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Chianti Classico Riserva 2003 Black cherries, plums and leather in a somewhat muted nose. Bigger on the palate with mouthwatering acids and tannins.
"So much Chianti fails to inspire that when it’s on song, it’s cause for joyous celebration. This mature, complex, sexy wine has layers of exotic wood scents on top of sour cherry and cranberry fruit, supple tannins and a lingering, spicy finish. It’s a class act."
" Banfi is best-known for its superb Brunello, but it's also dabbling quite successfully in the Chianti Classico region. What makes Banfi's efforts in Chianti truly appealing is the modest pricing for exceptional Chianti. The '03 Riserva comes in under $20, which is about half what you can expect to pay for one of the more established name producers of the region. Though '03 was a difficult vintage because of extremely warm temperatures, Banfi's Chianti Classico Riserva exhibits good balance, beautifully ripe, supple black cherry aroma and it finishes nicely on the back end." 89
"Smoke and toast aromas, soft red fruit flavors, excellent balance."
"Some plum, some cherry, all right."
"This wine offers very strong value and surprisingly classic Chianti style from the famously hot 2003 growing season. Dried red cherry is the lead fruit note, with some nicely subtle accents of leather and spices playing supporting roles. Truly dry but not dried out, this will prove a great partner for pasta dishes with tomato sauce or anything up to veal on the robustness scale."
"Dark granite color with brilliant highlights, intense bouquet with notes of plums and young leather, full bodied, with sweet tannins, well structured that leaves one wanting even more."
“I think Chianti is an under appreciated wine. This is a great example at a good price point. Enough oomph to lay down for five or six years but ready to drink. Plum and leather nose, good fruit, excellent structure. I have this in my cellar, too.”
"Medium bodied and well-balanced with good acidity; aromas and flavors of leather, vanilla, spice, raspberry and cherry; tobacco and cocoa notes in the finish."
"This wine is an example of why we need to taste wines instead of being slaves to vintage reports. The 2002 vintage in Tuscany was terrible because of a cold wet growing season and rains at harvest. So how did Banfi fashion such a delicious Chianti Classico? They purchase wine for their Chianti and clearly do so very selectively. It tastes as though there’s some Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend and Cabernet actually did much better than Sangiovese in Tuscany in 2002." 89
"Subtly warm aromas of cherry, minerals and cedar box. Tangy flavors of raspberry, tobacco and wet stone. Dry, earthy finish." 87
“This is an attractive CCR, warm and ripe and fleshy but also cool and minerally, a bit aloof. It bursts with notes of spiced and macerated black cherries and plums set against a backbone of vigorous tannins that are chewy, almost gritty. I stuck the cork back in the bottle and tried this wine about 12 hours later, finding that it had smoothed out nicely, adding details of dried spice and flower, though the finish was still rather austere. Now (if you like tannin) through 2009.” Very Good+
“Although there will be a special feature on this winemaker, I could not resist this Chianti. The 2002 vintage was cool and wet and few reserves have made it through. Mainly from the Sangiovese grape, it has a dark cherry colour, youthful with an aromatic nose of ripe cherry, with rounded fruit, spice, leather and mint. An underlying oak on the elegant palate, full bodied with balanced fine tannins and dense fruit and with a firm finish. Lovely now but will improve to 2010. Serve at 17°C with tomato based pasta, ciabbatas, and roast pork or chicken cooked in tomato sauce.” Wine of the Week
“Here's a Chianti that delivers a jolt of generous fruit reminiscent of plums and tobacco. An excellent wine to serve with pasta or veal.”
“This Chianti is a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon and packs a wallop of complex aromas and flavors of rhubarb, black olive, smoked cherries, white pepper and vanilla.”
“The result speaks for itself, not least through this tremendously delicious Chianti Classico Riserva wine from a great vintage. In the glass, this Banfi Chianti Classico wine is a deep garnet-red color with a firm opaque core going out into a brighter shade of garnet rim definition with medium-high viscosity. On the nose, there are wonderful aromatics with mixed crushed red and black berries, cherry extract, sweet tobacco, roasted herbs, cranberry compote, saddle leather and earthy minerals. In the mouth, the wine expands on the palate to reveal concentrated cherry fruit, cranberry juice cocktail, ripe brambleberries, currant parfait and smoke-laced herbs. The midpalate is fine and rounded with firm, yet supple tannins that balance nicely with the lively bright cherry fruit, and ends with a solid finish that lingers for another 20 seconds with jellied cranberry and red cherries, as well as toasted minerals. This is classic Chianti made by highly skilled modern winemakers, and is highly recommended. Try it with a classic Italian pasta dish such as spaghetti Bolognese. Drink it now through 2012.” Wine of the Week
“. . .an aristocratic blend. . . . .Viscous, luscious – the epitome of Chianti.”
“. . .full-bodied fruit flavors with pleasant acidity in the finish.”
“This deep, ruby-brick offering exuded aromas of rhubarb, black olives, herbs, earth and dark cherries, and continued to run the gamut with complex flavors of mushrooms, smoked cherries, leather, plums and cassis. Incredibly well balanced, it displayed overlapping waves of tannins, fruit and acid, none of which overpowered the others. The finish was light but lingering, with a soft mouthfeel. Food Friendliness: Mild cheeses, grilled pork or chicken seem to be the way to go with this one, nothing too strong that would interrupt its pleasant character.” Exceptional Value 90
“Deep purple colour with vanillin, earthy, white pepper notes on the nose. Soft entrance, with plenty of plum. Well-balanced, with well-integrated fruits and acidity.” 85
“A fair amount of sweet character comes off the nose, primarily chocolate, berry jam and sugar beet. In the mouth, there’s additional milk chocolate alongside dried fruit, herbs and a hint of citrus. Finishes solid but with starchy tannins. There’s also some marshmallow sweetness to the aftertaste.” 87
“If you like Italian wines I suggest the latest Banfi Chianti Riserva, which is classic in style and structure. It has a traditional earthy rustic quality with restrained deep dark fruit flavors that make it seem a bit lean and very dry by itself. But the fruit comes out when it is combined with acidic sauces and meat.”
