~ Alessandro Francois in his personal cellar ~

Variability can be a curse. The 2009 vintage in Chianti Classico has yielded some lovely wines and some under performing wines. The variable vintage was too hot in some areas and the success of the finished wines depended upon the decisions in the vineyard and the cellar and how each estate managed the heat. 
Today’s wine is somewhat of an enigma. At first blush, when it came time to write this review,  I wasn’t sure I had the right producer.  In researching this wine, the bottle below looks nothing identical wines that are for sale across the internet.  I have no idea why. 
At any rate, Castello di Querceto sits in Greve in Chianti – the upper most northern part of the Classico zone.  In the past,  this area hasn’t been my favorite for production of Chianti Classico and today’s wine does little to change that.  I’m not sure what it is about this region that typically doesn’t press my buttons but the wines always seem to lack something.  They are too austere and shrill for my preference.
Castello di Querceto sits in the “valley of the oaks” and the fortress itself is surrounded by chestnut and oak forests. The vineyards are organic and well maintained. 

~  The picturesque Castello di Querceto seen from the air ~
The 2009 Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva is a medium ruby in the glass, with a copper like ring at the edge of the glass.  It looks advanced.   The aromas are pleasing enough with red cherry, dried herbs and some spice/tobacco notes.  On the palate, the wine seems thin and devoid of the necessary concentration of fruit.  The result amplifies the acidic nature of the wine, which gives the impression of imbalance.  Monolithic cherry fruit is tangentially affected by savory herbs but really, I kept trying to like this wine over the course of the evening,  but I just couldn’t get there.  We tried it alongside Cacio di Roma cheese and simple pasta Amatriciana.  It fell short with and without the food.  Not expensive, but you can do better.  84 points.  About $22.

~ Querceto is 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino/Canaiolo.  The wine is aged 12 months in large French oak and then 3 months in bottle prior to release ~ 

E vero!

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