I found this Chianti at the same time I found the Kirkland Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon. We were invited to friends home for a wine tasting. After reading the bottle and having a price of less than $12 ($11.20 to be exact) for a magnum I figured what the heck. If it is bad I will dump it. Besides, having just been in Tuscany I need to keep reaching out and find more Italian wines.
A little history on Tuscany DOCG wine region
The Tuscany wine region of central Italy is home to some of the world’s most famous and highly regarded wines. It ranks slightly behind Piedmont and Veneto in terms of the volume and variety of DOC and DOCG wine it produces, yet due to the region’s history of artistic, intellectual and cultural development, it outstrips both of these wine powerhouses in terms of global renown. Few could fail to identify Tuscany’s rolling, cypress-lined hills capped with historic villages of tiled terracotta houses. The image is powerful and lasting, as is the impression left by such names as Chianti, Carmignano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino – all Tuscan DOCGs.
Saturday arrived and we were heading over to Dave and Heathers and Louis and Rich were planning to come as well as they are also fond of wine! We are always happy to share wine with friends to appreciate a good bottle!
As soon as we arrived, I had Dave pull the cork. I wanted the Chianti to breath a bit in the bottle before we poured some. Soon after Louis and Rich arrived and we poured us all a glass and cheered one another!
It was time to pull out my tasting sheet so we could rate the 2010 Melini Chianti.
Sight
As you can see the Chianti was pale. The color was Ruby with a clear meniscus for a young wine.
Smell
The aromas were light and we could tell the fruit was young. Some of the things we noted were light red fruit and possibly almond?
Taste
The Chianti was medium to light bodied. The acidity was nice and not tart and the tannins were weak, soft and felt in our mid palate. The finish was medium. We could taste Cherry, Vanilla and Dave thought Cheese cake!
ABV 12.5%
The low alcohol content makes it easy to drink with a light meal.
The 2010 Melini Chianti was really good and would be perfectly served with a light food or pizza. We all rated the 2010 Melini Chianti three glasses and all said we would buy this one again. As a testament to this Dave went back to the local Costco and bought two more magnums and I later learned Rich picked some up as well. It is a great starter to the night.
Life is too short to drink crappy wine. Expand your palate and keep trying.
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