Having wasted four hours at an abysmal performance of Chekhov's Platonov, we decided to open up something a bit older and more "special" than our usual fare. Gladly this bottle and our quick risotto more than made up for the over-long, overacted performance with too much shouting and strange waterworks and other strange stage effects. I like Chekhov - maybe my favourite Russian author and playwright - but this was a horrible performance.
Caparsa Chianti Classico Riserva Doccio a Matteo 1997 - 39,80€; 13% abv; 100% Sangiovese. Recent vintages of this see 16 months in Barrique, but the '97 was in bigger casks.
The scent is quite lovely with much cherry and some darker fruit. It smells mature with some nice earthy and leathery aromas. Though the fruit is ripe it never seems fat and flabby like so many other '97s I have had. The palate still has such refreshing tannins and so much of them that I think this will keep for quite some time - especially as the fruit and acidity are all so harmoniously integrated to each other. Tangy finish. Shows no adverse effects from the hot year or the oak. Very nice, mature wine. Drink and hold.
