Host
Tommy
Date
February 19, 2010
Bottles
2006 Nipozzano Riserva - Jess & Evan
2006 Ruffino Riserva Ducale - Tommy
2007 Banfi - Tim
2007 Casale Daviddi - Nicole & Alissa
2007 Natio - Tara & Sean
2007 Ruffino Superiore - Ina & Max
Chianti
Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a fiasco ("flask"; pl. fiaschi); however, the fiasco is only used by a few makers of the wine now; most Chianti is bottled in traditionally shaped wine bottles. Baron Bettino Ricasoli (later Prime Minister in the Kingdom of Italy) created the Chianti recipe of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca in the middle of the 19th century.
The first definition of a wine-area called Chianti was made in 1716. It described the area near the villages of Gaiole, Castellina and Radda; the so-called Lega del Chianti and later Provincia del Chianti (Chianti province). In 1932 the Chianti area was completely re-drawn and divided in seven sub-areas: Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Montalbano and Rùfina. Most of the villages that in 1932 were suddenly included in the new Chianti Classico area added in Chianti to their name-such as Greve in Chianti which amended its name in 1972. Wines labeled Chianti Classico come from the biggest sub-area of Chianti, that sub-area that includes the old Chianti area. The other variants, with the exception of Rufina from the north-east side of Florence and Montalbano in the south of Pistoia, originate in the respective named provinces: Siena for the Colli Senesi, Florence for the Colli Fiorentini, Arezzo for the Colli Aretini and Pisa for the Colline Pisane. In 1996 part of the Colli Fiorentini sub-area was renamed Montespertoli.
During the 1970s producers started to reduce the quantity of white grapes in Chianti. In 1995 it became legal to produce a Chianti with 100% Sangiovese. For a wine to retain the name of Chianti, it must be produced with at least 80% Sangiovese grapes. A Chianti may have a picture of a black rooster (known in Italian as a gallo nero) on the neck of the bottle, which indicates that the producer of the wine is a member of the Gallo Nero Consortium, an association of producers of the Classico sub-area sharing marketing costs. Since 2005 the black rooster has been the emblem of the Chianti Classico producers association. Aged Chianti (38 months instead of 4-7), may be labeled as Riserva. Chianti that meets more stringent requirements (lower yield, higher alcohol content and dry extract) may be labeled as Chianti Superiore. Chianti from the "Classico" sub-area is not allowed in any case to be labeled as "Superiore".
The Results
WINNER: 2006 Nipozzano Riserva - 68 points out of 90
Producer: Marchesi de Frescobaldi
Vineyard: Castello di Nipozzano
Country/State/Region: Tuscany, Italy
Price: $24.99
Aroma: Blueberry, Oak, Cherry, Spice
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium/Full
Nose: Ripe
Taste: Cherry, Blackberry, Spice, Dry
Finish: Long, Tannic
Individual Scores: 9, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 5
2007 Ruffino Superiore - 66 points out of 90
Producer: Ruffino S.R.L.
Vineyard: Poggio Casciano Estate Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Tuscany, Italy
Price: $11.99
Aroma: Vanilla, Red Apple
Appearance: Purple
Body: Light/Medium
Nose: Ripe
Taste: Plum, Cherry, Red Apple
Finish: Long
Individual Scores: 7, 6, 8.5, 6, 8, 7, 10, 6.5, 7
2006 Ruffino Riserva Ducale - 64.5 points out of 90
Producer: Ruffino S.R.L
Vineyard: Ruffino Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Tuscany, Italy
Price: $12.99
Aroma: Blueberry, Cherry
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Full
Nose: Intense
Taste: Plum, Cherry, Dry
Finish: Long, Tart
Individual Scores: 8, 7, 6.5, 8, 8, 7, 7, 9, 4
2007 Casale Daviddi - 57 points out of 90
Producer: Casale Daviddi
Vineyard: Abbadia di Montepulcianno
Country/State/Region: Tuscany, Italy
Price: $15.99
Aroma: Blackberry, Plum
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium
Taste: Vegetal, Grass, Red Apple, Cinnamon
Finish: Subtle
Individual Scores: 8, 4, 7, 5, 7, 6, 8, 5, 7
2007 Banfi - 52.5 points out of 90
Producer: Banfi S.R.L.
Vineyard: Banfi Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Tuscany, Italy
Price: $14.99
Aroma: Cherry, Oak
Appearance: Tawny
Body: Light
Nose: Intense
Taste: Apple, Blackberry, Raspberry, Cherry
Individual Scores: 6, 6.5, 6, 3, 6, 9, 5, 6, 5
2007 Natio - 51 points out of 90
Producer: Casa Vinicola Luigi Cecchi & Figli S.R.L.
Vineyard: Checchi Winery
Country/State/Region: Tuscany, Italy
Price: $14.99
Aroma: Red Apple, Cherry, Blueberry, Plum
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium
Nose: Soft
Taste: Red Apple, Black Pepper, Prune
Finish: Short
Individual Scores: 8, 7, 9, 3, 4, 5, 2, 7, 6
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