Chianti Rufina Cedro Riserva 2009

This wine is a source of argument and I must admit that with the winery's enologist our discussions were quite sharp, even if marked by the highest esteem and irony. I do not think that a wine called Cedro (cedar) can justify the 'wagon load' of woodiness in the nose. While it is true that this version was not the definitive, it was much like the 2008 and so some doubts remain. And this is a real shame because the wine has potential. The grapes were excellent and well-worked but their presence has to scream out from under its aromatic shroud made up of toasted, spicy and sweet scents produced by the wood. Scents of ripe cherry, blackberry and blueberry are among those that make it through the shroud. The taste is intense and compact and the tannic mass is not bitter. In fact, the tannis are quite polished and the finish is significant, even if at the back of the throat an excessive spiciness returns. We hope it will improve with age but it remains without a doubt a wine with great personality even if it does split opinions.