WTN: Felsina Chianti Riserva Rancia & Ceretto Barolo Prapò

[David M. Bueker]

Dinner with my folks tonight. I made lasagna and some home made garlic & herb bread.

1997 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia
Very dark, filled with black cherry aromas. Fine acidity & great with the food.

1995 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Prapò
Fantastic aromatics of flowers, red fruit, perfume, earth, sun, sky and all the other elementals. No way the palate could live up to the nose (and it did not), but earthy, a little tannic and dry, but very pleasant mouthfeel. I sat for a good hour mostly smelling this.

Dinner with my folks tonight. I made lasagna and some home made garlic & herb bread.

1997 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia
Very dark, filled with black cherry aromas. Fine acidity & great with the food.

But... was it really ready to drink? Will it get any better? Just askin' 'cos I've got a singleton of it in the cellar. Haven't been motivated to open it yet, but...

Mark Lipton

Wonderful that you caught the Ceretto at such a good moment.

I've no 97 Felsina left, but I have a few 97 Fonterutoli CCRs, with one lined up in the kitchen to be opened soon.

[David M. Bueker]

I do not see the Felsina getting better. It never really developed a ton of complexity, but that (IMO) is a factor of the vintage which was fruit-forward. I honestly think it will just get leaner, not more interesting.

I do not see the Felsina getting better. It never really developed a ton of complexity, but that (IMO) is a factor of the vintage which was fruit-forward. I honestly think it will just get leaner, not more interesting.

Thanks for that bit of advice. I'll put mine on priority for opening and Fontalloro as well.