Did you know that there will be a selection of great-value Chianti Classico wines will be featured in BC Liquor stores throughout the month of August? There will also be a FREE consumer tasting at the 39th and Cambie Signature BCL Liquor Store on Friday, August 18th from 2:30 – 6:30pm. As a peek into the aromas and flavours of Chianti Classico wines, I received these two bottles to review for you:
- Marchesi Frescobaldi Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico DOCG 2019
- Lamole di Lamole 2018 Lareale Riserva DOCG 2018
The Frescobaldi is made with 100% Sangiovese grapes while the Lamole di Lamole has 5% Canaiolo grapes blended in. Let me tell you about them.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Marchesi Frescobaldi Tenuta Perano Chianti Classico DOCG 2019, Italy (BC $33.44 spec)
Appearance: A clear but deep garnet colour, consistent from rim to core. About 80% opaque.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of red fruit, light toast, and touches of pepper, red cherries and nutmeg. Same flavour intensity or is slightly stronger with decanting. You can add cedar, floral and sweet spice aromas with decanting.
Palate: Dry, light body with a lean mouthfeel. Juicy red cherries and berries, and hints of floral, nutmeg, vanilla, oak, and minerality. Medium acidity and faint tannins. The wine moves up to medium body with decanting and is rounder, but still lean. Stronger minerality and addition of Old World oak flavour.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with slightly drying tannins. Acidity-driven to the finish. Tart red fruit flavours plus a bit of oak and pepperiness. A light finish. Same finish after decanting.
A wine with a light touch. No need to decant.
Rating: 
Deep garnet colour. Red fruit, light toast and some pepper and sweet spice aromas. A dry wine with a light body and lean mouthfeel. Juicy red berries and cherries with touches of floral, spices, and minerality. Faint tannins. Medium-plus length.
Lamole di Lamole 2018 Lareale Riserva DOCG 2018, Italy (BC $35.99)
An organic wine.
Appearance: A medium-intensity mix of ruby and tawny colour. Translucent to the core.
Nose: Very light aromas of red fruit and a touch of oak. Decanting may help present the aromas. With decanting you get a hint of sweet spice and red cherry aromas. Still light intensity aromas.
Palate: Dry, lightly round, smooth with a light mouthfeel. Medium intensity tannins and acidity. Tart red berries, red cherries, plus touches of floral, toast, oak, candied cherries, and leather on the palate. Move up to medium body and a thicker mouthfeel with decanting. I also pick up some plum flavour and the leather touch becomes fainter.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with medium intensity dusty tannins, tart berries, floral and light pepperiness. Floral noted with decanting but less red cherry flavour.
The wine becomes a bit bigger and rounder with decanting, but overall it is OK to drink this wine as soon as it is opened.
Rating: 
– A wine starting to show its age with some tawny tones mixed with the ruby colour. Very light red fruit aromas. Medium body, dry with a smooth, round, light mouthfeel. Tart red berries and cherries with touches of floral, candied cherries, and oak. Medium-plus length.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
I did not see these wines listed on the website. They may be at the Cambie Signature BCL Liquor Store free consumer tasting. It will be very educational as Jason Yamasaki, brand ambassador for Chianti Classico in Canada, will be hosting the tasting. These two wines do have local agents so the wines may be currently only at select restaurants in BC.
