97/100 - GardiniNotes.com 2021 92/100 - James Suckling 2021 92/100 - Wine Spectator 2021 90/100 - Vinous, Antonio Galloni 2021
Tasting Notes
Intense ruby red color and a rich, complex nose featuring ripe red fruit, spices, and vanilla notes. On the palate, it offers a voluminous mouthfeel with structured tannins and a long, persistent finish.
Vintage
Overall, we can state that 2018 was a complex harvest due to the climate trends, which tended to be more humid than average in the past, but with excellent summer temperatures and a very dry period in the months of September and October.
Winemaking
Fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 24°C-27°C (75.2°-80.6°F) with 14-16 days of skin contact.
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 100% Sangiovese
Appellation: Gaiole in Chianti, Italy
Ageing: 18 months in tonneaux of first and second passage.
Alcohol: 14%
Total acidity: 5,60 g/l
pH: 3,34
Net dry extract: 28,58 g/l
Total polyphenols (as Gallic acid): 2237 g/l
What’s Included
4-bottles:
4x 2018 Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva Case:
12x 2018 Barone Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva
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
AZ, 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
You had me at “Sangiovese”, however, the coupon code mentioned doesn’t seem to be working. I also tried the coupon code from the recent mystery case and it did not work for the summer hold but did for the soon-delivery option.
If we tell the webdev guys that we will give them wine if they fix it, will they come through?
@winer It worked for me just now, but it didn’t show up until I placed the order. Reviewing the order didn’t show it, but the charge and my receipt both do…
@greyday@MitchBenson@winer As announced here, “Use coupon code KAOLISCAVE to save $10 on this or any other Casemates event this summer. (One use per account, account must have been created before 6/9/2025, coupon expires 8/31/2025.)”
PnP at 56 degrees
Tasted with my wife
Color depth medium
Color hue garnet with a tad of bricking
Clarity is clear
Aroma is moderate with some age. We sniffed some dry cherries, balsamic, and a tad of herbaceous stuff
Wine was bone dry with medium body and fresh acidity and medium to low tannins
Taste was balanced with black cherry and cocoa dust. Wine is somewhere between new and old world
Well made and enjoyable by itself and either homemade pizza
Both guesses $40 msrp and felt $20 CM would he a good deal. The case price is ridiculous
Baron Ricasoli wrote the formula for Chianti. If you’re ever in Tuscany, make sure you visit Brolio Castle. This is an incredible deal on a great wine!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2018 Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva - $55 = 26.18%
Per the previous offering, I live in Florida. So should I wait until October to purchase again after the heat is gone. Of was it just that wine that could be negatively effected by the heat.
Wise words of the all-knowing:
Suckling. 92 points. Aromas of cherry, light vanilla and orange peel with some mushroom undertones. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins and fresh acidity. Extremely attractive now, but a year or two will open it up.
Spectator. 92 points. A modern style, with a touch of new oak lending spice and structure to the plum, cherry, leather and wild herb flavors. Succulent and balanced on a lean frame, this finishes long, with plenty of grip. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2033. 7,400 cases made, 2,380 cases imported. $30. Bruce Sanderson. October 15, 2021
Enthusiast. 90 points. Aromas of violet, toasted oak and mocha lead the way. The rather forward palate offers blackberry jam, espresso and toasted hazelnut alongside close-grained tannins. Drink through 2028. Kerin O’Keefe 5/1/22
Vinous. 90 points. The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Brolio is an attractive, easygoing wine that will provide pleasure with minimal cellaring. Sweet dark cherry, mocha, licorice, spice and tobacco meld together effortlessly. This mid-weight, open-knit Riserva has plenty of charm.
winescores.ca(?) 92 points. Fragrant, elegant, concentrated. The Riserva tier is the second highest level of Chianti Classico wines after Gran Selezione. This one, from Ricasoli has dulcet notes of strawberry, cherry and violets woven with fresh turned soil and pipe tobacco. The mouthfeel is lovely, it has concentration and elegance and flavours of toasted spice, crushed stone, red berries and cocoa. The finish is powerful and trails flavours of Italian herbs and coffee. It weighs in at 14.5% alc, so has some heft. 10/14/22… someone say espresso…coffee?
I was lucky to receive the 2018 Brolio Chianti Riserva for review.
Nose: Cherry, vanilla, and other dark berries with no noticeable alcohol on the nose.
