In my never-ending quest for drinkable wines under $10, I came across a red wine from Abruzzo that I have no hesitation in recommending. Deep ruby in colour, it has a nose and flavour of cherries and mocha. Most appealing, apart from the price, are its soft, ripe tannins.
A lovely nose of currants, blackberry, cassis and raspberry on this classic Chianti Classico, with touches of spice and oak. It’s nicely concentrated on the palate with rich fruit flavours and soft tannins. Always a consistent wine.
Ruby purple. Red fruits dominate on the nose with a trace of reduction (an unpleasant odour that goes away after a while and not a defect). Full bodied, the tannins have a little astringent bite but the fruit is abundant. The finish is quite firm. Carafe it for 1 to 2 hours to drink it now, or wait up to 5 years.
The '07 Chianti is a 100% Sangiovese with a perfume of cherries, violets, humus, liquorice and spice. The palate emulates the nose, and the fresh acid and medium body round out the experience. Drink it from 2013 to 2020.
Brooding concentrated dark fruit nose with a spectrum of spices led by cinnamon and clove. Intense dark plum, bitter cherry, dark chocolate and liquorice coat the palate, finishing with dry tannins, bags of spice and huge fruit. Best with 5-plus years’ cellaring.
A blend of Sangiovese, Colorino, Canaiolo and Merlot. It’s ruby in colour with a smoky, minerally, black cherry nose. On the palate it’s savoury with flavours of dried cherry, orange peel and earthy tones, firmly structured with good length. Serve it with tomato-based pasta dishes or game pâté.
Not as profound as the '07, this edition is still a well built and flavourful Merlot. Mint, graphite, plums, cherries, raspberries, earth, spice and herbs reveal themselves on both the nose and palate. There is a long finish with enough structure to last 20 years.