Robert Parker scores van Castello di Monsanto

July 24th, 2008

In de juni-editie van Robert Parker’s wereldbefaamde “The Wine Advocate” krijgen we de meest recente quotering voor de wijnen van één van onze tophuizen, Castello di Monsanto. Hieronder vindt u de commentaar van Antonio Galloni.

Mijn meest recente bezoek aan Castello di Monsanto was memorabel. Bovenop de actuele wijnen heb ik de kans gekregen om een aantal van de oudere jaargangen van de topwijn van het huis te proeven, de Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio. Monsanto is één van de weinige huizen die een uitgebreide selectie bewaart van voorbije jaargangen, waarvan het elk jaar enkele heruitbrengt voor een kleine selectie klanten. Ik hoef u niet te vertellen dat in het huidige klimaat van verzamelaars, waar de herkomst en kwaliteit van topwijnen steeds meer onder druk komen te staan, het kunnen aanbieden van perfect bewaarde oudere jaargangen met bewezen herkomst een fantastische service is naar de klant. Complimenten aan eigenares Laura Bianchi en oenoloog Andrea Giovannini. Dit zijn simpelweg prachtige wijnen. Hoewel de Chianti’s van Monsanto ronduit indrukwekkend zijn, zouden de geïnteresseerden zeker de Nemo (Cabernet Sauvignon) niet mogen vergeten, welke in zowel 2003 als 2004 een geweldig resultaat heeft opgeleverd. Het gebruik van Franse eik blijkt hier zeer gepast voor de druif, en de wijnen zijn adembenemend. Nemo is gemaakt met druiven uit de Il Mulino wijngaard, die is aangeplant in 1976. - Antonio Galloni - The Wine Advocate # 177 Juni 2008

Indien u klikt op (more) hieronder vindt u de scores van de wijnen die door Antonio Galloni zijn gedegusteerd. Zijn commentaar hebben we niet vertaald naar het Nederlands, indien u vragen heeft aarzel dan niet ze te stellen via een comment. Veel lees- en degustatieplezier!

2004 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (Release) prijs
Wine Advocate Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	93	Drink 2014 - 2029	$65 (65)

The 2004 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio is simply gorgeous. It is a layered, finessed wine of notable detail, with tons of potential hiding behind its restrained facade. With air, notes of earthiness, tobacco, spices, menthol and dark fruit gradually emerge from this classically built wine. Although the wine is beautifully balanced today, it requires additional cellaring to blossom fully. In 2004 Il Poggio was aged exclusively in aged tonneaux, which signals a move away from a percentage of new oak and smaller barrels that recent previous vintage had seen. The change in aging regime seems to allow for the full breadth of the unique qualities of Sangiovese and the Il Poggio vineyard to come through. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.

De Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio 2004 op Stappato

2003 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (release) prijs
Wine Advocate Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	92	Drink 2011 - 2025	$60 (60)

The 2003 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio is a firm, weighty version of this wine. The heat of the vintage has produced a plump, opulent Il Poggio redolent of earthiness, tobacco, smoke, spices and dark fruit. The tannins are big, yet well-integrated, the only open question is whether the fruit will last as long as the wine’s structural components. Still, this is a pretty Il Poggio with plenty of upside. In 2003 Il Poggio was aged in French oak barriques of which 40% were new. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025.

De Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio 2003 op Stappato

2001 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (release) prijs
Wine Advocate Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	93	Drink 2011 - 2026	$60 (60)

Monsanto’s 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio reveals earthiness, menthol, spices, leather and ripe dark fruit in a full-bodied expression of this wine. The 2001 remains an intense Il Poggio with an additional dimension of volume and sweetness from the French oak, which is very prominent in this vintage. That said, this is a wine that offers considerable upside from further cellaring. In 2001 Il Poggio was aged in French oak barriques of which 40% were new. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2026.

1999 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (release) prijs
Wine Advocate Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	92	Drink 2009 - 2019	$55 (55)

Made from a blend of 90% Sangioveto, 7% Canaiolo and 3% Colorino, it spent 18 months in used French oak barrels. The single-vineyard 1999 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio is another strong effort from this property. It opens with beautiful aromatics followed by deeply expressive notes of leather, spices, mint, tobacco and sweet dark fruit. Made in a big, muscular style, it will benefit from another few years in the bottle which will allow its full range of tertiary nuances to develop. This blend of 90% Sangioveto, 7% Canaiolo and 3% Colorino was aged in new and used French oak barrels for 18 months. Anticipated maturity: 2009- 2019.

