You should buy chianti wine for its rich and complex flavor profile.
1) Fruity
Chianti wines’ ripe red fruit flavors are often described as cherry, raspberry, plum, and sometimes even strawberry. The wine’s character will depend on the grape variety used to produce it but generally speaking; you can expect this fruity quality.
2) Spicy
The spice notes of Chianti wines are most often associated with the presence of pepper, eucalyptus, and dried herbs. These flavors can be quite pronounced in some examples, but typically they’re not as forward as you might expect for a wine that is so widely known to have these characteristics.
3) Earthy
The earthy notes in Chianti wines come from the soil. Therefore, if you find your wine excessively ‘dirty’ or if there is a pervasive smell of wet earth, it could simply mean that this component has been too pronounced and not integrated well with other components.
4) Sweet
Chianti wines often have a noticeable level of sweetness to them. This is largely because they’re made from grapes grown in an area where it’s very warm and dry during grape maturation, which allows for higher levels of natural sugars in Chianti grapes when harvested.
5) Alcohol
The alcohol note in Chianti wines tends to be moderate. It might seem high initially, but the wine’s structure will usually ensure it does not taste hot or out of balance.
6) Tannin
Chianti wines typically have detectable levels of tannin. This is because Sangiovese, the predominant grape variety in Chianti, has a higher tannin level than many other red wine grape varieties.
7) Dry
Chianti wines are fairly dry, with moderate to high levels of acidity. Therefore, when you taste the wine, it should give your palate a sense that this is an unsweetened or ‘dry’ wine, even if residual sugar may be detectable in the mid-palate or aftertaste.
In conclusion, the flavor profile of Chianti wine is typically fruity, spicy, earthy, sweet, with moderate alcohol and tannin levels. It’s a diverse and well-rounded style that has something for everyone to enjoy!
