Castelli del Grevepesa 2015 “Clemente VII” Chianti Classico
This tale starts with our protagonist leaving their sylvan homestead in search of their destiny. With an eye to making their mark in the world, they make their way to a …
classico
Castello di Gabbiano 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva
The Gabbiano Castle has been a focal point in Tuscany since the 12th century. Being between the rival towns of Sienna and Florence, it was more often about war, not wine. …
Cafaggio 2013 Chianti Classico
When I was the national wine buyer for Bacchus Wines, one of my first additions to the portfolio was Villa Cafaggio. They’ve been producing excellent Chianti Classico since the 1960s. For a …
Nicolis 2007 “Ambrosan” Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Nicolis is a benchmark producer of Amarone who has been crafting top-notch wines since 1951. This particular bottling is a bit more modern than its usual releases. Instead of aging exclusively …
Castelli del Grevepesa 2011″Clemente VII” Chianti Classico Riserva
This bottling of Chianti Classico has been hitting up high ratings over the past few years. This vintage may even be better than the 2010 Castelli del Grevepesa Riserva and a notch …
Castellani 2013 “San Michele” Valpolicella Classico Ripasso
Some call this style a “Baby Amarone,” which is kinda like comparing a ribeye steak to a cheesesteak. Sure they come from the same place, and they both are damn delicious, …
Castelli del Grevepesa 2011 “Clemente VII” Chianti Classico
This Tuscan co-op winery is making a habit of featuring its wines in the Chairman’s Selection. I am not complaining. The 2010 Chianti was amazing, and their Super Tuscan was a great buy, too. If …
Castelli del Grevepesa 2010 Clemente VII Chianti Classico Riserva
An impressive Reserva that offers an increased level of depth and verve. A classical note of leather ties together aromas of rusty iron and sandalwood. A hefty dose of gritty tannins …
Lanciola 2009 Le Masse di Greve Chianti Classico
Chianti Wine Review A hedgehog playing in a pile of autumn leaves. This bottle starts off with a very specific wet fur-and-oak-leaf aroma that was both surprising and delightful. There is …
Poggio Scalette 2012 Chianti Classico
The Greve Valley is lined with terraced vineyards. Looking across the valley from this winery, those stone walls can look like a giant scallete (ladder, in Italian). At least it did for the …
Salviano 2012 Orvieto Classico
OrvietoOrvieto used to be huge. I still am surprised when younger sommeliers and students don’t recognize the name. In the ’80s, it was one of those bottles that white zin lovers …
Villa Cafaggio 2010 Chianti Classico
The winery dates back as far as the 14th Century. It was labeled the “Cahago,” the Tuscan term for a walled field. It was bought by the Farkas family in the …
Barone Ricasoli 2010 “Brolio” Chianti Classico
The Castello di Brolio (the castle of Brolio) has been in the Ricasoli family since the 12th Century. Two of the family’s top wines (they produce 11) are labeled as Brolio. The top …
Castello di Fonterutoli “Ser Lapo” 2008 Chianti Classico Reserva
The Mazzei family has a very long history in Chianti and has considerably expanded their winemaking operations over the past few years, including forays into Sicily and the Tuscan coast. However, …
Zenato 2008 Ripassa Classico, Veneto
Zenato is a large-scale operation near Lake Garda in northern Italy. Despite their size, the company has consistently put out excellent –if occasionally anodyne—wines in Valpolicella. Vintage after vintage, the Zenato …
Nozzole 2000 “La Forra” Chianti Classico Riserva
A style of Chianti that is growing rarer by the vintage. Leather, wet earth, and game notes are predominant on the nose, with bing cherry & smoke flavors on the palate. Light to medium in body, this is a lovely balance of earth & fruit in a food-friendly framework. The current pricing in Pennsylvania is $16 , which is less than half your average retail price of $40. The great pricing —not to mention this is a classic style of Chianti Classico that will soon be extinct due to changes in wine laws– makes this the wine buy of the week.