2008 Chianti Classico Riserva del Cinquantenario

The 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva Cinquantennario reflects the cool, introspective personality of the year. Dark plums, menthol, spices and licorice emerge over time, but the 2008 is very young and will require quite a few years in the cellar to show at its best. There is more than enough energy and vibrancy for the 2008 to drink well for at least 20 years. Readers who appreciate fine, aged Chianti will want to forget about the 2008 for another decade at the very least. In 2008, Monsanto did not make their flagship Il Poggio. Instead a small parcel within the vineyard was used for this 50th anniversary commemorative bottling, and the remaining fruit went into the straight Riserva that year. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2038. This is a solid set of new releases from Monsanto. I also retasted the 2007 Il Poggio and Nemo, but found the wines essentially the same as I did last year, which is to say well below the benchmark that has been set at this historic estate. Importer: MW Imports, Brooklyn, NY; tel. (718) 596-3339