3/13/20 Chianti Classico Friday Sips


FRIDAY SIPS
2016 Chianti Classico
Today, Fri. March 13 from 1:30 - 6:30
Drop by today to taste four different wines from Chianti Classico all from the already profound 2016 vintage.


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2016 RODANO CHIANTI CLASSICO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Fattoria Rodano is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico in the famed region of Castellina in Chianti. The original farm dates back to the Middle Ages. This old-school favorite's pristine vineyards are spread over 100 hectares located at 200-300 meters above sea level and is in a perfect location to create classic, soulful Chianti Classico.

Perhaps this is the reason why when you stick your nose into this glass of Chianti, what you smell is the rich earth, violet and aromatic sage brush of Tuscany. A truly fine bottle of wine with smoked morellino cherry, roasted herbs and licorice adding to the aromatics, the single most impressive thing about this red is that the deep aromas present on the nose are echoed in the mouth, making it a truly deliciously and incredibly honest bottle of Tuscan red. Have this versatile Chianti with grilled or fried seafood dishes, hearty Bolognese and Reggiano. A great one to have around the house for gatherings, as it shows like filet mignon for ground beef prices. 2016 is an apex Tuscan vintage and this wine can be drunk through 2026.



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2016 IL MOLINO DI GRACE
CHIANTI CLASSICO
$17.99 BTL./$107.94 - SIX PACK

From Panzano in the northern sector of the Chianti Classico zone, Il Molino di Grace is one of Chianti's hidden treasures and values. It is almost becoming the theme of this week’s musings, once again it is all about the grand scale 2016 vintage. Over 30 years working with Chianti, I am able to count on one hand how many vintages are the equal of this magnificent year.

The newest and most fabulous version of Il Molino di Grace’s Chianti Classico emits terrific aromas of plum and blackberry along with hints of vanilla, sage, smoke and currants. In the mouth, it is a compelling Chianti with excellent chewy flavors, multiple layers and a driving, persistent finish. Drink over the next decade and perfect with Marcella Hazan’s tomato/butter sauce with pasta and Italian sausage on the side.



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2016 PANERETTA CHIANTI CLASSICO
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE

Located in Barberino Val D’Elsa and on the same street as two other luminaries, Castello di Monsanto and Isole e Olena, Paneretta makes up the triumvirate of excellence that comes from this Chianti Classico village, especially when it comes to modern day Tuscan wines. The Paneretta wines reflect their unique Tuscan terroir along with having strong Sangiovese character as well as beautiful finesse. If you were to grab an Italian dictionary, look up Chianti Classico, you probably would see a picture of their castle and vineyards!

Full bodied, refined, and teeming with harmonious red berries and appealing mineral notes and underbrush. The finish is super long, tangy and true to its Barberino Val d’Elsa terroir. Very good now, but will age beautifully for 5-8 more years as well.



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2016 BADIA A COLTIBUONO
CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA
$34.99 BTL./$209.94 SIX PACK

We have a lot of drinking history with the wines of Badia A Coltibuono and know from experience that their Riserva wines age gracefully, becoming something special and in top Tuscan vintages like 2016 the results are pure magic. In the top echelon with the likes of Felsina's Vigna Rancia or Montegrossi’s San Marcellino, Coltibuono's Riserva gets us excited about Sangiovese from Chianti. For a century and a half, the Stucchi Prinetti's family has been focused on the culture of Florence, the food and most importantly, on how their wine fits into that landscape. When you visit Coltibuono, you have a deep cultural experience from their restaurant/cooking school, to the winery, to the beautiful castle that houses it all. Perhaps this is the reason why when you stick your nose into this glass of Chianti, what you smell is the rich earth, violet and aromatic sage brush of Tuscany, the only one place on earth that produces these specific aromas.

This is a truly fine and elegant bottle of wine that has substantial structure and the finesse and balance to go the distance. Aromas of dark chocolate, tobacco, toffee and leather peek there heads out and mingle gracefully with smoked morellino cherry, roasted herbs, violets and licorice. Right now this Chianti presents an ultra-complex array of aromas that are seamlessly echoed in the mouth, that reflect meticulous care for old-vine vineyards and careful winemaking, exactly what Coltibuono is famous for offering. This polished bottle of Chianti is drinkable now with a hearty dish of pasta Bolognese or an aged piece of Reggiano but it will give you many years of enjoyment even further down the road. Best enjoyed 2023-2036++.
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