Chianti Classico tasting notes 2011–2007

Radda in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. Violet ruby. Rich and sweet fruit compote with integrated acidity and with a tannic, stalky core. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 80% Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo. Cask sample. Concentrated crimson. Sweet strawberry jam and cherry. Heady! Dense, ripe and concentrated and quite full bodied. Drying tannin, will need more time to knit together. (WS)

Barberino Val d’Elsa. 90% Sangiovese, 4% Canaiolo, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot. Cask sample. Medium concentrated violet ruby. Intense sweet plum and red fruit nose. Surprisingly medium-bodied feel, but ends on a sweet tannic core. Warm finish. Seems ready now. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Cask sample. Deep crimson. Sweet forest fruits and plum. Very approachable. Underlying tannic structure and just enough acidity. Consumer-friendly wine. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Cask sample. Medium concentrated violet ruby. Warm, spicy fruit-cake nose. Intensely fruit driven on the palate but keeps the balance. Very ripe and a touch jammy with stalky tannins and a warm finish. Lacks the famous Lamole acidity. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo. Cask sample. Mid crimson. Slightly stalky and herbal at the beginning. Rather closed, only hints of dark and red fruit. Quite tannic too. Not yet ready. (WS)

Barberino Val d’Elsa. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. Medium concentrated violet ruby. Opens earthy and a touch peppery. Plummy fruit but not without depth. Sweet raspberry and surprisngly high acidity for the vintage pulling it together. Quite rich tannin. Certainly very young. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. From a vineyard, called Livio, which has been replanted on its own rootstocks propagated from pre-phylloxera vines that had survived from that same plot. Mid violet ruby. Sweet fruit, cinnamon and hints of violets. Savoury too. The fully integrated acidity becomes more prominent on the finish. Quite tannic, but lots of fruit as well. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. Deep crimson. Dusty but quite serious brooding nose with hints of Moroccan leather. Intense red and dark fruit palate but with a good dose of acidity and stalky tannin. Not ready yet. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot. Cask sample. Mid crimson. Soft, opulent and sweet cherry compote with a dusting of dark chocolate. Soft acidity, and ready. Not ridiculously long, though. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Cask sample. Medium concentrated violet ruby. Slightly old-school spiciness and ever so slightly damp and stalky on the nose. Perhaps from fruit harvested before the heat came? Quite astringent finish. Wait. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. Violet ruby. Dense strawberry and forest fruits. Round and quite full bodied and with just enough acidity to keep it going. Rustic, but otherwise perfectly acceptable. (WS)

Poggibonsi. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. Medium violet ruby. Quite sweet and rich with a pinch of spice. Quite forward and with rather low acidity, but richness is offset by a good dose of stalky tannin. Ends warm. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino. Cask sample. Deep, dark ruby. Very opulent, peppery and a touch chalky on the nose. Much less forward and open on the palate, closed even! Brooding sweet dark fruit with an austere tannic structure. A tad rustic. Drying oak tannins at this stage but not overwhelmingly oaky. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. Purplish crimson. Quite pure and fresh and with a leafy note. Very good balance and extract. High drinkability! Great effort for the vintage. (WS)