"Deep black cherry ruby with black highlights and cherry rim with slight orange overtones. The bouquet is bright, and zesty, with sour cherry fruit that has some citric overtones and is supported by brambles and spice. Direct and up front. On the palate it’s medium bodied with lively cherry fruit that has pleasing acidity and is supported by smooth tannins that have a slight burr. It’s frankly old-style, with little to ponder, but then again there are a great many occasions when one doesn’t want to ponder, and then something like this will hit the spot very well. Drink it with meat-based pasta dishes, light stews, and grilled meats, including spareribs and other richer fare that will benefit from something lively that will clear the palate between bites. Though it will age well for 3-4 years, its current freshness is quite nice and you may want a second bottle handy." **
"A well-balanced wine from this Tuscan powerhouse. An approachable combination of fruit and tannins makes this a solid accompaniment to food. A blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon results in a smooth, consistent wine with cherry, and hints of strawberry and smoke."
"The patchwork of vineyards rising and falling with each slope in the small, hilly, central Tuscan "Classico" region of Chianti between Florence and Siena are home to the Sangiovese (80 percent), Cabernet Sauvignon and Canaiolo (10 percent each) grapes that make up this wine. Elegant and well balanced, the wine offers plum and violet aromas with hints of leather and tobacco, followed by flavors of dried cherries, vanilla, chocolate and spice. A well-structured wine with firm, rounded tannins. Good with herbed veal chops, pasta dishes, cheeses and roast meats."
"The epitome of Tuscany. This very popular red wine is dry, fruity, well-balanced with flavors of vanilla, cocoa and spice."
"Modern and sleek..." 87
"Highly recommended. Quite smoky. Structured rounded palate, quite chewy cherries." ****
"Fine, tight, concentrated red with sweet violet infused fruit flavours and lovely oak influence. Elegant wine that is only just beginning to show some bottle development." 90 * * * *
"Toasted wheat bread, bacon and clove add interest to the nose, which is robust and loaded with black fruit. The palate is complex enough to trigger some intrigue: cinnamon, butter and licorice support the dark fruit nicely. The finish is smoothly textured, and there's an airy quality to it. Quite meaty and solid, with a firm core." 88
"A very classy Chianti with a nice tight core of cherry fruit, rose and pepper flavors, intense anise aromas and the perfect amount of mild vanilla and toasty oak to balance the ample acidity." ***+
"Medium garnet. Deep plum and cherry aromas, turning fresh and inviting in the mouth. A medium-bodied Chianti with firm tannins and good length." 86
"Castello Banfi turned out a winner in its Chianti Classico Riserva 1998. Dense, luscious and succulent and beautifully balanced, the wine features hints of leather, lavender and violets, dried spices and raspberry tea, plum and black cherry flavors. Excellent."
"Good color; garnet-cherry hue. Pretty bouquet of Bing cherry, oak, leather and citrus. Youthful black cherry flavors laced with drying tannins and crisp acids. Lingering finish with a smoky nuance." 88
"Cherries, strawberries and a hint of mint follow through to a medium-to full-bodied palate, with spice, vanilla and berry character. Long finish. Slightly lean, but focused and fine." 86
"The 1997 vintage in Chianti is a tough act to follow, but this excellent Tuscan red compares well with its classic predecessor. The wine offers intense black-cherry fruit, with nuance of chocolate, sweet oak and herbs. It is accessible now, but should improve with three to five years of aging. This full-bodied, elegant wine would be a superb choice to serve with grilled red meat." Wine of the Week
"...this wine is filled with black cherry and dark berry flavors complicated by hints of mocha, spice and oak. The texture of this Chianti is satiny, and its finish is polished and persistent."
"Deep garnet in color, this Chianti has long legs and an inviting nose of tobacco and iris with some cedar notes as well. On the palate, it's medium bodied and dry and delivers plenty of dry cherry and spice flavors that linger. It has a voluptuous, velvety mouthfeel and a nice dry finish with violet notes. The wine is well structured with adequate acidity for food." Wine of the Week
"...nearly a textbook example of what it means to be a Chianti Classico. It's not big nor brawny like the Tignanello, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in delicacy, with Sangiovese's superlative acidity weaving a delicate spice all throughout this wine's lovely cherry flavors."
"Rich texture with good balance of berry flavors, acidity and oak accents."
"Smooth and stylish, this Chianti is meaty as porcini and fattened up with dark fruit flavors. It's sophisticated in its plush texture, though it hasn't yet lengthened out into complexity. Enjoy it over the coming year with long-cooked meats and mushroom dishes." 90
"Tobacco and herb accents play off cherry fruit on the slightly muted nose... Finishes dry, with cocoa and tea notes." 87
"...a spicy wine, rich with fruit and dark berry flavors."
"Fleshy, cherry, rhubarb aromas, with a cedary restraint. Cherry and black pepper on the palate, with subtle tannins and balancing acidity." *** Recommended
"Best Chianti we've ever tasted from Banfi. Great value." Excellent ****+ Stars
"This Chianti has all the depth and richness that makes the Tuscany wine-growing region so special. The acid is in balance with the generous berry fruit flavors."
"...ready to drink, full of Chianti verve"
"This will be a superb game wine."
"Lovely and smooth, not so much fruity as herbal and with flavors that linger on." 87
"...the wine is delicious."
"Lean and elegant with a dry palate and a mineraly mouthfeel that persists through an astringent finish." 87
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