On the heels of my last Chianti I thought I would give this one a try blind. No research. I rarely do that. This wine is DOCG rather than an IGT so a little lower on the quality scale. It’s also a Classico not a Classico Supremo … On first opening this wine has a touch of bitterness. A little breathing is a good idea but not a lot. Say 1/2 hour or so. I only bottle breathed it for about an hour and that was fine. The wine is good, reasonably dry chianti with some nice fruit and oak/alcohol under control. If I were to compare it to the Gabbiano I raved about last this one is not as favorable, not as dry, not as complex and all in all not as good. Still a good wine, but when you add in that I paid more for this one I would say unless your looking for variety skip this one. I would give it an 89. A good wine for sure. Just not amazing …
From the LCBO web site:
SANTA MARGHERITA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2006 VINTAGES 91694 | 750 mL bottle
Price: $ 19.95 Wine, Red Wine, 13.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD
Made in: Tuscany, Italy By: S.M.T.
Release Date: Mar 14, 2009
Tasting Note
…a new-world style, a little darker and richer than traditional Chiantis. Dark berry and cherry aromas and flavors dominate the wine, with rich oak and even a touch of cocoa and tobacco. This medium-bodied red still retains its Tuscan charm, with nice earth and game meat notes, and enough acidity to keep the wine balanced….Like most Tuscan wines, [it] opens up and comes alive when tasted with food, particularly tomato and meat sauces. Also try this wine with not-too-spicy barbecue ribs, grilled chicken and baked ham. (Jarrett Osborn, Vail Daily, Nov. 28, 2008)
