Yesterday, CSW hosted Michael Schmelzer, enologist for the Monte Bernardi Estate in Chianti. CSW has been carrying the Bernardi wines for four or five years, but it was my first time tasting them. Michael (born in Italy/one of his parents is American) said that his family purchased the estate seven or eight years ago. The estate is in Panzano (southern Chianti); with 9.5 hectares of vineyards that are organic and converting to biodynamic viticulture. Michael was very pleasant and knowledgeable; he had some maps and photos with him along with some samples of the rock content of the soil (shale, marl and limestone). Here is the lineup:
Monte Bernardi 2008 Chianti Classico Retromarcia - from purchased fruit, a lighter styled chianti with nice minerality and great aromatics, liked alot even though 2008 is a lesser regarded vintage ($16.99)
Monte Bernardi 2007 Chianti Classico Retromarcia - from purchased fruit, softer more traditional Chianti ($18.49)
Monte Bernardi 2007 Chianti Classico - mostly Sangiovese, medium-bodied, balanced Chianti ($22.99)
Monte Bernardi 2007 Chianti Classico Sa'Etta - single vine-yard wine, medium-bodied, tasty with a longer finish than the other non single-vineyard Chiantis ($33.99)
Monte Bernardi 2006 Chianti Classico Sa'Etta - single-vineyard wine, medium bodied wine from a good vintage, cherry, violet and black currant notes ($33.99)
Monte Bernardi 2006 Colli Della Toscana Centrale IGT Tzingana - super Tuscan (Merlot, Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot), nice wine although merlot dominated wines are more of a rounding error in my wine budget allocation ($39.99)
Another nice tasting at CSW.
-John