On the nose this wine opens up with aromas of cherry, plum, sundried tomato, soft leather, savoury herbs and herbal notes. On the palate, light to medium bodied, red berry fruit flavours, fresh acidity and soft silky tannins. Very good energy and length on the finish with plumy-red berry fruit flavours lingering. To be enjoyed with a tomato based pasta, pizza, or on its own, its that good. Strongly recommended and very good value for fans of a more traditional style of Chianti Classico. Tasted April 2012.

A bit closed, with a hint of wet socks on the nose. A bit tainted with TCA, I'm afraid. Still, not completely off-putting as some very nice pleasant dried-cherry flavours shone through. Very approachable, balanced, light-medium bodied, without interference of manipulative wine-making practices. My score is tenetative, based on my guess of what a pristine bottle might show. Tasted March 2012.