Sad times.

GV – kahn-eye-OH-low!!! I’m sorry to rag on you – you’re a great success, and a big influence on a large number of people! You’ve got to do something to stop murdering foreign words/names. SLOW down and spell it out. And speaking of slow, I think you just had a bad tongue day, and on top of that, kinda raced though the wines (esp. with the cheese – it takes TIME to actually taste, unlike Mr. Smith, who, rocker that he is, thoroughly knows everything about his wine, and is slugging BECAUSE HE CAN! (I dug that!) Though these are entryish level Chiantis, and part of a HUGELY expansive market segment with broad range in taste as well as price, names like Coltibuono (Roberto Stucchi family) and Antinori should merit more than a passing glance (or swig, as it were). It’s right behind you on the board (which we LOVE)! These are family names with long histories and pedigrees devoted to farming here, unlike commodity based producers who are in it just to get a piece of the money. Da Vinci, you know who you are…

QOTD – though I’m not a big Chianti drinker – less than 3 bottles/year will do… along w/ lots of the goodies mentioned so far, I’ve enjoyed Castellare CH. Classico of several vintages. A Winebow/ Leonardo Locascio import.

My favorite: Da Vinci Riserva Chianti 2004

Gary: you asked for it!! – and I’ve asked for this before (a few times) – but you once sold the Pacina Chianti Classico Colli Senese, maybe 7 years ago? I still remember it. Flinty, incredible tanins, unbelievable weight and fruit. Pure as the driven snow. Never seen it since! THIS is a wine you should hunt down – it is still available in Italy!

Fattoria La Ripa Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva 2000. The best CC I’ve had, and it’s still drinking very well.

Gee another string of dissapointing Italian wines… save these to melt the ice in your driveway. QOTD: yeh, try another country would be best. I think you have to go 2 or 3 more price points up to find something drinkable.

good show. nice you are not just giving compliments! smile. Can’t put lipstick on some pigs, so matter what Obama says.

When is the next secret pack, we just had the neighbors over and did the show – wow, like this show – not much good in wines. But nice to expand the palate! Not disappointed. We were about 50% snif’ing and tasting what you said – which is normal for us 8. smile. The last one was great, like a weak port, but good. I’d do that for $16 a bottle again.

QOTD: Chianti’s liven up when I have my bourbon saute’d salmon dip with them.

I want to see a speed drink-eat-drink wine and food pairing show. Dang, the speed with which you tasted your way through the cheese and wine at the end of this show is incredible. Watch the highlights at 10, that was awesome. How did you do that? Seriously, do a speed tasting episode. 3 cheeses, 3 wines, may the best pairing win….

Dear Gary and fellas, what were you supposed to expect from some cheap chianti? any idea of the real price that we should pay in Italy for this kind of stuff without the iporter/transport/change charges? At this price in my opinion the only thing you can expect is a flawless honest everyday table wine. Let’s put this on the right prospect. ciao

Still a good episode, shows that your honest and true to the wines, not always bringing the best of the best out but that you still do get shitty wines at any price point…

Want to save the face of the Chiantis wines ? Try the Poggio Tocco 2004, Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, 9? the bottle.

QOTD: Castello di Monastero Chianti Classico has always done me well…especially the 1999 if you can find it now.

HAY. how about a 2004 ROGGIO DEl filare
I LOVE IT.it never fails me..but it is one the pricey end..sigh..

Tasted 20 chianti classicos at the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta the end of September. Everyone of them including the Pepoli were mediocre at best so I don’t have any recommendations though the Tiganello was great.

so many good memories when it comes to chiantis. fonterutoli, felsina, villa cafaggio, poggerino, volpaia. good stuff but way too pricey today. you find better wines in portugal, spain, argentina and even in france. 2005 killer-bordeaux for 10 to 15 euro here in berlin. and this stuff seriously rocks the house.

Not a great show.
While I admire the resolve to find a value Chianti, I never seem to find them.
I find that if I pay a few more bones, I am in a safer zone.

QOTD – I like the Montesodi Chianti Rufina, which I believe is an Antinori product as well. The Castello Nippozano bu Antinori is also decent.

The show was disappointing, but not surprising to me. For my palate, cheap Chianti has never been a good play.

QOTD: Panaretta is about my favorite Chianti right now.

Show OK, bad result of 0 & 3.

QOTD: Have to agree – lately not been finding any half-decent Chianti’s

QOTD: I used to love a chianti that was served at a nearby restaurant when I was in graduate school. My friend and I would go there and get teary-eyed over things that were going on in our lives; we had a good time. But the chianti was pulled and I’ve never found another that I liked as well.

The best Chianti Classico I’ve had recently is from Fontodi. Querciabella is also quite nice. But both are over $20.

Hey Gary

I am sorry you didn’t find any “thunder” today. I recommend the following Chianti producers:

Isole e Olena – very elegant style Chianti’s
Fattoria di Felsina – Traditional Chianti’s
and Vicchimaggio.

And, lets not forget to try Selvapiana in Chianti Rufina, North East of Chianti Classico!

Take care,

Thats Vicchiomaggio, sorry!

Cheers

The last Chianti I tried was a 2000 Querceto Classico Riserva that was OK but nothing to write home about.

I do have a 2004 Vola Classico Riserva that I will try at some point.

Looking forward to the next episode.

Had the Vigna Vecchia 2001 Chianti Classico (not 100% sure on that vintage). I thought it was pretty darn good. Can’t remember exactly what the flavor profile was like for the 2001 b/c I drank it a while ago. I also have a bottle of the 2004, which is supposed to be pretty good as well. Looking forward to opening the ’04 on my 5 year anniversary. My wife & I actually visited their Vineyard in 2004 on our honeymoon just by chance & brought home a few bottles.