The first taste was light to medium bodied and smooth, with low to medium tannins. The taste was consistent with the nose, a little tart, and had a thin mouthfeel. This one doesn’t need to be paired with food and can stand alone. I don’t drink Chianti often outside of Italian restaurants so it’s harder for me assess the varietal but the Casemates price feels in line.
2018 Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva
97/100 - GardiniNotes.com 2021
92/100 - James Suckling 2021
92/100 - Wine Spectator 2021
90/100 - Vinous, Antonio Galloni 2021
Tasting Notes
Vintage
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $360/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, 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, Jul 7 - Tuesday, Jul 8
2018 Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva
4 bottles for $69.99 $17.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $154.99 $12.92/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
You had me at “Sangiovese”, however, the coupon code mentioned doesn’t seem to be working. I also tried the coupon code from the recent mystery case and it did not work for the summer hold but did for the soon-delivery option.
If we tell the webdev guys that we will give them wine if they fix it, will they come through?
@winer It worked for me just now, but it didn’t show up until I placed the order. Reviewing the order didn’t show it, but the charge and my receipt both do…
@greyday @winer what coupon code? i have no coupon code
@greyday @MitchBenson @winer As announced here, “Use coupon code KAOLISCAVE to save $10 on this or any other Casemates event this summer. (One use per account, account must have been created before 6/9/2025, coupon expires 8/31/2025.)”
Thanks Alice and WD
PnP at 56 degrees
Tasted with my wife
Color depth medium
Color hue garnet with a tad of bricking
Clarity is clear
Aroma is moderate with some age. We sniffed some dry cherries, balsamic, and a tad of herbaceous stuff
Wine was bone dry with medium body and fresh acidity and medium to low tannins
Taste was balanced with black cherry and cocoa dust. Wine is somewhere between new and old world
Well made and enjoyable by itself and either homemade pizza
Both guesses $40 msrp and felt $20 CM would he a good deal. The case price is ridiculous
@losthighwayz Nice review - can’t resist - in for a case!
Baron Ricasoli wrote the formula for Chianti. If you’re ever in Tuscany, make sure you visit Brolio Castle. This is an incredible deal on a great wine!
/giphy profuse-bare-loon
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2018 Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva - $55 = 26.18%
Per the previous offering, I live in Florida. So should I wait until October to purchase again after the heat is gone. Of was it just that wine that could be negatively effected by the heat.
@kparty12 you can order using the summer hold option.
@kparty12 I did summer hold. I’m in Florida also.
I received a bottle of this in the last mystery case but I haven’t opened it yet. After reading the comments I’m anxious to try it.
Wise words of the all-knowing:
Suckling. 92 points. Aromas of cherry, light vanilla and orange peel with some mushroom undertones. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins and fresh acidity. Extremely attractive now, but a year or two will open it up.
Spectator. 92 points. A modern style, with a touch of new oak lending spice and structure to the plum, cherry, leather and wild herb flavors. Succulent and balanced on a lean frame, this finishes long, with plenty of grip. Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2033. 7,400 cases made, 2,380 cases imported. $30. Bruce Sanderson. October 15, 2021
Enthusiast. 90 points. Aromas of violet, toasted oak and mocha lead the way. The rather forward palate offers blackberry jam, espresso and toasted hazelnut alongside close-grained tannins. Drink through 2028. Kerin O’Keefe 5/1/22
Vinous. 90 points. The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Brolio is an attractive, easygoing wine that will provide pleasure with minimal cellaring. Sweet dark cherry, mocha, licorice, spice and tobacco meld together effortlessly. This mid-weight, open-knit Riserva has plenty of charm.
winescores.ca(?) 92 points. Fragrant, elegant, concentrated. The Riserva tier is the second highest level of Chianti Classico wines after Gran Selezione. This one, from Ricasoli has dulcet notes of strawberry, cherry and violets woven with fresh turned soil and pipe tobacco. The mouthfeel is lovely, it has concentration and elegance and flavours of toasted spice, crushed stone, red berries and cocoa. The finish is powerful and trails flavours of Italian herbs and coffee. It weighs in at 14.5% alc, so has some heft. 10/14/22… someone say espresso…coffee?
fwiw
I was lucky to receive the 2018 Brolio Chianti Riserva for review.
Nose: Cherry, vanilla, and other dark berries with no noticeable alcohol on the nose.
The first taste was light to medium bodied and smooth, with low to medium tannins. The taste was consistent with the nose, a little tart, and had a thin mouthfeel. This one doesn’t need to be paired with food and can stand alone. I don’t drink Chianti often outside of Italian restaurants so it’s harder for me assess the varietal but the Casemates price feels in line.