Signature Sunday: Banfi Chianti Classico

In this recent post, I mentioned that I picked up several bottles of wine. One of them was a Banfi Chianti Classico from 2014 that I wanted to try. What initially caught my eye at the warehouse was its price. At $14.49, it was about $10 cheaper than I have ever seen a bottle of Chianti Classico in the country. I also liked the image on the front of the bottle. The Renaissance painting was a bit of a romantic one depicting a man and woman meeting in front of a pope. (Although online, I later learn that this marriage is an unhappy one.)

The notes on the back of the bottle held my interest. It reads, “A pleasingly smooth and satisfying red wine, made from the grapes of the acclaimed Chianti Classico region, well-balanced and structured with pleasing aromas of cherry and plum. It is a perfect match to hearty stews and grilled meats.” For those three reasons, I added it to my cart that evening.

On Monday night, I made my pasta specialty of penne pasta with sauteed red pepper, zucchini, spinach and grape tomatoes in a light tomato sauce, topped with a bit of Perdue Short Cuts Original Roasted Chicken this time, and decided to open this bottle.

I liked that it was a beautiful deep red color in the glass.

After giving it a swirl, I thought it smelled strongly of fruit, possibly cherry, and predicted it would taste like the fruity Chianti Da Vinci or like many Merlots out there. I was surprised that I didn’t find it fruity, but smooth instead. This is the smoothest Chianti that I have ever had! It almost goes down too well… It tasted like the dry still medium-bodied wine I love and have become accustomed to. My online research informed me that the notes were of “cherry and leather.” I am not a wine snob (yet!) or simply do not have a sensitive palate, but I do not get these flavors. It might taste like cherry first, sure, and then it evolves just a bit. The wine is not overly complex with strong notes. It also has a bit of a finish as well. Even though there are no outstanding flavors to me, nothing about it is light or weak. I have to agree with the adjectives on the back label, especially “smooth” and “well-balanced.” It reminds me of Bolla Chianti which had always been my go-to before and I can easily purchase from my local liquor store. I consider my new wine to be more smooth than that one. Even though I have been drinking wine for a dozen years now, starting at age 20 (turning 21) while studying abroad in Italy, I seriously think it’s the first wine that I tasted and thought, “That’s my favorite.” Plus, everything I read on any website recommends pairing it with “red-sauced pasta, grilled meats and roasts.” Honestly, I tend to eat those first two options most often. Since I’m such a lightweight and do not enjoy feeling tipsy or out-of-control, I prefer to eat while I am drinking. In addition, I approve of the price point of $15, which for wine, is considered cheap in general. I look forward to buying more bottles of this one! I anticipate sharing it as it may be a crowd-pleaser…

Banfi Chianti Classico is definitely my new signature red wine.

Have you tried it before?