92 1997 Felsina Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva 8/31/03($40)
Color: Deep Garnet with enough brown to indicate bottle age, but not clearing at all yet. (3.5) Bouquet: Green olive and cedar with classic cherry fruit, although fruit seems a bit closed at this point. Still distinctive with elegance and intensity. (3.0) Body: Excellent fruit-to-tannin balance in the mouth. Still a bit young, but has enough acidity to propel its flavors nicely. (3.0) Flavor: A burst of rich, dry cherry before cigarbox and elegant tannins take hold. The distinct green and black olive flavors make it interesting. (3.0) Finish: Silky, long classic Sangiovese finish. Tannin and cigarbox-oak are perfectly integrated with cherry fruit and olive nuances. Slight dryness from tannins, but with a little more age the rich fruit should become sweeter.(3.5)
Overall: Classy CC Riserva with fine concentration and elegance. Quite a bit of cigarbox-oak, but the fruit seems sufficient to prevail. Give it 2-3 years. Even now it’s very enjoyable with marvelously restrained power combined with delicious Sangiovese fruit.(16.0)