2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo
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Tasting notes
Two years in botti, then one year in bottle. Pale-medium ruby with some garnet glints. Rich aromas of cherry with cherry-kernel nuttiness, subtle spice and a mineral flintiness. Lovely transparency and clarity. Crispness of acidity lifts the rich, sour-cherry fruit through the long finish. Fairly fine, firm tannins are resolving nicely now. (TJ)
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Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Tim Jackson MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo is loaded with character. Sweet red cherry, game, tobacco, licorice, herbs and game lend aromatic intrigue and tons of nuance. Overall, this is a fairly understated vintage for the Riserva, but all the elements come together nicely. The 2013 will drink well for another decade-plus.
This wine is rewarding and satisfying to drink. The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo opens to a dark garnet color and shows a deep ruby color saturation. The bouquet offers depth and intensity with dark fruit, plum and sweet cherry. You also get exotic spice, cumin and grilled rosemary. The effect is penetrating and long-lasting. This is a richly layered Sangiovese that wraps lavishly over the palate. I'm sure the wine's evolutionary track will reward those with the patience to wait. But if you can't wait, the intensity of the primary fruit makes it a pleasure to drink in the near term as well.
Cask sample. Castelnuovo Berardenga. 100% Sangiovese. Concentrated ruby with orange tinges. Sweet and a little jammy with plenty of oak on the nose. Plush oaked fruit palate with plenty of fresh acidity. Drying (oak) tannins on the finish, yet very long. (WS)