Note:  While there is no scarcity of Chianti in Tucson, be extra vigilant of the vintage.  I have noticed that there are many floating around from older vintages (2000-2004) that are past their prime or teetering right at the edge.  I have listed only those that are still worthy of consideration, in my opinion.  The local inventory of Brunellos are much smaller, no surprise considering the cost of a pure Sangiovese.   The Brunellos usually have more extended aging potential as evidenced by the outstanding 2001 wines, just coming into their own.  I have also starred in red those wines that I feel are of good value for the $$$.

AJ’s:

*Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 2006:
Very lush and well rounded blend of Prugnolo Gentile, Canaiolo Nero and Mammolino varietals with dried cherry, spices, leather and anise….lovely perfumed finish with a hint of roses and soft tannins…..great wine for $31.99.  This is made to pair with roasted or grilled meats or game.  Enjoy this now or over the next couple of years.

*Castello Banfi Rosso di Montepulciano, 2007:
Classic deep cherry, spices and minerality yield a lovely wine with nice balance and structure.  Priced right at $28.99 and ready to enjoy now or over the next year.

Casanova Tenuta Nuova Brunello di Montalcino, 2003:
A well structured smooth wine with scents of dark plum and cherry, tobacco, earth and oak.   Beautifully structured, soft tannins adds an element of smoothness to the wine.  Priced at $87.99; Enjoy now or over the next 5 or six years.

Coltibuono Chianti Classico RS, 2007:
Nice everyday Classico with medium red fruits, nice acidity and a touch of oak.  Priced right at $20.99; to be enjoyed now.

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Rosso di Montalcino, 2007:
Another everyday Sangiovese with soft red fruits and floral scents.  $16.99; drink now.

*Frescobaldi  Chianti Castiglioni, 2006:
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, this wine offers scents of dark plum and cherry and perhaps some blackberry; suggestion of earthy and mushroomy notes.  Price right at $14.99 to drink now.

Antinori Toscana Villa Antinori, 2005:
An intriguing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah create a medium bodied wine with dark plum, a little spice some earthiness and well rounded tannins.  I really like what the Syrah brings to this blend.  You can enjoy this wine now or over the next couple of years and for an affordable price of $21.99.

Mazzei Toscana Badiola, 2007:
An easy going blend of Sangiovese and Merlot; soft scents of rose and dark fruits and soft tannins…..drink now or over the next year; $7.99

Pastiche:

Ruffino Chianti Classico Ducale Riserva, 2006:
Just a delightful wine at a very reasonable price with scents of deep blueberry, raspberry and wood. Lovely tannins round out this well balanced wine and all for $26.99.  This wine should be enjoyed over the next couple of years.

Castello Di Volpais Chianti Classico, 2005:
Another very well balanced Chianti with deep cherry and new oak aromas.  Wonderfully integrated smooth tannins…….a great wine for $20.99.  This should have another year or two left in it.

Villa Nozzole Chianti Classico, 2007:
Fresh and clean wine with light cherry and strawberry flavors; very mild tannins. $18.99…..drink this over the next year.

Querciabella Maremma Toscana Mongrana, 2007:
For value conscious lovers of Tuscans, this is a nice, simple example of a blend of Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon and Merlot. Deep plum and currant aromas, soft tannins all add up to a solid wine for $20.99

The New Beverage House, East Broadway:

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino, 2004:
A big, fruit filled wine with deep, dark fruits.  Despite the fruit forward nature of the wine, the tannins are soft and enticing.  This is a quality Brunello and runs $60.99.  You can enjoy this now but I suspect it will improve with age over the next five or six years.

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto, 2000:
A rich and moderately powerful Cerreltalto with blackberry and tobacco nuances and a hint or licorice with soft and velvety tannins…..always a classic Brunello expression from Casanova.   Drink now……$128.99

*Monte Antico Toscana, 2006:
This may be one of the best value deals out there.  The Antico is a wonderful blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and offers up a classic deep plum, dark cherry and floral medley of aromas.  The tannins are refined and smooth………..this wine runs $12.29 and ready to enjoy now.  If you love this style, stock up on this one……

*IL Poggione Rosso di Montacino, 2006:
A great Sangiovese for the price.  Rich, deep fruits, floral scents and spice along with refined tannins rounds up this value wine……$22.89 and can be enjoyed now but has the body to age for a good 5-8 years.

Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino, 2007:
Another good representative of the region with aromas of dark plum and cherry and lovely spices….$22.21…….drink now.

Antinori Toscana Santa Cristina, 2007:
A simple, yet enjoyable, entry level blend of Sangiovese and Merlot….fresh berries and a clean finish all for $10.99….drink now.

Sette Ponti Toscana Crognolo, 2003:
Lots of dark fruit here….plum, cherry and ?blackberry……tones of chocolate and inviting, soft tannins.  Enjoy this now as its coming to the end of its ideal drinking window….$37.19

Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro, 2004:
Well balanced wine with blackberry and dried cherry and scent of oak underneath.  The usual soft and well integrated tannins rounds out this fine wine.  Runs $29.99 and is ready for drinking now or over the next few years.

*Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico, 2006:
For the price, it’s hard to beat this wine……a clean portrayal of fresh blackberry and distinct floral elements perfectly integrated with smooth and refine tannins…..great, clean finish and you get this one for only $13.99. Enjoy this now or over the next year or two.  Keep an eye out for the ’07, even a notch better in my opinion.

*Marchesi de’Frescobaldi Chianti Ruffina Nipozzano Riserva, 2006:
A great value for this quality Chianti with very ripe blackberry and blueberry aromas and fine tannins.  A real steal at $23.19.  Enjoy now or over the next couple of years.

*Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grandi Annate Riserva, 2004:
What a wine- deep cherry, raspberry and delicious tones of chocolate and coffee all enveloped in silky soft tannins.  If you’re searching for a special Sangiovese with lots of expression, this is it! Priced at $74.79 and ready to enjoy now or over the next few years.  Should age well.

Fattoria del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 2006:
A medium to light wine with fresh red fruits and nice acidity.  Ready to drink now and priced at $24.29.

Total Wines:

Altesino Brunello di Montalcino, 2003:
A nice wine but nothing out of the ordinary.  Despite the vintner, the vintage is quite ordinary…fresh dark red fruits with nice acidity and a clean finish.  Nonetheless the price of $59.99 is a little rich for this quality.  The ’04 is far better (accessed online) and it won’t cost you any more.

Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino, 2003:
A clean wine with fresh blueberry and blackberry and refined tannins.  Well structured and to be enjoyed now or over the next several years….$65.99.

Casisano Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino, 2001:
A well structured, rounded wine with scents of ripe blackberry and tobacco and a hint of cedary oak.  Nicely integrated soft tannins brings the wine together….$69.99.  Drink now or over the next several years.

*Casiano Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino, 2003:This is one lovely Brunello and worth every penny.  Beautiful aromas of dark cherry and raspberry, violet scents and great minerality.  Smooth tannins and a long, soft finish.  $49.99.  You can enjoy this now or over the next five years.

Casisano Colombaio Brunello di Montacino, 2004:
Nice wine with dried cherry and the typical floral hints; crisply presented with somewhat stiff tannins…………..may need some time for the tannins to soften further.  $49.99.  Honestly between the ’03 and ’04, the latter wins hands down.

Casisano Colombaio Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, 2001:
Lots of medium-dark red fruits here, some dark cherry and raspberry.  Moderate tannins and a hint of oak.  The ’01 Brunello vintage was a monster and this wine may still need another couple of years to soften and bring it all together.  Fairly priced at $69.99.   You can try it now or wait another year or two.

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino, 2003
Classic dried dark cherry, chocolate profile with a soft tannic structure.  A little more pricey than I would like to see…$64.99….enjoy now or over the next five years.

