JimmyV 
Central Connecticut
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5223
 | | 01-13-2004 04:56 PM |
| OK. So this wine is not up to the usual standards of wines that merit a TN on this board. But...every once in a while you sit down at an Italian restaurant with a so-so wine list, and you never know what to order. Well, this wine may very well make it on to such a list, and I just wanted to report that it wasn't bad. Especially at the restaurant price point of $40.
Simple and primary, with blackberry, earth and mild acidity. Certainly not gripping acidity that many low-end Italianos offer. This wine was much smoother than one would have expected for a young, $20 retail wine. Certainly won't be confused with the power and complexity of a high-end Antinori. But a servicable bottle that should be easy to find (200,000 cases produced), and may help you wade through a wine list with limited options. Think of it as a "lifeboat" of sorts.
JimmyV score: 87
Found it on the WS database, and they gave it an 86. | | | Beta testing a new signature. |
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ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts: 152
| | 01-14-2004 09:43 AM |
| Hmm, no wine that doesn't deserve a TN, is there?
Decanter gave it 4 stars and Smart Buy I think, but I have to check taht we're talking the same vintage. | | | |
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futronic
Toronto, Canada
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3214
| | 01-14-2004 01:51 PM |
| It's an easy quaffer, year in, year out. A little cheaper here though - about $23CAD ($18USD). | | | |
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ojeffso
warren, new jersey
Wine Lover
Posts: 4877
| | 01-14-2004 10:46 PM |
| funny jimmy. at inexpensive italian restaurants this is one of my safe bets. | | | |
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Landshark
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1894
| | 01-14-2004 11:19 PM |
| It has always been a pleasent wine with food. | | | |
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Landshark
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1894
| | 01-15-2004 07:21 AM |
| It is available for about $16 around here. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts: 135
| | 07-09-2004 09:51 PM |
| Had a bottle last night w/ spaghetti. It matched well with the meat sauce. A good value IMO. I'd agree w/ 87 pts. | | | |
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Tim
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1465
| | 07-10-2004 03:03 AM |
| This has always been my go-to Italian wine in the pinch. It actually ages reasonably well too. '95-'97 are all really coming around well. | | | |
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Rothko
Palm Beach
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5723
| | 07-10-2004 01:36 PM |
| It's fairly ubiquitous, but I am not a fan. I like the Banfi for about $3 less. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts: 135
| | 07-12-2004 07:04 PM |
| Quote:
I like the Banfi for about $3 less.
I agree. The Banfi is better. | | | |
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Landshark
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1894
| | 07-13-2004 06:25 AM |
| I had a 99 the other day, it was okay at best | | | |
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Tim
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1465
| | 07-18-2004 08:42 PM |
| Of note...I saw the 2001 Antinori yesterday at Costco sitting right next to the 2000. So what you ask? Well for 2001 with the exact same label as Antinori has badged its Chianti Classico with for years the 'Chianti Classico' designation has been dropped for 'Tuscany'. The wine contains more CS than previous, spends marginally less time in oak and in bottle before release. Price is the same. I don't know my Italian legaleeze too well so I'm not quite sure if this is better or worse or really not an issue and Antinori is just trying to cash in on the Tuscan thing and get away from the cheap chianti thing...Any thoughts? | | | |
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Rothko
Palm Beach
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5723
| | 07-18-2004 11:15 PM |
| Quote:
Quote:
I like the Banfi for about $3 less.
I agree. The Banfi is better.
Just had another couple of bottles of the Banfi. This is really much better than the Antinori. | | | |
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Rothko
Palm Beach
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5723
| | 07-20-2004 03:00 PM |
| Dang, those bottles of Banfi I drank were the last ones I had, and Costco is all out now....  | | | |
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