Last night my wine blogger best friend came over to share four bottles that showed up on her doorstep last week. I made beef bolognese:
2008 Barone Ricasoli Casalferro Toscana IGT Merlot
100% Merlot. Big berry fruit, equally red and black, cocoa, coffee and some bramble. Very fresh at first but it aged and turned leathery in the glass. Drink now.
2011 Barone Ricasoli Casalferro Toscana IGT Merlot
100% Merlot. Bright cherry and red plum fruit on the palate with Vit B6 minerality that got stronger on the nose and palate with air. Much more acidity than the '08, and the finish had a slight medicinal note that reminded me of a Piedmontese Chinato. Tannins clamped down hard after an hour in the bottle. Try again in 2023.
2015 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Colledila Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese
Classic Italian sangiovese nose of red fruit, raisins and tomato. Mouthfilling. Margot said it reminded her of her mother's Kugl. More rounded and elegant for current drinking than the '16 Roncicone poured next to it in a good way. Drink over the next 3-5 years.
2016 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Roncicone Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese
A bit more raw and tannic than the 2015 Colledila beside it, but only different in the way a year makes with no obvious flavor differences from the other cru. So: red fruit, raisins, tomato, walnut skins and rare beef. Excellent potential.