2015 castagnoli chianti classico riserva review

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(as of Jan 06, 2025 17:40:19 UTC - Details)

“An important new book on Chianti Classico: Winners of the André Simon 2013 award for their book The World of Sicilian Wine, Nesto and Di Savino have produced the investigative, scholarly and detailed book that Chianti Classico has long deserved. Nesto and Di Savino are brilliant historic investigators. . . . A must-read for anyone seriously interested in wine.”—Walter Speller, JancisRobinson.com

This book tells the story of the ancient land named Chianti and the modern wine appellation known as Chianti Classico. In 1716, Tuscany’s penultimate Medici ruler, Cosimo III, anointed the region of Chianti, along with three smaller areas in the Florentine State, as the world’s first legal appellations of origin for wine. In the succeeding centuries, this milestone was all but forgotten. By the late nineteenth century, the name Chianti, rather than signifying this historic region and its celebrated wine, identified a simple Italian red table wine in a straw-covered flask.
 
In the twenty-first century, Chianti Classico emerged as one of Italy’s most dynamic and fashionable wine zones. Chianti Classico relates the fascinating evolution of Chianti as a wine region and reveals its geographic and cultural complexity. Bill Nesto, MW, and Frances Di Savino explore the townships of Chianti Classico and introduce readers to the modern-day winegrowers who are helping to transform the region. The secrets of Sangiovese, the principal vine variety of Chianti, are also revealed as the book unlocks the myths and mysteries of one of Italy’s most storied wine regions. The publication of Chianti Classico coincides with the three hundredth anniversary of the Medici decree delimiting the region of Chianti on September 24, 1716.

Winner of the following awards:
2016 André Simon Food & Drink Book Award: Drink Books Category
2017 International Organization of Vines and Wine: Jury Award, Monographs
2017 International World Cookbook Awards: Sustainable, For the Public Category
2017 Gourmand International World Cookbook Awards: Drink Special Awards Category

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0520284429
Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; First Edition (September 20, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 360 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780520284425
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520284425
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.8 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 1.2 x 10 inches
Reviewer: Alexander G. Murray
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Scholarly and Passionate Exploration of Chianti Classico
Review: Full Disclosure: I have known both authors for many years and consider them friends. Bill Nesto was a colleague until 2009, and I have spent my entire career (since the early 1980s), working in the wine trade. I purchased my copy of their book on Amazon.com. That said, I will attempt to give as objective a review of their work as I can. My goal is to outline the reasons why this book may or may not be of interest to anyone who wants to find out more about this subject.This book examines Chianti Classico from many different angles: a historical perspective, the science and techniques used in grape growing and winemaking, and profiles of some of the producers making wines that are making wines reflective of the vineyards of origin. Each of these subjects requires a different kind of writing, and the authors have done an admirable job of adjusting their writing style to address each. They draw on many historical documents, ranging from announcements of laws, maps, letters from historical figures and art to create a composite image of the forces that shaped Chianti Classico over its long history. In the grape growing and winemaking chapters, they make technical terms and concepts easy enough to understand that even a reader with limited prior knowledge can grasp them. For the producer profiles, they balance their intimate knowledge of the producers and the consulting enologists who have assisted them with as much objectivity as they can, mostly through conducting as much blind tasting (where the taster does not know the identity of the producer when tasting), as possible, which allows them to measure each wine against others of the same type without being influenced either by a producer's reputation or by whatever personal relationship they may have with a producer. The last chapter, which addresses a series of "bandi" or legal decrees the authors brought to light, reads like a detective novel, and contains ground-breaking research that has not been previously published, and which is germane to the view of Chianti Classico that the world should have going forward (as the authors convincingly argue).The most remarkable aspect of this book, and the one that makes it a compelling read, is the way the authors have sought to humanize their subject. They explain the goals and motivations of those throughout history who have shaped Chianti Classico's history, as well as the passion with which producers today make wines that reflect their origins. This means that even a reader with little prior knowledge will find the book interesting to read, though it will require these readers to follow carefully each chapter. For those with more wine knowledge, this book offers much new information and a rich composite view of one of the world's great wine regions.One note here about the author's tasting notes, for those readers who may want to use the book to guide them in wine purchasing choices: The authors' tasting notes reflect an interest in identifying wines that show good structure and balance, and which have flavor attributes that identify them as being different from wines from other producers and other parts of Chianti Classico. Wines that show "flattering characteristics," such as a jammy fruit component from using very ripe grapes, or which contain pronounced new oak vanilla and toast characteristics, but which lack structure and balance, do not generally do well in the author's reviews. You also won't find a lot of flowery descriptive terms. You will find useful notes about each producer's style, the grape varieties used and viticultural and winemaking techniques, and tasting notes that reflect their estimation of each wine's quality and ageworthiness.On the balance, this is one of the finest books on wine I've ever read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to find out more about Chianti Classico and all the factors, human and land-based, that have contributed to the formation of one of the world's great wine regions.

