2014 Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva, Italy
91 Points, James Suckling
Tasting Notes
Intense ruby red color. Clear notes of strawberries, raspberries, spice and vanilla stand out on the nose. The wine is soft and enfolding on the palate; the right balance between acidity and tannins leaves a pleasant and persistent aftertaste in the mouth.
Vineyard
This wine was produced from a selection of grapes from the estate vineyards located between 400 and 300 meters above sea level. The lands vary much one from another but include the typical soil of the Chianti Classico area, from sandstone to marl, from marine deposits to calcarenites (also known as alberese).
Growing Season
The weather leading up to the 2014 grape harvest was an unusual year, humid and not very hot. Winter was mild and Spring was drier than in the past. Temperatures were average and began to rise in the second half of June. Bud break was from the end of March to the beginning of April and proceeded regularly. Flowering was abundant and began in early June. The summer was much cooler than average, and rainy. This slowed the veraison of the grapes, which only began in mid-August. Fortunately, September was warm and featured significant day-to-night temperature ranges, favoring the accumulation of polyphenols in the grape skins.
Grape harvesting officially began on 10 September, about 12 days later than in previous years.
Ricasoli is the most representative wine producer in the Chianti Classico wine area. With its gentle hills, velvety valleys and thick woodlands of oaks and chestnuts, the 1,200 hectares of property include almost 240 hectares of vineyards and 26 of olive groves.
This creates a continuous succession of colors and hues around the Brolio Castle, which is located within the town limits of Gaiole in Chianti. Since 1993, Baron Francesco Ricasoli has been guiding this central Tuscan company in innovative challenges. This has been done with the deepest respect for his renowned ancestors who have made this territory great, Bettino Ricasoli first and foremost.
Francesco Ricasoli, current owner and President of the company, has generated new ideas and concepts to render the vineyards sustainable. The ongoing study of soil types and the clonal selection of the Brolio Sangiovese are among his greatest passions, and he has totally renovated the vineyards and completely mapped them.
The new wines are therefore the expression of research carried out with the same scientific rigor of his illustrious ancestor but with a contemporary spirit, like a runner receiving the baton and carrying it forward with renewed energy.
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
2014 Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva - $10 = 4.76%
Labrat checking in (with much better delivery luck this time) for the:
2014 Ricasoli /Brolio/ Chianti Riserva
…the delivery came early in the evening as usual, and as it’s second summer in the Midwest the bottle (glass at least) had reached 85‘ according to the infrared digital so it went to chill and rest for a couple days.
Obviously an import from Italy complete with the sticker but the label has a crest with “Rien sans peine” - French, oddly, for “Nothing without effort” and not “laugh without shame” which I wrongly guessed, whoops haha. Cork came out clean with no signs of seepage or cooking, whew. Maybe a hint of tartrate forming.
Poured dark red and at first taste there was sharp acidity, and cherry/red fruit with it but also a bit of earthy green pepper and dusty drawer on the nose. The wife said it had bite on her first sip so we agreed it could use more decant, and based on the aged Pinot comments from El Jefe last week, it sounds like at 12 years old this should have quite a bit of life left as well.
A couple hours past and alongside a little cheese ziti and bites of mushroom pizza it has settled in nicely: still the light body but some darker fruit and dried cherry flavors coming out. I actually kind of like it more on its own as it evolves honestly (or maybe just more meat or fat than I had). It’s definitely ringing the bell of a nice mouth-coating dry old world fruit Italian red.
I like the age on it as well as I tend to. At this point I’d say this would be hard to say no to quite frankly. At the time I wrote this I remember thinking if the offer is less $20 each then I’d say it’s a no-brainer. Also fun fact this post was written right as a near-total lunar eclipse was peaking. All evening the moon was big and glowing orange so if you had the means and conditions, hopefully you got to check it out!
Anyway thanks Terry and everyone for the bottle, I say it’s a win for a Friday especially. Cheers!
@jmdavidson1 That’s how it seems to me! Just to note about these older bottles once opened- I don’t usually have any left after a day or two, but beyond that they can fall flat unless maybe they get vacuum sealed or similar (I do not). So let it breathe, but maybe not for an entire weekend
Pretty much 9 year old worthless reviews?..a snapshot of youth!
Suckling June 2017. 91 points. Aromas of blueberry, chocolate and spice. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink now.
Decanter World Wine Awards has an 84 pointer hiding somewhere, also June 2017.
Spectator, November 2017. 88 points. This red shows breadth allied to a firm, sinewy structure, with cherry, plum, earth and underbrush flavors holding court. The finish lingers with dusty tannins. Drink now through 2023. 4,600 cases made. Bruce Sanderson
Wine Advocate, October 2017. 89 points. Here is a wine I have not seen for a while. The 2014 Chianti Classico Riserva Brolio is 80% Sangiovese with 15% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a deeply saturated wine in appearance that shows an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel. The consistency is soft and almost creamy. The bouquet reveals dark fruit and ripe plum. Drink 2017 -2026 Monica Larner.
She also notes that Francesco Ricasoli decided to skip production of his Gran Selezione and single-vineyard wines in 2014. Fruit for those wines went to the lower-end wines and the 2014 Riserva Brolio instead.
Vinous, July 2017. 90 points. The estate’s 2014 Chianti Classico Riserva Brolio is a powerful, bombastic wine shaped by the presence of international varieties and heavy French oak. Super-ripe dark plum, coffee and chocolate flavors add nuance to this plush, textured Riserva. There is plenty of depth and richness, but my sense is that this could be a significantly better wine if the pedigree of the fruit were allowed to shine more. AG
The 2018 that was offered last year was fantastic. This summer we vacationed in Italy and toured the Ricasoli estate and did wine tasting there. It’s a can’t miss if you’re in Tuscany. In for a case!
Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva
2014 Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva, Italy
91 Points, James Suckling
Tasting Notes
Vineyard
Growing Season
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
not for sale on winery website, $720/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Sep 28 - Tuesday, Sep 29
2014 Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva
6 bottles for $104.99 $17.50/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations)
2014 Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva - $10 = 4.76%
Looking for lab rats. This could be at the end of its drinking window, especially for a 2014.
Labrat checking in (with much better delivery luck this time) for the:
2014 Ricasoli /Brolio/ Chianti Riserva
…the delivery came early in the evening as usual, and as it’s second summer in the Midwest the bottle (glass at least) had reached 85‘ according to the infrared digital so it went to chill and rest for a couple days.
Obviously an import from Italy complete with the sticker but the label has a crest with “Rien sans peine” - French, oddly, for “Nothing without effort” and not “laugh without shame” which I wrongly guessed, whoops haha. Cork came out clean with no signs of seepage or cooking, whew. Maybe a hint of tartrate forming.
Poured dark red and at first taste there was sharp acidity, and cherry/red fruit with it but also a bit of earthy green pepper and dusty drawer on the nose. The wife said it had bite on her first sip so we agreed it could use more decant, and based on the aged Pinot comments from El Jefe last week, it sounds like at 12 years old this should have quite a bit of life left as well.
A couple hours past and alongside a little cheese ziti and bites of mushroom pizza it has settled in nicely: still the light body but some darker fruit and dried cherry flavors coming out. I actually kind of like it more on its own as it evolves honestly (or maybe just more meat or fat than I had). It’s definitely ringing the bell of a nice mouth-coating dry old world fruit Italian red.
I like the age on it as well as I tend to. At this point I’d say this would be hard to say no to quite frankly. At the time I wrote this I remember thinking if the offer is less $20 each then I’d say it’s a no-brainer. Also fun fact this post was written right as a near-total lunar eclipse was peaking. All evening the moon was big and glowing orange so if you had the means and conditions, hopefully you got to check it out!
Anyway thanks Terry and everyone for the bottle, I say it’s a win for a Friday especially. Cheers!
@james So, bottom line is that the fruit still has life, and is not over the hill. Right? I,too, like a chianti will some age. Thanks for the review.
@james @jmdavidson1 pretty much no penalty in sticking to a 6 pack if one is so inclined
@jmdavidson1 That’s how it seems to me! Just to note about these older bottles once opened- I don’t usually have any left after a day or two, but beyond that they can fall flat unless maybe they get vacuum sealed or similar (I do not). So let it breathe, but maybe not for an entire weekend
Nice photos and review. Thank you and happy Friday!
The irony that it is National Chianti Day is not going unnoticed. Nice timing
@fgfljsb but is it irony? I think I keep using that word wrong…
@fgfljsb @KitMarlot Inconceivable!
Pretty much 9 year old worthless reviews?..a snapshot of youth!
Suckling June 2017. 91 points. Aromas of blueberry, chocolate and spice. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink now.
Decanter World Wine Awards has an 84 pointer hiding somewhere, also June 2017.
Spectator, November 2017. 88 points. This red shows breadth allied to a firm, sinewy structure, with cherry, plum, earth and underbrush flavors holding court. The finish lingers with dusty tannins. Drink now through 2023. 4,600 cases made. Bruce Sanderson
Wine Advocate, October 2017. 89 points. Here is a wine I have not seen for a while. The 2014 Chianti Classico Riserva Brolio is 80% Sangiovese with 15% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a deeply saturated wine in appearance that shows an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel. The consistency is soft and almost creamy. The bouquet reveals dark fruit and ripe plum. Drink 2017 -2026 Monica Larner.
She also notes that Francesco Ricasoli decided to skip production of his Gran Selezione and single-vineyard wines in 2014. Fruit for those wines went to the lower-end wines and the 2014 Riserva Brolio instead.
Vinous, July 2017. 90 points. The estate’s 2014 Chianti Classico Riserva Brolio is a powerful, bombastic wine shaped by the presence of international varieties and heavy French oak. Super-ripe dark plum, coffee and chocolate flavors add nuance to this plush, textured Riserva. There is plenty of depth and richness, but my sense is that this could be a significantly better wine if the pedigree of the fruit were allowed to shine more. AG
fwiw
Is this an earlier of the 2018 offered on here in June 2025 for $155 a case? Barone was not on the label of that one but it was a good QPR!
@ctmariner earlier vintage
The 2018 that was offered last year was fantastic. This summer we vacationed in Italy and toured the Ricasoli estate and did wine tasting there. It’s a can’t miss if you’re in Tuscany. In for a case!
/giphy visible-fickle-mummy
Dammit, I hesitated too long. Womp womp
@gman1341 if you don’t wait any longer, there are still some bottles available on the summer hold page…
@Pagefault I was today years old when I learnt that this was a separate deal. Your my hero.
@gman1341 @Pagefault thanks for that tip! I snagged one!
I never got the wine. Please send or credit my account so I don’t need to call my bank. 323-407-6000
@rlindholm
go to your purchase page and at the bottom of it you should see “I need help with this” to contact CS.
LMK if you get no response and I’ll see what additional help I can provide.
@rjquillin @rlindholm Estimated delivery date Sept 28 to 29
Anyone get an update on these orders? Mine still shows as processing, and we’re past the estimated delivery date?