The Evolution of Chianti

Chianti, that low priced Italian red wine that came in basket swathed bottles and was the darting red wine of the youth of the United States in the 1950’s and was promptly forgotten by the 1960’s. A rather ignominious fate for something that was so popular for so many years but, tempus fugit, and wine enthusiast moved on to wider fields. Chianti fell so far from grace that by the 1970’s it was no longer widely available. An occasional bottle would show up on dealer’s shelves or in Italian restaurants but they were few and far between. Needless to say that the Italian vintners were hard hit by this loss of sales and searched around for an answer to their dilemma. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Chianti Classico was born.

So what is the difference between the Chianti of old and the present Chianti Classico beside the name? The Italian government set up a series of mandatory quality and grape variety ratings for their wines and you do not put a misleading rating on the label or suffer the wrath of the Italian government. The rating of the common Chianti is very low on the scale but, to be called a Classico, it must receive the government’s highest rating Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) which translates as Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin.

Folonari Chianti 2012 DOCG ($10). Although not swathed in a straw basket of the past, the Folonari Chianti 2012 DOCG is as true an old fashioned Tuscan masterpiece as you can get. The brilliant deep garnet color heralds fresh and pleasant aroma of violets and dried plums with a hint of wild berries in the background. The flavor is full and powerful, accenting blackberries, plums and an earthy flavor that has become synonymous with Chianti. As far as what this wine will accompany, everything, after all, it is Chianti.

I Bastioni (The Ramparts) DOCG Chianti Classico (19.99). The I Bastioni Chianti Classico is a picture perfect example of the modern, high quality evolution of the style. The color is an inviting ruby red heralding an aroma of dark cherries combined with that of summer red fruits and spices, which continue on to the flavor. The finish is very long and perfect for accompanying any red sauce Italian meal or the heavier red meats.

Melini Chinti Riserva 2011 DOCG ($13). Although not nestled in a straw basket, this wine is presented in a large, bulbous, easy to find bottle. The wine inside that bottle offers a complex fruit aroma with the accent on plums and cherries. The flavor exhibits the same plum and cherry elements, which mingles with sweet raisins and just the slightest hint of oak. As you may well imagine, this wine will go well with Italian foods.

Melini La Selvanelia 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG ($28). This well aged wine is big, bold and a credit to the name Chianti. It has spent over a 30 months in oak barrels and one year after that resting in the bottle allowing for the perfect marriage of all the elements and developing an incomparable smoothness before it s release. The aroma stresses violets, raspberries, and cranberries with oak and vanilla quietly lying in the background. As with all premium Chianti wines, this wine has a long, smooth, and elegant finish. This is a grand and regal wine and will prove to one and all, what great Chianti is capable of.

Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico 2012 DOCG ($21). This wine is a slight side step from the usual Chianti blend as it is made of mostly Sangiovese, the classical Chianti grape, with 10% Merlot added to round it out. The aroma is a mixture of red summer fruits and the signature aroma of violets. The flavor stresses cherries, raspberries, and that unmistakable but indefinable element that marks this wine as truly Italian reflecting all of the facets that have made Chianti so popular since Roman times