Reviewer: John K. Gayley
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Highly informative book on Chianti Classico
Review: If you're a Chianti-Classico geek, or even an ardent enthusiast, this book is probably a "must" (all pun intended) for your bookshelf. Its just jam-packed with information--about the history of Chianti Classico, its evolution, its struggles, modern trends in marketing, winemaking and viticulture. The authors come at the subject from a variety of interrelated angles, making this probably the most complete book I've ever seen on the subject. I'll be returning to it often.As another reviewer noted in passing, the authors are not without their points of view on recent trends in the district--both good and bad. On the other hand, they are fairly balanced and don't push their opinions up your nose in any way. However, the discerning reader will note--especially in their discussions of individual wineries--where some of their preferences lie in terms of style and philosophy.No book can remain up-to-date forever. The Chianti Classico district continues to evolve, obviously, as do winemakers' and viticulturists' thoughts on how to proceed. And, if you've been involved in either. you know that every growing season and vintage deals you a different set of cards. Indeed, I have been following a number of these winemakers on social media and know how much they continue to experiment. So many of the individual winery descriptions and tasting notes are current as of 2014-15, but not beyond that. Keeping up with Gambero Rosso and other annual reviews will help you stay current on tends for the years beyond that.The historical and evolutionary information, on the other hand, may be all you'll ever need on these subjects, and offer their own fascination about historical winemaking, commerce, and the uniquely tuscan setting. The epilogue of the book is a case in point: it details the authors' investigation into the mysterious disappearance or concealment of a Medici decree in 1716 that seems to clearly delineate the boundaries of the chianti classico region...something that would have, at the right time, mitigated much conflict.My only quibbles with the book: 1.) its a pretty dispassionate--almost dry--read. Facts and information are jammed on every page. There is no question the authors know the subject backward and forward and are enthusiastic advocates. Unfortunately, that enthusiasm didn't translate into a sparkling prose style. 2.) while the book isn't intended as a "glossy", some further illustrations, winemaker portraits, or shots of the relevant districts would not have been unwelcome. And probably better maps. As I went through their regional descriptions, I found it useful if not necessary to have at my fingertips the Chianti Classico Consortium's map of the district, as well as more detailed maps of specific communes that were published over the past 20 years by Alessandro Masnaghetti/Enogea.That aside, the authors have done Chianti Classico lovers a true service by taking this on.

Reviewer: Paul Quaglini
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Must read for Italian wine geeks
Review: Very informative and indepth explanation of one of Italy's most iconic but often misunderstood wines. Enjoyable read! Thank you Mr Nesto.

Reviewer: Paolo Pellizzari
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Ultimate CC book
Review: Extremely well written book, tons of accurate information.

Reviewer: Kim Wescott
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Beautiful
Review: Very nice book.

Reviewer: debby lai
Rating: 1.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A large chunk of ......?
Review: I had a really hard time going through this book. The layout is terrible: really long and extremely boring paragraphs describing useless facts and often-meaningless sentences..... Try this: "Giovanni Dalmasso, the architect of the Fornaciari Commission's 1932 delimitation of Chianti, was the enological expert for the convegno. His presence loomed large for the Chiantigiani." ........The authors clearly lack the talent of storytelling. I truly doubt if any one would get any knowledge enhanced about Chianti wines. No wonder Nicolas Belfrage commented about the book as like reading a large chunk of Italian social and economic history over a period of centuries.

Reviewer: klaus40
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Das Buch ist für heutige Leser harter Tobak. Eng bedruckt, nur Text. Sehr interessant, wenn man wirklich vor Ort ist, und die "Skizzen" nachvollziehen kann.