San Casciano in Val di Pesa. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino. Crimson. Fragrant, sweet and spicy fruit with a distinct earthy note. Somewhat peppery too. Concentrated and quite sweet on the palate too, but not overtly heavy or alcoholic. Good dose of stalky tannin. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Cask sample. Violet ruby. Very different from the others. Not opulent or rich at all on the nose. Quite poised even. Very elegant and precise. Very good acidity and bold tannin and very good length. The wine of the vintage? (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Ciliegiolo, 3% Canaiolo, 2% Colorino. Cask sample. Convincingly pale-ish, youthful ruby. Soft spicy and warm cherry nose. Good extract and freshness with good weight. Tannic too, but genuine. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 80% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. Opaque crimson seems to betray other than Sangiovese? Dry oak and sweet concentrated fruit. Popular and in the international mode, but well made, but lacks the energy of Sangiovese, or rather, seems compromised. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Deeper ruby than their straight Chianti Classico. A tad dusty with hints of fruit cake, but much more juvenile on the palate with real tannic grip and lots of extract. Appetising! (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 97% Sangiovese, 3% Colorino. Pale ruby already with orange tinges. Old-fashioned, herbal/balsamic nose. Seems a tad tired. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 80% Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo. Medium concentrated ruby. Cherry and a touch of Moroccan leather. A tad dusty too. Good mid-weight palate and succulence. Not the most complex, and quite tannic, but does the job. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Medium crimson. Backward nose, even a touch medicinal. Quite closed on the palate, at least for the moment. Lots of tannin perhaps a touch too much for the modest fruit? (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Medium ruby. Minerally nose with peppery notes and herbs and leather. Elegant mouthfeel. Lots of acidity and gritty tannin. Very young. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo. Mid crimson. Rich, sweet and very generous, almost jammy but with a good dose of acidity. Rustic tannin. Bit too rich for my taste, but manages to strike the balance. Just. Needs a bit more age. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. Medium ruby with the beginning of orange. Sweet and creamy with rich extract and lots of tannin. First signs of tar. For mid-term drinking. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 3% Malvasia, 2% Colorino. Deep crimson. Rich and sweet and with well-integrated oak. Very ripe fruit, it seems, but polished. Succulent palate. And creamy notes take the overhand over the fruit at the moment, but more is to come. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 105 Canaiolo. Cask sample. Youthful crimson. Reluctant cherry nose with hints of orange peel. Very closed and tight. High acidity palate, very tight. Serious tannin, here. Needs much more time. Promising. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino. Deep ruby just beginning to show some orange on the rim. Balsamic nose with hints of dried sweet fruit and cherry liqueur. Quite full bodied but seems already quite evolved. Drying tannin. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. Mid crimson. Very sweet and concentrated with a pinch of oak. Concentrated on the palate too but saved by refreshing acidity. Big tannin, but enough fruit to match. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 100% Sangiovese. Deep, already quite mature-looking ruby. Sweet, perfumed nose, with the merest hint of eucalyptus. Same rich fruit but contrasted by drying tannin. Needs food. (WS)

Poggibonsi. 100% Sangiovese. Cask sample. Medium ruby. Very vegetal, corked. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 93% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo. Mid ruby with first signs of age. Sweet and with more than a hint of orange peel. Very tight, compact with high acidity and cherry fruit and tannic grip on the finish. Vibrant! (WS)

Barberino Val d'Elsa. 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 5% Syrah. Cask sample. Mid crimson. Sweet and beguiling, very ripe fruit nose. Same richness and extract on the palate with youthful acidity. Fragrant finish. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 85% Sangiovese, 15% other varieties. Cask sample. Youthful mid ruby. Subdued but fine, sweet nose, with hints of Moroccan leather. High-pitched acidity. The palate is not giving away anything at this moment. Elegant and austere. Wait. (WS)

San Casciano in Val di Pesa. 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino. Cask sample. Mid ruby. Concentrated and sweet. Much less forthcoming on the palate. Big tannin but ongoing sensation of extract. (WS)

San Casciano Val di Pesa. 85% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. Crimson. Sweet candied fruit and cherry but not without appeal. The palate tries to strike a balance between acidity and sweet, almost jammy fruit. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample. Youthful crimson. Ethereal nose with fruitcake notes. Sweet and popular palate too, but contrasted by lots of acidity. Ever so slightly rough tannin. Needs more time to come together, but with undeniable popular appeal. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino, 5% Canaiolo. Cask sample. Violet crimson. Concentrated, sweet and with integrated oak. Very slow to emerge on the palate with a hefty dose of acidity. Very fragrant, lingering finish. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Cask sample. Youthful mid ruby. Austere cherry nose, slow to emerge. Same austerity on the palate, with brooding fruit and great length. This could be for the long haul. Grippy tannin! (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot. Cask sample. Dark ruby with first signs of age. Ripe and concentrated and quite round. Tannic grip. Popular and accessible, but with good length. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. Medium concentrated ruby with broader orange-tinged rim. Well made, popular and with good concentration. Slightly tough on the finish, though. (WS)

San Casciano in Val di Pesa. 80% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. Fairly light ruby with only just showing some orange. Balsamic, multilayered nose – this needs air! Earthy too. Wonderful concentration and ripe, sweet fruit. Long, almost rich finish backed up by grippy tannin. Classic Chianti Classico without being old-fashioned. Great length! Belongs to the elegant school. (WS)

