Caprili Brunello di Montalcino 2010

This was drunk during a work meeting, and chess match.
Thanks for the wine Ilkka!

Caprili Brunello di Montalcino 2010
DOCG
15,5%
37e(Wine-Searcher)

Young, yes. Delicious, hell yeah!
Warm aromas; ripe cherries, liquorice, Christmas spices, smoke.
Intense first attack with a good weight and delicious ripe dark fruit. Becomes more and more broad and explosive towards the finish, and to be honest, goes a bit over the top, with waves of tannins dominating. Nevertheless shows a wonderfully delicate, smoky and spicy aftertaste. Impressive how well the 15,5% Alc. is hidden.
Such a restless and nervous wine, yet fascinating, and highly delicious.
Nice potential, no doubt.
91

Marchese Antinori - Chianti Classico 2010

Marchese Antinori
Chianti Classico - Riserva
2010
DOCG
14%
26€(30$) Wine-searcher average price

Very pretty, dark ruby red color.
Aromas are slightly tight at first, but after 18 hours sitting on the table, started to open up. Quite bit of oak, wet wood also and leather. Ripe boysenberries and bluberries. Some herbs: violets, lavender, nutmeg.
The initial attack is very delicious, makes you gravitate for more.. And without being over the top. Smooth on the palate. Nicely concentrated dark berries, almost some sweetnes
Maybe a tad bit too much oak for my taste. Medium to harsh tannins. Leather, earth, chocolate and espresso.
Wine has a really good bite. Quite intense. Also with nice acidity.
Alcohol is well integrated, with 14,00%.
Longish finish with loads of dark chocolate. In general, very chocolaty wine.
Allthoug I like more Traditional styled CC` s, this is very good.
90

Fontodi - Chianti Classico 2010

Fontodi
Chianti Classico
2010
DOCG
14,0%
23€(27$) Wine-searcher average price

Back in the days, Chianti Classico was very close of being my favorite wine style / region in the world. At one time it was almost the only red wine I drinked. Ok, that was only a brief period of mania, but still I return to it on a regular basis; it`s always nice to visit an old friend. It also doesn`t hurt that, at their best, they can be absolut world class wines, but still somehow manages to be reasonably priced, and almost always, they are fantastic with food.

The bouqet is massive, full of ripe dark berries, bit of oakiness, wet hay, vanilla, hint of honey(strange?), some inkiness.
Palate is covered with strawberries, semi-ripe blueberries, spices, and hints of chocolate.
Intense mouthfeel, nervous accidity, strong but quite smooth tannins. Very nice, firm structure, wine has a good bite at the end, but still is not overpowering the fruit.
Theres lot`s of fresh minerality floating in the background, which gives the wine some extra depth and structure. Medium to long after taste, with chocolate, spices and minerality. Slightly warming, but alcohol is well integrated. Definitely one of my favorite "basic Chianti Classico`s." Simply awesome!
92+

Caprili - Brunello di Montalcino 2008

Brunello di Montalcino
Caprili
2008
DOCG
15%
30€(35$) Wine-searcher average price


Brunello from a traditional producer is always interesting. This one happens to be also in Alkos selection(Finnish liquor monopol), so decided to give it a try. Probably a bit overpriced, as very often is the case in Alko, not always though.
I haven`t actually tasted a Brunello for a long time, and I thought Christmas time would be a good excuse to open one up. It `s without a doubt one of my favorite wine styles in the world (but not so fond of the over-oaked, overripe and over concentrated style). Drinking this of course way too young, but was just too curious to taste this..

Bouqet has loads of ripe dark fruits; plums, figs. Also tar, liquorice, some smokiness. In the background ther`s hints of wet, rotten wood with mushroomy earthy notes. Surprisingly open right after opening, but with decanting the nose becomes much more fruit driven.
On the palate it`s medium bodied, driven by nicely intense dark fruits with earth, dark chocolate, smokiness, and surprisingly strong minerality in the background. The tannins are fierce in the finish, but not unpleasant, also quite a bit of nervous acidity.
Leaves an impressively long aftertaste with dark chocolate, spices, smoke, and in the center, nice bright cherry marmelade, which, after minutes I could still taste. The 15% alcohol is very well hidden. Delicious, powerfull,  traditional, and structured Brunello. Will age beautifully.
91