1998 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico

[RAD]

Steer clear of this one. My first bad 1998.

Bright ruby color. Typical chianti nose with cherry and some earthiness. The palate is another story, however, where tartness and cherry-flavored water predominate, followed by a brush with tannins. WS gives this a quite liberal 82--perhaps Jim Suckling was looking out over the Tuscan hills with a few glasses in him when he doled this rating out.

I enjoyed the 1997. About $13 here in NYC.

RAD

[Thomas]

RAD, check out the Chianti advertising dollars that go into the rag--might be a clue there!!!!!!!!!

[RAD]

Unfortunately, there's a sentimental attachment here. My wife and I visited Volpaia and other wineries in the Chianti region on our honeymoon in 1999. So I'll probably keep going back. 1999 is supposed to be a better year...

RAD