This past Shabbat I enjoyed the latest release from Terra di Seta, the 2015 Terra di Seta Riserva (PLEASE STOP spelling it Reserve), and yes it was sold out, but now it is back in stock, but I would buy ASAP as you cannot keep these darn wines in stock. I have a new idea for Terra di Seta, produce double the quantity going forward because we can never get enough of any of it!

Since I was finally trying the 2015 Terra di Seta Riserva I thought I would taste it side by side with other Italian wines. Sadly, none of them came close to the TDS’s quality. Two of them tasted like oxidized date juice while the 2018 Cantina Giuliano Chianti may well be the first wine from this winery that I would buy, it was close anyway. I also tried an Israeli wine that GG (Gabriel Geller) kvelled about and sadly I cannot join him in his praise.

Finally, I once again opened a bottle of the 2016 Chateau Royaumont and WOW is it fun, it is a bit ripe but it really is well balanced.

What can I say, Royal Wines keep on killing it with QPR options that are top-notch! The wine notes follow below – the explanation of my “scores” can be found here:

2016 Chateau Royaumont – Score: 92 (QPR Star)
This wine is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. This is perfume heaven, this is what I want from Merlot, bright fruit, ripeness that is under control, with rich minerality, and lovely earth. The nose on this wine is lovely, ripe, bright, controlled, Merlot perfume, with the green and tart notes of the Cabernet Franc, bringing this nose altogether, with dark plum, graphite, earth, and loads of black fruit. The mouth on this medium-bodied wine has it all, the ripeness is there, get over it, but it is so beautifully balanced, with great acid, loads of mouth draping, elegant, and coating tannin, followed by blackberry, dark plum, rich mineral, lovely earth, tart, and juicy strawberry, with green notes, forest floor, and foliage/garrigue. The finish is long, green, ripe, balanced, with tart juicy fruit, elegance, lovely mushroom, smoke, and hints of tar. WOW! Bravo!! Drink from 2021 until 2030.

2015 Terra di Seta, Riserva, Chianti Classico – Score: 92 to 93 (QPR Superstar)
The nose on this wine is pure heaven, showing floral notes, dried mint, oregano, with more herbs, mushroom heaven, forest floor, and earth, with red and black fruit galore, wow. The mouth on the beautiful full-bodied wine is what I want from all wines, a clear game plan, fruit-focus, rich acidity, clear fruit, and an overall mouthfeel that is draping, elegant, and yet breathtaking, with so much acid it will take your breath away, with blackberry, dark cherry, cassis, and hints of currants and raspberry, with loads of more mushrooms, all backed by gripping tannin that is a bit harsh to start, with smoke, and bramble. The finish is long, green, earthy, mineral-driven, and acid backed, with crazy tobacco, herb central, and coffee all working together, with green notes that linger forever. Bravo!!! Drink from 2021 until 2028.

2017 Borgo Bella Chianti – Score: 75 (Mevushal)
I had high hopes, I keep dreaming of a world of kosher Chianti. Sadly, this wine is mulled, cooked, and really flat. There are fruit and some acidity, but the overall profile is cooked and date-like.

2014 Recanati Merlot, Reserve, Manara Vineyard – Score: 90
This wine has clear Israeli roots but it has a solid base in older world wines, it is well controlled, albeit a clear American oak profile that screams with sweet dill, but no obvious cedar notes that are out of balance. The nose on this wine is ripe, with dark cherry, plum, smoke, anise, mint, and green notes mixed well with black fruit and earth. The mouth on this medium to full-bodied wine is rich, a bit too ripe for me and this too will move to a place I will not like in maybe 2 years or sooner, but rich, well made, with clear ripeness, too much sweet dill, along with clear sweet cedar, blackberry, plum, good acidity that is slow to show, with loam, mineral, green notes, and yeah more sweet cedar, all wrapped in a nice mouth-coating tannin. The finish is long, green, earthy, with black notes, ripe fruit, loads of tobacco, more cedar, and dark chocolate, with garrigue, and heather. Nice enough. Drink by 2022 maybe 2021.

2015 Borgo Reale Chianti Riserva – Score: 75 (Mevushal)
Once again, I had hoped, it may not be a Chianti Classico, like terra di Seta, but it is a Riserva and you can sense that oak. Sadly, this is cooked and essentially oxidized. Sadly, you can sense the Chianti behind that wall of oak and cooked fruit. The nose is cooked with the classic notes of earth, red cherry fruit, dark notes in the background, with loam, and fennel, along with roasted herb, and spices. The mouth on this cooked wine is ripe, with red fruit, smoke, loads of oak, with spices, and nice acidity. The finish is long, ripe, sweet, and cooked. Sad.

2018 Cantino Giuliano Chianti – Score: 89
The nose on this wine is ripe but controlled, with green and red fruit, followed by Chianti roasted herbs, bright cherry fruit, and lovely smoke, nice. The mouth on medium-bodied wine is fresh, ripe, and well-balanced, with ripe dark plum, with a sharp tension of bracing acid and clingy tannin that gives way to earth, loam, and foliage, more herb, Oregano, rosemary, and loads of dark currants. The finish is long, green, and red with loads of foliage, roasted notes, toast, and bright red fruit and clingy tannin lingering long. Very nice! Drink until 2023.