San Casciano in Val di Pesa. 100% Sangiovese. A Chianti Classico by any other name, but bottled, against the regulation, in a burgundy-shaped bottle and hence only an IGT. Lightish ruby with broad orange-tinged rim. Opens savoury with a pinch of beef stock. Very elegant, fragrant fruit palate with sweet cherry. Muscular tannin. Very long. Tim Manning, who until recently was Il Borghetto’s oenologist, certainly belongs to Chianti Classico’s new generation of winemakers. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. Medium ruby with orange-tinged rim, seems like this matures very fast. Old-fashioned and quite mature with tannins demanding centre stage. Fruit fades on the finish. (WS)

Very deep ruby. Sweet herb liqueur nose and fruitcake notes. There is a good core of acidity and tannin striking the balance. Dried fruit and plum notes and tannin on the finish betray the vintage. Hint of tar. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot. Concentrated ruby just beginning to show some orange tinges. Sweet and seductive and quite compact. Some tight palate but fragrant finish betrays there is more to come. (WS)

San Casciano in Val Pesa. Mid ruby with orange tinges. Evolved, tarry cherry fruit and a touch dusty with herbal hint. Well concentrated but tannins seem harsh and the finish slightly disjointed. (WS)

Barberino Val d'Elsa. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino. Mid ruby with orange tinges. Plummy and herbal, this looks quite developed. Rich and sweet and with good acidity to lift the palate. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 100% Sangiovese. Quite dark with orange tinges. Cherry and plum with a pinch of oak, but well dosed. Grippy tannin frames sweet fruit. Succulent finish. Popular but well made. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot. Cask sample. Medium deep ruby with first signs of orange. Herbal, balsamic and with hint of orange peel. Youthful on the palate, nonetheless. Soft, somewhat nondescript fruit lifted by acidity. Big tannin. Good length. Solid rather than exciting. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Mid ruby with orange tinge. Bit grubby on the nose. Unfocused fruit without great depth. Drying tannin. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo. Medium ruby with the beginning of orange on the rim. Fruit-cake nose. Gentle fruit-cake palate contrasting with high acidic and tannic core. Fragrant finish, but struggles with the tannin. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 5% Syrah. Mid ruby with the first signs of orange tinges. Sweet, with hints of dried fruit. Same generosity on the palate, but acidity strikes good balance. Gritty tannin. This has future. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 98% Sangiovese, 2% Canaiolo. Mid ruby with the beginning of orange. Oaky, nutty even, but there is lots of fruit underneath. Good freshness, but a tad less oak would have done even more. Coating tannin. Very good length. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino. Medium deep ruby. Tarry, candied nose with cinnamon notes, seems already quite mature. Fragrant finish, but with quite a lot of tannin. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 7% Merlot. Concentrated, medium ruby just beginning to show some orange on the rim. Sweet, somewhat commercial oak nose with balsamic fruit. Much livelier on the palate with multilayered finish. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Youthful mid ruby. Complex nose of undergrowth, spice and cherry. Still looks very young. Firm tannin and compact succulent cherry fruit with zippy acidity on the finish. Should be cellared for a couple of years. Great effort for the vintage. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. Medium ruby with the first signs of orange. Slightly grubby but certainly intriguing. Tad unripe perhaps? Bell pepper. Very slow on the palate with some genuine cherry flavours. Fantastic compact tannin and acidity. This estate should do so much better, as the potential is there. (WS)

Barberino Val d’Elsa. 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 5% Syrah. Mid ruby still youthful. Ever so slightly reductive and with lifted cherry fruit. Vibrant, compact and elegant with marzipan-like tannin. Fragrant and very young. But I always wonder why the 5% of Syrah cannot be omitted. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Medium ruby just beginning to open up. Fragrant, almost opulent cherry but leafy notes too. Lots of sweet fruit on the palate and with integrated acidity, but seems quite modest for the provenance! Satisfying, nevertheless, if not overtly complex. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 80% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, 10% Colorino. Concentrated mid ruby. Warm nose beginning to show some age. Lively cherry on the attack but ends mellow. Correct, rather than exciting. (WS).

