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| ~ Barriques in the Cellars of Tenuta Renieri ~ |
I recently wrote an article detailing the traditional methods that Michele Braganti employs in crafting his Chianti Classico. Time honored techniques create amazing wines at one far end of the spectrum. But what lies between his style of no international grapes, no barrique and cement fermentations and say a full blown Chianti aged in barrique that contains 20% Merlot? The answer may lie in the approach Tenuta di Renieri takes.
Now, as I’ve documented many times on these pages, Tenuta di Renieri is the Montalcino Estate of the Bacci family. So that may beg the question, how are they making Chianti Classico? I suppose in general, the answer would be simple enough. Many wineries make wines from zones outside their location simply by purchasing grapes and transporting them to their winery.
However, in this case, I’m left wondering. The Bacci family also owns a winery in Berardenga, Chianti Classico – Castello di Bossi, which I have also chronicled here. Why would they bring grapes (from Berardenga no less!) to Montalcino and make Chianti Classico at Renieri? The answer is: I have no idea! But I plan to investigate…
At any rate, whatever they’re doing, they’re doing well. The 2007 Tenuta Renieri Chianti Classico does in fact fall into that stylistic middle ground that I referred to above. The wine is 100% Sangiovese, but aged in new French Barrique for 12 months prior to bottling. It’s modern, but still authentic. And I love it.
In the glass, the wine is a vibrant violet purple clear and beautiful to the rim. The nose explodes with cherries, plums, spice and fresh flowers. It’s absolutely wonderful to smell. On the palate the ripe wine is focused like laser beams of light shimmering cherry, new leather, and spice all the way through the long balanced mouth watering finish. All the while I was drinking this – my mind kept going back to the same question. Why would Bacci not make this wine at their Chianti Classico estate? And frankly, I think this wine is better than Castello di Bossi’s Chianti Classico. And it’s equivalently priced. Seek this one out! 92 points, about $17.
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| ~ Chianti Classico from Tenuta di Renieri ~ |
Allora!
September 19, 2013
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