So, you’ve been out on a few dates. You still have hope that one of these nights, you’ll actually meet someone worth spending time with. As time goes on though, you start to become weary that it just “ain’t gonna happen”. Friday nights turn into dates with your television, watching re-runs of Three’s Company or Sex in the City. Your idea of romance is the flickering candle beside the couch that casts a soft light across your flannel pajamas. Hey! They’re comfy.
Photo by Valerie Stride 2014
…If this scenario sparks any sort of “Oh crap, that’s me” feelings, it is now time to go out and get yourself some 2009 Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico DOCG. No disappointments, no awkward conversations over your spaghetti-stained shirt, and definitely no texts to your friends asking them to rescue you by making the “emergency phone call”. (Do people actually do that?)
What you’ll get with this wine is simple, but not simple. Let me explain.
The simple part is that you’ll get straight-up quality from this producer. According to Tony Aspler,
Chianti can be a hit or miss proposition depending upon the producer. A good Chianti should have some evident red berry fruit with a fine spine of acidity, slightly bitter on the finish with a tannic bite. Too often they are sour and weak-kneed.
-from The Wine Lover’s Companion, 1994, pp. 181.
Honestly, this was one of the nicest Chianti’s I’ve had. This is where the not simple part comes in. With about 5 years age on it, this Chianti is quite complex and has developed a personality. The acidity is still quite high and its tannin structure is still holding up. I would not even come close to calling the Castello di Bossi “weak-kneed”; it was more like a well-toned, brown-haired, green-eyed babe, confidently gazing up from the glass… (Wait, did I just say that out loud? Inside voice, Valerie, inside voice!)
More on Chianti…
“Italy’s most important red wine, Chianti (including Chianti Classico) DOCG comes from central Tuscany. Although it can be made from a blend of varieties, classic Chianti is dominated by Sangiovese, as is Italy’s first DOCG wine, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. […] Much basic Chianti is inexpensive and simple but better wines coming from sub-regions such as Chianti Classico DOCG are among Italy’s finest.”
-from Wines and Spirits: Looking Behind the Label, 2011, pp. 46
Castello di Bossi’s Chianti Classico 2009 is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, and was rested for 10-12 months on property. Other intriguing notes of this wine include red plum, licorice, raspberry, cherry, and light notes of both rose petal and clove. The palate distinguished itself by adding hints of toast, leather, and Morello cherry.
At about $35 a bottle, I figure it’s a win-win situation here, even if you didn’t appreciate my metaphor of this wine being a good substitute for a possible-bad-date-night.
Oh! One last note. Looking at the bottle, “Bacci” appears mid-label. When translated, this word means “berry” (which makes total sense since we are dealing with grapes here), but I’ll continue living in my dream world, where I remove one of the “c’s” and the word becomes “baci” — meaning kiss.
Cheers!
The Demystified Vine 