Poggibonsi. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo. Mid ruby with orange tinges. Ever so slightly chalky and slow to emerge. Same youthfulness on the palate. Serious and fine and with grainy tannin. Closes up. Deserves more time. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot. Mid ruby with the first signs of orange. Sweet and seductive with fruit-cake notes and shoe-polish hint. Much more juvenile and expressive on the palate. Good balance too with muscular tannin. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Mid ruby with broader rim. Savoury, almost minerally core with hints of dried cherry. Very fine and elegant and grippy at the same time. (WS)

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. 92% Sangiovese, 8% other grape varieties. Mid ruby with orange tinges. Herbal, sweet sour nose. Light palate, but lacks concentration, and fruit needs to be riper to convince. But the general approach towards elegance is to be applauded. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 5% other grape varieties. Unusual deep ruby with small, orange-tinged rim. Popular oak cannot entirely cover the herbal streak. Quite big tannin. Popular. (WS)

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Colorino. Opaque ruby with very small orange-tinged rim. Sweet intense dried-fruit nose with hints of leather and vanilla pod. This leathery note suppresses the fruit somewhat, or perhaps this just needs more time? (WS)

San Casciano Val di Pesa. 100% Sangiovese. Quite light ruby. Interesting, if subdued balsamic nose. Fragrant and gentle on the palate and with good structure. Almost Pinot Noir-like in its constitution. Pretty. (WS)

San Casciano Val di Pesa. Cask sample. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino. Concentrated mid ruby just beginning to show some orange on the rim. Hints of cardamom skin and cassis. Almost lifted. Round, generous fruit, with engaging acidity and grainy tannin and a pinch of new oak. Well made. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium ruby with the beginning of orange on the rim. Hints of oatmeal and cherry liqueur. Quite youthful and compact on the palate, succulent even and fine powdery but persistent tannin. Very good for the vintage. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Mid ruby just beginning to open up on the rim. Balsamic, savoury, with hints of herbs. Real depth. Great focus and freshness and bite on the palate. Tannic finish, but lots of fruit to match. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 85% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Mid ruby with orange tinges. Rhubarb and cherry and savoury and peppery. Sweet layer of fruit underneath. Quite elegant palate with good complexity. Tannic too, but will mellow out. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese.
Very dark ruby. Rich, generous and slightly overripe nose with a herbal streak, nonetheless. Popular soft fruit palate and slightly tough tannins, but generally should please the masses. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 5% Colorino, 5% Canaiolo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium ruby with orange tinges. Sweet, candied and with savoury, herbal notes. Not entirely convincing on the palate with off-balance acidity and lacking in concentration to back up the drying tannin. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Light ruby with broad orange-tinged rim. Pretty closed on the nose but there is a shimmer of sweet fruit. Elegant palate with high-pitched acidity. Slightly tough tannin at this stage, but great effort, nevertheless. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 85% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 5% Colorino, 5% Canaiolo. Concentrated ruby with small orange-tinged rim. Classic, perhaps a tad old-school with hint of Moroccan leather and the beginning of tobacco. Slightly rustic, but appetising. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 97% Sangiovese, 3% Canaiolo. Mid ruby with the beginning of orange. Hints of very ripe fruit, but not overpowering. High acidity firmly dominates at this moment. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Quite deep, youthful ruby. Balsamic and almost ethereal. Savoury more than fruity. Palate much more engaging. Succulent and vibrant. Famously tannic, but no rough edges. Well done. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 85% Sangiovese, 15% other grape varieties. Concentrated ruby, still quite youthful. Dusty, warm nose. Iron and blood and ever so slightly herbal. Elegant, nervy palate, with a sweet finish. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot. Medium concentrated ruby with no sign of age. Earthy, and (oak) dusty and hints of graphite. Very good balance and grip and expression. Elegant and for the mid term. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Maturing mid ruby. Captivating oak and cherry on a very elegant palate. Already hugely attractive but has the stuffing to age. Elegant and not unlike a Pinot Noir, perhaps a tad richer. Tiny production, half of the vineyards are alberello (bushvine). An estate to watch. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Brilliant mid ruby with first signs of orange. As if this had been taken straight from the cask. Tannic grip framing gentle cherry fruit. Slightly dry finish. Seems very young. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Medium ruby just beginning to show some orange tinges. A heady cocktail of super-ripe cherry, pepper, earth and cooked apple. Stalky tannin giving focus to sweet fruit. Slightly drying on the finish, and needs food. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 100% Sangiovese. Maturing ruby. Heady cherry liqueur and orange peel. Dusty! Soft drying tannin and low-key fruit palate. Sound. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Youthful concentrated ruby. Brooding, concentrated and peppery. Touch herbal. Attractive stalky tannin and lively cherry fruit. Seems ready now. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Malvasia Nera. Medium ruby with no signs of age. Fine, peppery nose with hints of orange and cherry. Very easy going on the palate with lively acidity. Could perhaps do with a little more concentration. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 8% Canaiolo, 2% Colorino. Cask sample. Medium ruby with orange tinges. Very subdued and a touch peppery. Elegant and satisfying and with a sweet cherry finish. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 80% Sangiovese, 8% Teroldego, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot. Concentrated youthful ruby. Ever so slightly herbal with spicy notes. Sangiovese seems a bit muted on the palate. Ends very round with a hefty dose of drying tannin. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 97% Sangiovese, 3% Canaiolo. Medium ruby with the beginning of orange. Generous, quite forward and open with hints of sweet oak and ripe fruit. Fierce oak tannin indicates this needs more time to integrate. Crunchy red fruit finish. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Very dark ruby. Sweet, oak-driven fruit nose. Very generous fruit on the palate. It misses the Sangiovese acidity bite. Certainly not bad, but could come from anywhere. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Medium ruby with orange tinge. Cherry and orange nose. Ever so slightly dusty at this stage. Lively red fruit with just the right amount of oak before it becomes overbearing. Satisfying. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 100% Sangiovese. Mature-looking, medium ruby. Mature notes too on the nose, but not only. Savoury and with sweet core of red fruit slowly coming to the surface. Much more youthful on the palate with polished but muscular tannin and brooding fruit. Serious, for this level and with a complex but subdued finish. Cellar!

