Synopsis, Our Opinion: A drinkable, rough-hewn and mediocre
Chianti Classico Reserva.
Producer/Winery: Castello Banfi; Montalcono, Italy.
Grape Variety: Sangiovese blend – Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Geographic Appellation, Region, Country: Chianti Classico; Tuscany, Italy.
Vintage: 2017
Price: $17.24 (with a 25% mixed case discount)
Purchased From: Harris Teeter Grocery Store; Kernersville, North Carolina.
Paired With: Beef & pork meatballs, pasta with roasted tomato sauce & Parmesan cheese and green beans.
Tasting:
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Note: Every now and again, when we find a good sale, we purchase wine we know nothing about from the grocery store. This is one of those sale-price “pig in a poke” grocery store wines. Generally we try to get non-domestic brands simply because we have been disappointed so frequently with sweet, poor quality wines…especially the reds. However, occasionally we get lucky and discover a real winner…a wine with excellent quality that’s sold at a very low price…e.g. La Vieille Ferme Recolte Blanc 2019.
Opened one hour before drinking. Clear ruby color with a light purple rim. Musty cherry, new (unused) clay flower pots, a bouquet of aging flowers and hints of thyme aromas. Dry, thin and quite rustic mouthfeel, light to medium body and a 60-grit texture. Strong cherry flavor with a peppery and clove spice in the background. Gobs of bright acidity, robust firm tannins that just exploded in the long very dry cherry finish. WOW, traditional dry Chianti with just enough going on to draw you in and make for an interesting Italian pasta pairing. Not bad aroma and good with the tomato sauce – tasty meatball combination, but it’s a simple Classico Reserva that was a little disappointing. This was the most expensive grocery store wine we bought in this mixed case so we had much higher expectations with this wine than any of the other bottles…and our review probably reflects our frustration. In the end we said it was a drinkable, rough-hewn and mediocre Chianti Classico Reserva.
Photo from Castello Banfi
Comments: Learn more about Castello Banfi and their wines.
See our reviews of other Castello Banfi wines.
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Closure: Thin aluminum covered 45mm natural cork.
UPC Code: 0 80516 16084 9
Imported by: Banfi Vintners; Old Brookville, New York.