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Fontanelle 2005 | 2003 | 2002 | 2000 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 |
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Fontanelle 2005
“Medium bodied, lean, and crisp with aromas of lanolin, citrus, tree fruits, and spice and flavors of pear, apple, grapefruit, toasted oak, and sweet earthy spices; medium to long finish. Veal Piccata. Serve now, but will hold for some time.”
“The main tastes — pear, apple, lemon and lime — are punctuated by minerals and a touch of vanilla from a relatively modest seven months of aging in oak, which doesn’t mask the fruit as it often does in big Chardonnays from California, for example. Alcohol is 12.8 percent, which is light by Chardonnay standards, but the fruit is ripe and expressive. We enjoyed it as an aperitif, and it will be a good match with any number of chicken and fish dishes.”
“Aromas of lemon drop, butter, dust and fresh-cut wood are sizable, as is the palate, which pushes mango, peach and pineapple. It’s a fairly big mouthful overall, with somewhat of a waxy feel.” 85
“Definitely one of the better chardonnay wines from Italy with its varietal appley fruit with some spice in the nose. The flavors are complex with rich appley fruit with a hint of vanilla oak and a good balance of acidity in the finish. Serve with fish kebabs.” Recommended - Very Good 85 - 89
"Pretty apple aromas, with hints of mineral and pear. Medium- to full-bodied, with pleasant fruit and a medium finish. Drink now." 85
"Full-textured and generous with fleshy peach and pear fruit, this is a solid, giving white, its fatness balanced by tense lees." 87
"Medium-bodied, with aromas of toasted bread and yeast it opens to reveal both flavors and aromas of apples, pears and slivered almonds. This tempting wine is drinking very nicely now but will hold easily until 2004." 89
"...this wine makes a first impression after being poured that it is dominated by butter and vanilla but given a few minutes in the glass, the wine opens to reveal aromas and flavors of green apples, ripe pears and hazelnuts. Medium-bodied, with toasty flavors that make themselves felt nicely, the wine is fully ready for drinking now." 86
Silver Medal
"Three friends who tasted it couldn't identify the grape. That's because this 1997 beauty has a creamy, oak taste but also shows a nutty note along with an apricot twist. I admit I got a hoot out of watching these folks scratch their heads and grumble because they didn't know what to make of this one. My estimate is that wine novices who have sucked down many Chardonnays won't go for this one, while wine lovers will." ***
"Castello Banfi has shown the world that Chardonnay can do well in Tuscany with this release. Nice straw color with classic pear and vanilla aromas. The wine has a medium body with fresh acidity. Pear, tropical fruit and toast come through on the palate."
"A well crafted Chardonnay... Delicious." 89
"Creamy lemon with a touch of vanilla on the palate with excellent balance of oak and fruit..." ***1/2 to ****
"Pleasing notes of citrus fruit, honey and vanilla, with faint peach and earthy notes. Perfectly balanced, full-bodied, with ripe citrus and peach flavors; nice, clean finish, with fruit notes."
"very aromatic and woodsy, an attractive and quite palatable Chardonnay in the California oaky style."
"Fresh young colour with aromas of vanilla, butter, earth, and citrus rind. The finish is dry and long, with nutty, oaky, lees tones." 87
"...pure elegance."
"Well made." 88
"Very soft and round on the palate with flavors that echo the nose." 85
"...all of the flavor nuances that one expects in a better chardonnay...a rare find at so low a price."
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