To commemorate the publishing on our new book, Decoding Italian Wine: A Beginner’s Guide to Enjoying the Grapes, Regions, Practices and Culture of the “Land of Wine,” I will be reviewing a string of what I think (and hope) will be awesome Italian wines I found at Costco in December.
It looks like we’re going to end our string of Italian wine reviews on a high note with this Chianti Classico that can be scored at Costco right now for $14.79. I think this bottle would please wine snobs and newbies alike. It’s perfect for the holidays when you may be entertaining and want to serve up nice wine but don’t want to break the bank.
Nose of violets, flowers and herbal spiciness; in the mouth, this wine begins with juicy red fruit,cherry, strawberry, with noted hints of tobacco and more spice, pepper and a light touch of oak leading into the dry finish. This is exceptional food wine (we enjoyed with a simple pasta dish), but is equally capable of being enjoyed on its own.
I’m going to add this bottle to the Top Picks list. It’s a great buy for under $15, and one that I will look to add to the cellar to try a year from now. Probably the second best Costco Chianti in this price range that I’ve bought, after the ultra exceptional 2010 Monsanto that I gave 92-93 pts.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA
Costco item number: 845142