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Medium ruby with the beginning of orange on the rim. Quite closed, savoury and hinting at fresh mint. Crunchy tannins underneath a layer of rich cherry fruit. Good balance and appealingly rich finish. Potential crowd pleaser but with character. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot. Surprisingly dark ruby. Sweet international nose with balsamic oak and eucalyptus. Well grafted and with refreshing acidity and lots of posh oak on the finish. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Curiously dark with orange tinges. Nutty oak and savoury and sweet fruit-cake notes. Same fruit-cake impression on the palate. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 93% Sangiovese, 3% Merlot. Medium, mature-looking ruby with orange rim. Quite mature nose with tobacco leaf and tar. Very swift development? Needs lots of air. Same mature, sweet palate but with quite lively acidity, which pulls it together. (WS)

San Casciano in Val di Pesa. 85% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot. Concentrated ruby with small orange-tinged rim. Lots of sweet oak and very ripe fruit, firmly pushing the populist button. Sweet and generous with quite a dollop of dusty oak on the finish. Less would have certainly been more. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Ciliegiolo, 3% Canaiolo, 2% Colorino. Concentrated ruby with orange tinges on the rim. Savoury and lifted nose but otherwise closed at this stage on the fruit. Very attractive and lively cherry fruit on the palate with real crunch on the finish. Already drinking now. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino.
Very concentrated deep ruby. Sweet and dusty oak nose. Cherry with bite on the palate, but more subdued finish. Stalky tannin. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Dark ruby with orange tinge. Old-fashioned, sweet almost rich fruit with candied orange peel and sweet cherry liqueur and spice. Straightforward and concentrated on the palate with bitter tannin. For now. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 92% Sangiovese, 8% other grape varieties. Deep, somewhat lacklustre but youthful ruby. Very oak driven on the nose as well as the palate. Overlays the fruit. Drying oak tannin too. For those who likes oak. (WS)

Quite mature-looking ruby with orange-tinged rim. Very, very slow to emerge. Quite full bodied with great balance on the palate. Will need more time to open up on the finish. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Concentrated ruby with orange tinges on the rim. Muted, earthy and spicy nose. Touch herbal too. There is concentration, just not a lot of complexity. Dry finish. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, Malvasia Nera and Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby with orange tinges. Oatmeal, with subdued fruit and a touch of sweet spice. Same reluctance on the palate. Grainy tannin and quite round, if subdued fruit. Could be a bit more lively. (WS)

