Friday 11 March 2011

CUWS L11 - Chianti lunch

Tasted Thursday, 03 March 2011. A superb flight of wines from Chianti Classico DOC, served alongside lunch at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Castello di Ama
Duck confit rilletes with winter fruit chutney and toasted brioche


Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Vigneto Bellavista 2001
B +

Beautiful ripe red fruits, cherries, strawberries, some floral. Palate settled, mature, red fruits, some secondary characters coming through, earthy, musty, tannins mostly refined. Gorgeously drinking now.

Castello di Ama Chianti Classico La Casuccia 2001
A-

Really similar in nose, cherries, liquer, cassis like. Palate is more vigorous, acidity more prevalent, just that bit more expressive, a bigger, more supple wine.

Barone Ricasoli
Pepper-crusted fresh tuna with fennel risotto, calamari and red wine sauce


Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio 2001
A-

Fantastic acidity, expressive, lively stuff, crushed berries. This its only beginning to show its potential, just opening up. Plenty of length there. Brilliant.

Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Castello di Brolio 1997
A-

Much sweeter fruits, there more ripeness there, bigger, fatter. Nice acidity runs through, still big and full mouthfeel. Showing fantastically.

Felsina & Castell'in Villa
Chump of lamb with confit shoulder, provencal vegetables, spinach and bail lamb jus with fondant potatoes and celeriac puree


Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia 2001
A-(+)

Plenty of red fruits again, showing beautifully, plenty of acidity again, good extraction, only just beginning to open up. Mouthfeel so generous, just settles and lingers. Tannins still could soften.

Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia 1999
A-(+)

Plenty of red fruits, cherries, berries, some touches of floral, slight tinge of cooper and amber at the edges, earthy, musty and farmyard. Still plenty of life in this, acidity still runs through. All correct together, integrated.

Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia 1997
A

Plenty of red fruits, slight metallic tones, rusty, bloody even. Palate so yielding, just gives generously, full mouthfeel and palate. Acidity runs again. Still lively, tannins could still develop, with bright future, but this is drinking oh so beautifully now. Delightful.

Chianti Classico Riserva Castell'in Villa 2001
B+(++)

Another fantastic wine, expressive, lively acidity, red fruits dominant. Just needs time to open up, slightly nervy still.

Chianti Classico Riserva Castell'in Villa 1995
A-(+)

Still some drying notes, tannins still there, settled, some musty characters, earthy. Definitely auburn, coppery rim. Fruit is still there but taking back seat. Acidity holds things together. Still has life ahead.

A flight of Vin Santo desert wines.
Veloute of bittersweet chocolate with cinnamon ice cream


Castello di Ama Vin Santo 2005
A-

Fudge, butter scotch, honey, acacia, floral touches. Plenty of sugar, almond tones, marzipan, still acidity there, not cloying. Balanced, vibrant, on the lighter side.

Barone Ricasoli Vin Santo 2004
A

All the above, but deeper, depth, smells heavy. Deeper golden tones, candied fruits. Fuller on the palate, heavier, verging on the treacle, but still isnt cloying.

Felsina Vin Santo 2001
A

Moving towards raisins and sultana, honey, treacle. Full, dried figs, big, not cloying, depth. Still nice balancing acidity, fullest and sweetest of the lot, not cloying, poised.

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