Two More 1997´s From Tuscany

I keep diminishing my stash of bottles from this fine vintage. These went well with a grilled steak, owen roasted root vegetables and a red wine sauce.

1997 Chianti Classico Riserva, San Giusto a Rentennano
An ample, mature, round nose with notes of boiled black cherries, undergrowth, old leather and heaps of pipe tobacco. Very good but a bit in-your-face. A fine warmth though.
The taste is spicy, warm and mature with notes of ripe black cherries, mushrooms, liquorice and sweet tobacco. A long, warm finish. A bit loose around the edges but holds up nicely over the evening.
87p   (tasted 2015/09)

1997 Vigneto Le Contessine, Le Macchiole
This Bolgheri bottle displays all the great things that I associate with the 1997 vintage (that so many have wrongly labeled as fast maturing, over the top wines, see links below for an array of great 97´s).
The nose is deep, pure and fascinating with its still vibrant cherry fruit and additional notes of rosemary, violets, Tuscan gravel and a tiny, complex scent of cow feces in a distance... Very, very fine. Some maturity but this has a long way to go.
The taste is tight, warm and inviting with notes of perfectly ripe cherries, violets, dried herbs, raspberry liquorice and sunwarm gravel. A long, velvety finish with a fine acidity and a lovely dry ending. A very fine wine indeed.
94p   (tasted 2015/09)

Brunello´s from 1997
Tuscan greats from 1997