Monte Bernardi Chianti Classico Paris 1999 (review)

82 points

This wine is probably a bit over the hill. It is an attempt by a small traditional Chianti producer to reach a differerent audience with a more New World look. The back label is still in Italian, but says the wine was aged in barriques di rovere francese.

The nose is subdued with some faint cherries and spice. The immediate mouth effect is of acid along the lower part of the tongue (or is that just noticiable because it is so different than many Australian wines with added acidity?). The acid mouth effect is followed by some fair fruitiness, slightly red cherry and then long very fine tannins. Once the wine was opened for an hour or so the tannins softened. The wine is not long in the finish, but does has a lingering spicy, cinnimon flavour.

It seems like second quality grapes were used- ripe but lacking in complexity and intensity.