2004 I'm happy at $13.50, would have been more iffy at normal $20-24 price. The 2004 gets a B+/B.

Fun night with the guys.

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.

Many thanks for the notes

With old corks I tend to try and apply the corkscrew at an angle through the cork. I'm told (and logic supports it I suppose), that the angle helps prevent this situation, giving you a little more torque. Since I've started doing this (only 4-5 wines in this time have warranted it), I've got the cork out in one piece each time. Hardly a scientific trial, but an option that might be worth trying.

regards

Ian

1978 Castello di Monsanto " Il Poggio " Chianti Classico Riserva
Not blind for me, my bottle. I had liked this 8 or 10 years ago, took a chance couple years ago, but never got around to opening. Cork is pure sawdust, corkscrew bores right through. No AhSo handy, I bore the hole and use a funnel with screen to decant (glad I have a backup bottle, very pessimistic). Wait a second, great color! Maybe backup isn't needed. Sweet lively fruit, cherries and dried cherries, some leather, some herb. Drinks well, everyone likes, I'm even more shocked when a taste 2+ hours later is still kicking. B+/A-

Dale, thanks for the great notes. A bottle of 1972 Monsanto Il Poggio Riserva about 20 months ago was the finest Chianti I've experienced. I'm not surprised the 1978 excelled and held for 2+ hours. Do they make them like this anymore, I wonder?

-Michael

Ian,
I have also found that angling helps, and was. But this was a dried out cork, and just disintegrated as worm went in. Its possible an AhSo would have gotten out whole. I was actually amazed at condition of wine, was surprised that c$%ppy cork had kept air out.

Michael,
I have very little recent Monsanto experience (when I see name I can't help thinking that they must be chemically enhanced ). I did have the '90 Il Poggio a couple of years ago, it was very good, but as mature as the '78 Friday night.

Hey Dale, my daughter went on her first run Saturday night. She was very excited.

I haven't seen you in a while. I have been drinking more Tuscans than usual these days, I had a 2003 Castello di Monastero last week that was quite nice, for some reason I prefer younger Chiantis to the aged ones. I think these lose some of their brightness and I'm not crazy about the secondary flavors they develop. Maybe I haven't had enough good aged ones to tell, though.

Hope it was a good experience for her.

As a generality, I'm no fan of aging Chianti either. I would have never bought this one except I had tried a decade before and found lively. I'd say 5% of even CCR do well with more than a few years in bottle for my tastes. That said, I do tend to like 15 or so years on some like Felsina's Rancia. And Pergole Torte, which could legally be a Chianti.

It's been a while, hope to see you sometime!