Castello di Querceto, Il Picchio, Chianti Classico Riserva, Tuscany, 2009

Tasting: Chianti Classico Riserva

Leathery-sweet nose, with lots of oak. Ditto palate, solid but no personality.

Tasting: Chianti Classico Riserva

Very minerally nose, cool and stony with flavours of berry and currants. I don’t recognise as Sangiovese, lots of freshness and lift, good weight, supple tannins, but unrecognisable as Chianti Classico.

Tasting: Chianti Classico Riserva

Dense, opaque ruby core. The nose is clean and developing with notes of cedar, sous-bois, ink and vanilla. Ageing in French oak has made a dramatic impression on this wine’s aromatic profile. The palate shows similar influence with an unnaturally ripe entry and a dusty, hollow finish. Impressive today but not one to cellar.