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Villa Cerna Chianti Classico Riserva 2004 | 2003 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1997 | 1995 |
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Villa Cerna Chianti Classico Riserva 2004 Peppery, but enjoyable. * * *
"Hails from the Cecchi family's beautiful estate and is one of its top Chianti Classicos. Alluring floral nose of violets and lily of the valley. Elegant with ripe red berry flavors and a long spicy finish. Well balanced". 92
"…a good, solid Chianti with some complexity and that trademark Sangiovese 'dusty rose' quality."
"With air, this remarkable red wine delivers classic Chianti flavors at a bargain price. A near-perfect example of how to deal with red wine grapes in a heat wave." Exceptional
The Cecchi family makes a range of wonderful, fairly priced wines. Villa Cerna, their home, is their flagship Chianti Classico wine. They wisely have avoided making an 'international' style of Chianti by blending in Cabernet Sauvignon and aging everything in small barrels. Instead they maintain the local tradition by using 90% Sangiovese and 10% other local grapes, such as Canaiolo or Colorino. The 2003 has the ripeness and richness expected from the heat of that summer coupled with uplifting black cherry acidity. The appealing earthiness adds complexity and keeps it interesting throughout the meal. 90
Full bodied with earthy tones of plum, cassis, and raspberry and hints of chocolate and roasted coffee; vanilla in the finish. Roast duck. Can serve now, but will hold for some time.
"Bright ruby red color, delicate floral nose and simple dark berry flavors with a touch of oak."
"This lush, ripe, structured and complex Chianti Classico delivers pleasure in the short term and the promise of great things with time. It’s a full-bodied Tuscan red with generous flavors of black cherry, blueberry, herbs and smoked meat. Despite firm tannins, it shows a smooth texture that makes it appealing now if given a bit of breathing time. It should age well for 10 to 15 years. Serve with grilled red meats or Tuscan cuisine." Wine of the Week
“The name has been traced back to the eleventh century; bright explosive plum and berry fruit, edgy and complex.” 89
“Villa Cerna is the Cecchi Winery’s estate wine and its top-of-the-line Chianti. The 2001 vintage was an excellent one in Tuscany and Villa Cerna reflects that. It is rich and quite voluptuous, fleshy, with some hints of new oak. The 2001 is 90 percent Sangiovese, 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. It could benefit from a year or two of aging.” 90
“Villa Cerna is the Cecchi family’s property in Chianti Classico, and the 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva is, as it has been for years, a valid interpretation of the territory. Ruby-garnet in color, the minty and balsamic nose, is followed by a sizeable palate of red berry fruit, underbrush, cedar, and cinnamon. Dense but rather backward, and with tannins which will need a bit of time to acquire polish, the wine will be showing its best between 2007 and 2014.” 88
“Not everyone will necessarily love this rustic, earthy style of Chianti, but that won't be because it lacks personality. It's an old-fashioned style, loaded with aromas of tobacco, spice and a touch of what used to be called "barnyard." New Age purists might scoff, but those who like good old Chianti from a nice vintage will love the Villa Cerna Riserva.” 88
“A modestly priced Reserve Chianti Classico from a modestly rated vintage, Villa Cerna is a sleeper. It has the depth and class to compete with much more expensive Chianti and is richly satisfying at the price.” 91
“Rich, firm and concentrated with a dense cherry, cranberry nose.” Critics Gold
“Big and brawny, with a strutting bouquet that spills earth, leather, coffee and cigar box. The fruit is fine and dandy as well, with black cherry, plum and raspberry dominating. Finishes solid, warm and mildly tannic. Tasty and satisfying.” Editor’s Choice 90
“Solid and spicy on the palate with powerful cherry and floral character; firm tannins in finish. Sautéed sirloin of beef. Serve now, but will hold for some time.”
“Full bodied and fruity with tart black cherry, cooked plum, vanilla, earthy spice, citrus peel, toasted oak, and a whiff of wet leather; long, drying finish. Osso Buco.” Serve now, but will hold for some time.
“Polished and well rounded, and should develop still.” * * *
"Full bodied with earthy tones of plum, cassis, and raspberry and hints of chocolate and roasted coffee; vanilla in the finish. Roast duck. Can serve now, but will hold for some time."