This is a lovely set of releases from Castello di Monsanto, one of Chianti Classico’s most historically important estates. Proprietor Fabrizio Bianchi was at the forefront of many innovations that later became standard practice. In the early 1960s Monsanto pioneered the concept of the single-vineyard wines, and its Il Poggio is credited as being the first such Chianti Classico. In the years that followed Bianchi removed the traditional white varietals from the Chianti blend, years before other producers followed suit. Today Monsanto makes wines in a slightly more updated style that remains very much connected to the past, and most importantly, to its unique terroir.

1982 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (release) prijs
Wine Advocate Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	94	Drink 2008 - 2018	$380 (380)

Monsanto’s 1982 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio is wine I could spend an entire day contemplating. The aromas and flavors meld together seamlessly as this powerful yet graceful wine flows from the glass. Vibrant red cherries, tobacco and spices come to life in a beautiful expression of the Il Poggio vineyard. This wine spent two and half years in cask. The tannins remain firm, and suggest at least another decade of glorious drinking lies ahead. The 1982 Il Poggio is a re-release directly from the estate. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018.

1977 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (release) prijs
Wine Advocate # 177 Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	92	Drink 2008 - 2013	$390 (390)

The 1977 Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio presents a more advanced profile than the 1982, with a softer and more ethereal personality in its caramel, worn-in leather, pine, mint, spices, dried fruits and macerated cherries. Its slightly oxidative notes are those of a fully mature wine, yet it possess notable depth and presence on the palate. Still, I would suggest drinking this wine over the next few years. The 1977 Il Poggio is a re-release directly from the estate. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2013.

2004 Castello di Monsanto Nemo IGT

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (release) prijs
Wine Advocate Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	94	Drink 2014 - 2029	$50 (50)

In 2004 the Nemo (Cabernet Sauvignon) shares a lot of stylistic qualities with Il Poggio. It is more varietally expressive than the 2003 Nemo tasted alongside it, with dark cherries, menthol, spices and sweet herbs that flow from its powerful, layered frame. It reveals considerable depth not to mention tons of potential although it comes across as somewhat reticent today. Though not inexpensive in absolute terms I would be hard pressed to name another Tuscan wine that delivers this level of quality and pure drinking pleasure for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.

De Nemo IGT 2004 op Stappato

2003 Castello di Monsanto Nemo IGT

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (release) prijs
Wine Advocate Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	94	Drink 2010 - 2028	$45 (45)

The 2003 Nemo (Cabernet Sauvignon) is a plump, engaging wine loaded with ripe dark fruit. It shows awesome richness and an elegant, refined personality, even if what comes through is more vineyard character than varietal expression. With air and food this wine could be enjoyed today, although it is best left alone in the cellar for at least a few years. The use of oak is much more harmonious than Il Poggio in this vintage. This is a stunning wine, not to mention one of the top wines from Tuscany in 2003. If it sounds like I was blown away by this wine, I was. Though not inexpensive in absolute terms I would be hard pressed to name another Tuscan wine that delivers this level of quality and pure drinking pleasure for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2028.

De Nemo IGT 2003 op Stappato

2006 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (release) prijs
Wine Advocate Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	87	Drink 2008 - 2012	$20 (20)

Monsanto’s 2006 Chianti Classico is an elegant, finessed wine loaded with sweet, ripe fruit. Classy and elegant at this level, it offers lovely weight and a perfumed personality. The estate’s Chianti Classico is aged in equal parts tonneaux and steel. At the moment, this wine is not imported into the U.S., but should be available elsewhere. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2012.

De Chianti Classico 2006 op Stappato

2005 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva

Bron	Reviewer	Score	Maturiteit	Actuele (release) prijs
Wine Advocate Juni 2008	Antonio Galloni	90	Drink 2008 - 2017	$22 (24)

The 2005 Chianti Classico Riserva reveals a profile of red berries, herbs, crushed flowers and spices. The wine possesses an attractive up-front personality and finessed tannins, but it does taper off a bit on the mid-palate. In this rain-plagued vintage Monsanto did not produce its Riserva Il Poggio, and the best fruit from that site was added to this Riserva bottling, which was aged in a variety of used French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2017.

De Chianti Classico Riserva 2005 op Stappato

(bron: The Wine Advocate # 177, Juni 2008)

Entry Filed under: estates, scores