*Nardi Brunello di Montalcino, 2003:
This is a really prolific Brunello…..lots of rich and ripe fruit on the nose, silky tannins and a hint of sweet oak…………lots of elegance in this one….priced at $59.99.  You can pop the cork on this one now but I would save another bottle for a few years out to compare.   As the fruits tame and integrate with the fine tannins, it could make for a “Brunello experience.”

San Lorenzo Brunello di Montalcino Bramante, 2003:
This is a nice example of a mid range Brunello with dried cherry, floral scents and fine tannins weaved together to produce a fine wine…….$39.99… enjoy this now or over the next year or two.

Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino, 2004:
Another mid priced representative of a Brunello with dark plum, some red cherry and floral scents and refined tannins…..$49.99…..enjoy now or over the next few years.

Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino, 2003:
Nice cherry and plum scents with mild tannins and a light, refreshing finish….$39.99….drink now.

Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino, 2001:
A hefty Brunello with dark plum and cherry, smoke, tar and a hint of earthiness. You can try this now, but my preference would be to wait another couple or few years to let it settle a bit……..good representation of what a muscular Brunello is all about….$59.99

*Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico, 2006:
A very fruity and clean wine with aromas of blackberry and roses….Nice full finish and fine tannins………..great price for the wine at $12.49…..enjoy now or over the next year or two.

*Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva, 2003:
This is a great wine but if you want it, you need to drink it now…..It’s coming the end of its freshness window.  Full of deep berry and chocolate, full bodied with tannins more structured than the normal Chianti..
$19.99.

*Marchesi de’Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Castello di Nipozzano Riserva, 2005:
Great wine with deep plum and berry aromas, scent of flowers and hints of chocolate…clean finish with smooth, fine tannins……..worth the $$ and runs at $18.99……..drink now or store some away for the next few years.

RumRunner:

Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 2006:
See description under AJ’s……………Selling here for $29.99

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino, 2004:
A big wine here with lots of potential………lots of blackberry, licorice and tar supporting the spine of this wine, notes of spice and perfume and woven together with refined tannins.  If you try the wine now, I would advise decanting it for few hours.  It should be magnificent……….better yet, store some away and let it grow for several years……..this is a wine that could go for 10-20 years………$79.99.

Antinori Brunello di Montalcino Pian Delle Vigne, 2004:
Dark cherry, spices and floral scents weave their magic in this great expression of a medium bodied Brunello.  Smooth, silky tannins ride through the wine with perfection and add to a lovely and long finish….$69.99 and ready to enjoy now or over the next four to five years.

Antinori Tignanello, 2006:
This blend of Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon and Cab Franc offers up intense waves of deep dark fruits (blackberry) along with a distinct scent of dried earth and oak. This wine is a muscular one.  Nonetheless, the tannic structure is still smooth and refined.  Priced at $99.   I would give this wine some more rest time and wait another few years before drinking.  If you just can’t wait, decant for a bit to let it air out.

Le Presi Rosso di Montalcino Castelnuovo dell’Abate, 2005:
Very well balanced and muscular wine with deep fruits, earth, leather, and tobacco notes.  Tannins are chewy but integrate well into the structure of the wine.  I would give the wine another year before trying…….otherwise, you know the drill……….decant for a few hours……….$34.99.

*Antinori Toscana Villa Antinori Red, 2005:
A really nice blend of Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Merlot yielding a muscular wine with dark fruits and some earthiness.  Tannins are well interwoven……there underneath but soft.  I like this wine for the price…..$19.99.  It’s ready for drinking now and should last another few.

Feast (remember,  $7 less the menu price if purchased in the wine shop)

Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Grande Annate Riserva, 2003:
This is a great wine with another couple of years left to it.  Delicious fruits of deep cherry and raspberry with teases of mocha.  Tannins are long lasting and smooth.  $62

Tenimente Angellini Brunello di Montalcino, 2001:
A very ripe and full bodied Brunello from an outstanding vintage.  Lots of deep fruits, spice and soft tannins. Ready to drink now or over the five years….$51.

Tags: AJ's, Brunello, Chianti, Feast, Pastiche, Rumrunner, Sangiovese, The New Beverage House, Total Wines, Tuscany