Score: 90/100
The extraordinary 1997 vintage (not the one reviewed today unfortunately) was the first for a new appellation in the Chianti area of Tuscany. Italy: Chianti Superiore.
The word Superiore (for ‘suprior’ obviously) indicates a more careful selection of grapes and a higher quality of wine for this type of Chianti. It is generally produced from grapes of older vineyards with lower yields.
Today’s wine is a blend of 90% Sangiovese with a 10% of a less well-known Tuscan grape: Canaiolo Nero.
So how Good is this 2013 Donatella Cinelli Colombini Fattoria Il Colle Chianti Superiore?
The Answer is in the Tasting Notes:
The color is red, youthful, dense but not overly so.
Intense and deep nose. It smells and feels warm. Not warm from the alcohol, but from the warmth of aromas it showcases: ripe cherry, strawberry liqueur, Christmas pudding spices (clove, nutmeg, ginger), and roasted hazelnut. Complex and Charming!
The palate is drier and more austere than expected from the nose.
It IS dry, and the tannins are quite granulous and drying. Solid and enjoyable acidity. Perhaps a lack of middle-palate body. But this gives the wine a definite Chianti savory feel, and would become an advantage should you pair it with rich food, which you should.
Overall
A powerfully fragrant, fruity, spicy, and savory Chianti wine in a well-executed classic style.
Spices, fruit, some earthiness, and a typical Chianti austerity showcase a genuine rooted Sangiovese.
Please let me know your thoughts