Aging Chianti?

[Levi Dalton]

originally posted by Christian Miller (CMM):

originally posted by Christian Miller (CMM):

Are there any Chianti wines with the classic Sangiovese-driven character that do well for longer aging? Or should I just enjoy the ones I like young and age Brunello instead?

Monsanto and Nipozzano 97 Riservas were cruising along nicely last year.

And as long as Tuscany is the subject, I can't help but notice - even here, the home of the underdog, the unknown, and the unfashionable - everyone mentions this or that Brunello or Chianti and nothing about poor old Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

When we were there last summer, I was quite taken with the high average quality of the Rossos and Vino Nobiles we encountered. At a recent tasting in SF, Boscarelli's 08 Nobile Nocio and Il Greppo's 09 Rosso impressed in an old-fashioned style. Poliziano 09 Rosso and 08 Nobile were very good in a plumper, more modern idiom. Valdipiatta and Salchetto's 08 Nobile tread the line between very nicely. Le Bertille's 09 Rosso di Montepulciano (20% Ciliegiolo grape, a new one for me) was a jolly quaff, like the intersection between Chianti and cru Beaujolais.

I've been particularly amazed by how spectacularly Salchetto fails to age.

As regards the suburbs, I might possibly point you instead to Fattoria Ambra in Carmignano. I have had examples with 20+ years that I was taken with.

 

[Jay Miller]

originally posted by Steven Spielmann:
Well, I suppose since this thread got resurrected, I can ask what Brunellos (other than Biondi-Santi) do especially well for long-term aging. In general and in the 2004 vintage... I've seen Costanti and Il Poggione come up under this heading a few different places, for example.

I've been reading some good things about Lisini. Anyone here have any opinions?

 

[Arnt Egil Nordlien]

A '58 Ducale Oro just before christmas was very nice. Also opened a '64 but that was shot. For sangiovese outside of CC a '80 Le pergole torte was tremendous last year. I have had several older Lungarottis especially the '67 Rubesco probably 4-5 times over the past 10 years. It refuses to fade. Older Lungarottis can be truly outstanding and I often find them around for cheap money.

 

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

I've been particularly amazed by how spectacularly Salchetto fails to age.

Interesting, I wouldn't have pegged the normale as particularly age-worthy or wimpy in that regard. The Evoluzione bottling was suspiciously plush, however.

It's not an old estate, but have you had any aged Valdipiatta Vino Nobile? I really like the structure of their wines.

 

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

originally posted by Arnt Egil Nordlien:
A '58 Ducale Oro just before christmas was very nice.

The 2006 Ruffino Ducale d'Oro was terrific at the above-mentioned tasting, resolutely and unfashionably tart, medium-light bodied, very long, with farmy hearthy notes and dry tea-like tannins.

I had some very good Riserva Ducales from the early 60s in the mid-80s, that seemed like they could age another 5-10 years.