Wine Lovers' Page: Two Cheap Chiantis

Today's Wine Tasting Note

Two cheap Chiantis

These bargain-bin Chiantis offer happy evidence that it IS still possible to get decent table wines with balance and at least minimal character in the $5 range. No one would claim that they're world-class, but in comparison with the insipid U.S. wines available at this price point, they're both darned impressive.

Placido 1995 Chianti ($5.49)
Clear ruby color. Black cherries and spicy oak with a whiff of caramel. Black fruit flavor well-balanced by lemon-squirt acidity; a bit thin, but more than enough character to qualify as a bargain; great pasta/pizza quaffer. Bottled by Conte Placido, San Angelo, Italy; imported by VB Imports (Villa Banfi), Farmingdale, N.Y. (Aug. 30, 1997)

Paolo Toscano 1996 Chianti ($4.79)
Clear, rather light ruby. Pleasant berry and spice scents, nutmeg and cinnamon. Soft and juicy mixed-berry fruit well structured with tart acidity, and a pleasant bitterness in the finish. Very good value! Bottled by "SO. VI. SO.", Fildigne Valdarno, Italy; imported by La Gioiosa USA, Atlanta. (Aug. 30, 1997)

All my wine-tasting reports are consumer-oriented. In order to maintain objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest, I purchase all the wines I rate at my own expense in retail stores.

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