Right here, right now...

Have just opened two 2007 Chianti Classico Riservas, and making my first assesment. This will be a live tasting note for three days running, too se how they are doing when first opened, and how they evolve in the bottle for some time.

Tasting notes - popped and poured:

2007 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo, Fontodi
A fine, somewhat restrained nose right out of the gate, with notes of red cherries, ginger bread, milk chocolate and a finely perfumed note. Very elegant and refined. A touch of matchboxes.
The taste is young, tight and pure with sandy tannins and a long, fresh finish that ends dry. Cool red fruit in the core of the taste. This needs air. But it definitely have qualities.
88-90p   (tasted 2011/12/08)

2007 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia, Felsina
A perennial favourite of mine, I have found memorys of the 1990 and 1997. The nose is deeper and darker with notes of black rather than red cherries, blueberries, a warm gravel road, dark chocolate and freshly sawn wood. Has more prescense. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and concentrated with lots of young, finely grained tannins and great dark fruit that take the backseat right now. Longer, darker and warmer than the Vigna del Sorbo. Great raw material.
90-92p   (tasted 2011/12/08)

Will be back tomorrow with a follow up tasting. Have inserted the corks in the bottles and put them in the cellar.