“Mildly rusty in color, with early dust and leather aromas. It picks up the pace upon airing, showing herb and charcoal scents. In the mouth, there’s snappy pie cherry and red plum, while the finish is clean and substantive.” 87
“. . .has a touch of orange on the rim, showing its five years of age and a malty, black cherry nose. On the palate there are rich bright cherry flavours and still a fair bit of tannin showing, especially on the finish. The wine is aging nicely but still has a few years ahead of it before reaching its best. When drunk with food, in this case a homemade pizza, the tannins disappear and the wine performs very well.” * * * perhaps going to * * * *
"Paler and lighter than some of its highly rated neighbors here, Villa Cerna turned out a thin wine on steel rails in ’99. It balances finesse and power, rose dust and gold dust, black cherry and iron. This lives and breathes Chianti, taunting, fragrant, a wine to age five years then sip for a trip to Florence." 92
"Highly recommended. Tea and sandalwood. moky, some black fruit, leather, some attractive complexity and elegant balance. Long length." ****
"Deep garnet with an aroma of cherry, cedar, thyme, tar and oak. Medium-full with excellent concentration. Long finish with beautiful acidity and sleek tannins. Very classy, this is more of an old-fashioned Chianti Classico Riserva, one that emphasizes finesse over power." ****
"Aromas of plums and dried flowers open to tea and coffee. Medium-bodied, with light tannins and a caressing, fruity finish. Very reserved style." 87
"Solid core of dark cherry and tobacco aromas. Richly structured and big, but showing considerable finesse and finishing with plush tannins. A deeply satisfying wine that is Brunello-like in its intensity and span of flavors." 91
"...an excellent vintage as exemplified in this Riserva, a medium-bodied traditional blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia. Full-bodied, deep fruit showing subtle, persistent oak spice and herbs, tart acidity and great length." 88
"Earthy aromas of leather, cedar and blackberry. Flavors of sour cherry and orange peel. Hints of espresso and cranberry in the drying finish." 86
"Lush oak lends coconut and toast notes to the cherry fruit in this international-style wine. Fairly full, it displays a supple texture and offers dark rich flavours on the palate. Closes with espresso notes and even tannins. Has class and flavor..." 89
"There's a strength to this Chianti Classico, a dense extract of fruit with a bitter root character to the balancing tannins. The juiciness and smoke keeps coming up out of those tannins, all held tight and a bit funky. It brings to mind a juicy grilled steak with fresh and pleasingly bitter spinach." 89
"...a wine that was made to embrace the traditions and history of Chianti. It demonstrates not just the classic cherry and violet nose, but the traditional practice of blending white grapes (Trebbiano and Malvasia) with red to produce a softer, earlier maturing Chianti. Because of the excellence of the vintage, there is more power and weight on the palate. It's a wonderfully fruit-driven Chianti made in the old style, but with a great vintage to give it oomph."
"Aromas of lilacs, berries and stone, with a hint of earth. Medium body. Firm tannins and a light finish. Drink now." 85
"Nice ruby-red appearance. Aromas of tea, rose, tobacco, ripe cherry, cedar and dried flowers. Forward flavors of rose, tobacco and cherry follow through to the palate with good tannins. Medium mouth-feel. The finish is smooth with a good balance of fruit and acid." 16/20
"Overripe cherries, luscious sweet red fruits and tobacco aromas, with green tea undertones. Full-bodied, round, rich cherries, vanilla and slightly cooked plums; sweet finish, with complex fruit and spice flavors with tannins."
"Deep richness carries through this Riserva, from a concentrated scent of fresh cherries to a full, tannic finish. Cherry wood smoke, bacon fat and rose scents combine in the final taste. There's some finesse to the generous flavors, a good match for wild mushroom crostini." 89
"The grapes for this wine come from one family owned vineyard, which for years has been noted for the quality of its fruit. The fact that it is a riserva indicates that this wine was segregated from the rest because of its quality and given an additional two years of bulk aging in wooden casks. The resultant wine is ready to drink now but can also be set down to improve over many years of bottle aging. The Cecchi 1995 Villa Cerna Chianti Riserva has a big aroma and a big flavor accentuating cherries, oak, and that certain earthy something that is found only in Chianti wines."
"Smoked meat, dark chocolate and black raspberry aromas and flavors; great length."
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