Barberino Val d'Elsa. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino, 5% Canaiolo. Medium ruby and still quite youthful. Sweet, almost jammy nose. Contrasting lifted cherry palate, with creamy oak finish and hints of fruitcake. Could be more exciting. Underachieving. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Very dark, almost opaque. International profile of sweet fruit and oak. Quite generous and sweet in the palate. Is this only Sangiovese/indigenous varieties? Seems ever so slightly the result of recipe winemaking.(WS)

Radda in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Mammolo. Concentrated dark ruby. Lifted, sour cherry and kitchen spice. Lots of concentration here. Sweet fruit underlined by acidity. Big but not rough tannin. Quite rich, but pulled off with style. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 100% Sangiovese. Concentrated ruby just beginning to show some age. Sweet ripe fruit and vanilla and nutmeg with a stalky note. Good concentration but perhaps ever so slightly simple and drying on the finish. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated ruby just beginning to show some age. Ethereal and slightly dusty. Richly extracted with a good pinch of acidity. Stalky persistent tannin. This will need some time to shed its youthful fruit. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Crimson! Vanilla and lifted cherry. Sweet and concentrated with bitter tannin. I would love to see more Lamole acidity and less richness. Now everything is set on youthful concentration. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot, 5% Colorino. Concentrated and dark ruby. Oak! Richly concentrated and quite sweet and mouthfilling. Appealing in its youth but doubtful if it will age gracefully. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Medium, youthful-looking ruby. At first a nutty, wild nose. With aeration more and more the Sangiovese liveliness comes to the fore. Intriguing and multilayered. Sweet and mouthfilling with refreshing acidity and muscular grainy tannin. Deserves more time but hard to resist now. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot. Purple ruby. Lots of nutty oak here and richly fruity without becoming too heavy. Should appeal to the masses. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 85% Sangiovese, 5% Teroldego, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot. Crazy mix of grapes. Dark, impenetrable ruby. Posh oak, nutty fruit and hint of saddle. Almost French in a way. Very sweet and concentrated but with good acidity. Drying tannin on the finish. This could come from anywhere. (WS)

Poggibonsi. 100% Sangiovese. Concentrated ruby with orange tinges. Earthy and balsamic. Lots of concentration and extract and generous finish. Plush almost, with big tannin to match. But deserves to be aged really. (WS)

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 85% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino, 5% Malvasia Nera, 5% Merlot. Cask sample. Very, very dark, almost opaque ruby. Seems very youthful with a big frame of tannin, but there is plenty of sweet fruit to deal with this. Almost rich finish, but acidity keeps it up. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Medium ruby just beginning to show some age on the rim. Complex and concentrated and with hints of new oak. Concentrated sweet cherry with tannic grip. Mouthfilling and elegant at the same time. Deserves more age. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 85% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot. Deep, opaque ruby. Herbal and subdued and hint of vanilla. Rich, sweet fruit and hints of cumin. On the finish a rustic tannic layer, but appealing and with very good length. (WS)

Castellina in Chianti. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot. Very dark, almost opaque. Plummy fruit clearly marked by oak. Very rich and sweet and ever so slightly stewed with big tannin. A bit old-school, really. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 97% Sangiovese, 3% Canaiolo. Medium ruby with the beginning of orange tinge. Hints of sweet sour fruit and sweet, dark chocolate. Good balance, if densely fruity. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Quite dark ruby with orange tinges on a small rim. Classic nose of cherry, hint of fruitcake and the beginning of tobacco and black tea. Oak too. Very good balance and succulence. Underlying muscular tannin, but not rough at all. Could do with a couple of years in bottle. (WS)

90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo, 5% Colorino. Medium ruby with just the beginning of orange on the rim. Savoury bacon and red and dark fruit. Beginning of tar. Very closed palate, with great acidity and coating tannins. Lots of breed. One for the cellar. (WS)

Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Medium ruby still quite youthful. Dense oak at first. Quite backward and slow-to-emerge fruit. Concentrated but not overtly sweet. Well-balanced tannin too. Very long, and only at the beginning of its development. (WS)

Radda in Chianti. 90% Sangiovese, 8% Canaiolo, 2% Colorino. Medium ruby with orange rim. Nutty, sweet vanilla fruit. Mouthfilling, sweet fruit, with matching acidity and tannin, but will need to lose some of that baby fat. (WS)

Gaiole in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese. Quite mature-looking dark ruby with brickstone rim. Prune and fruitcake opening. Same on the palate. Rather sweet and in danger of getting tired soon. (WS)