Castello Di Gabbiano Bellezza Chianti Classico 2012 Wine Review

Castello Di Gabbiano Bellezza Chianti Classico 2012

Tuscany D.O.C.G., Italy

Community Score:91/100

Community Reviews: 21

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Price: $44.95

Drink: 2015-2023

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Castello di Gabbiano

Agent: Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits

Natalie's Score: 93/100

Here's a knock-out Italian red that is at once robust and flavourful yet ultra-smooth and refined. All the elements have come together in this wine including a spectacular vintage. Aromas of dark fruit and smoke. Pair with rare steak.

Perfect Pasta and Tomato Sauce Wine

This Castello Di Gabbiano Bellezza Chianti Classico 2012 was reviewed on July 9, 2016 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2011

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Pricing & Stock Information

LCBO
158229
$44.95
Check Stock

BCLDB
780486
$33.34
Check Stock

AGLC
745669
$30.69

Reviews and Ratings

Bill Wright Sommelier rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Full bodied Italian red that balanced, complex and refined. Aromas of dark fruit and smoke. This is a fine wine on its own or paired with rare steak. Tasted Jan 31/16

Valérie Dufour - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

I smelled it and thought immediately: mozza meatballs in tomato sauce. I think I was Italian in another parallel universe and I am pretty sure I lived in Tuscany and my first name was Sangiovese! Nice cherry nose with lots of spices. Crisp wine with length and a finale on fruit and bitterness. Delicious. Complex.

Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Castello di Gabbiano's Bellezza Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is a fine example of the premium Sangiovese blended wines Chianti Classio is loved for. Bellezza means 'beauty' and this certainly is a beautiful wine. Layers of dark and dried fruits, plum, sweet spice, and a hint of leather greet the palate. It's polished and refined, all parts are working in harmony to produce a velvety smooth and complex blend that would pair beautifully with rich pasta dishes. Tasted January and February 2016. 92+ points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Dark burgundy with lots of smoke and spice up front, followed by sweet violets, smoked meat, vanilla, earthiness, and black cherry. Lots of rounded tannins in the mouth, and a taste of dusty herbs and ripe dark red cherries. The acidity is substantial. This wine will air with a ride range of meat dishes, but probably best with an herd rubbed rare roast beef.

Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby, good intensity on the nose with dark cherry, berry, toasty oak, spice and dried herb and light floral notes. Medium full bodied, ripe dark cherry, berry, cedar, chocolate, spice and dried herb. Good complexity and oak influence along with velvety tannins and juicy acidity and a long finish. Herb crusted prime rib roast or osso bucco would be nice. Drink now or hold short term and drink over the next ten years.
Tasted January 2016
Tasted again February 2016 at Gabbiano winemakers lunch - notes and score consistent, if not even more impressed with this excellent offering from Castello di Gabbiano.

Craig Kuziemsky rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Smoky, spicy red fruit on the nose with the palate offering black cherry, earth, tobacco and chocolate. Wonderfully structured wine with a great complexity.

Cora Beaulieu rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

This is Chianti is Ruby Red in color. It has fairly obvious aromas of earthy wood/oak, savory spices and herbs, in addition hints of lavender, anise, red berries, cherry and tobacco. Is medium-full bodied, flavorful, solidly structured, and rich on the palate with firm tannins. Tastes of marzipan and ripe fig/currant fruit, black cherries, plumy fruits, dried herbs, espresso, and sweet tobacco. Terrific complexity, great acidity, brilliant length with chocolate and spice on the finish.

Jon Steeves - Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

A wonderful authentic Chianti Classico Gran Selezione from Castello Di Gabbiano, ruby red with a hint of garnet, 14.5% ABV. Bursting with aromatics of cola, ripe cherry, red field berry, dried fruit, leather, baking spice and savoury herbs. Full bodied, well balanced, well integrated fruit, medium acidity and medium plus tannins. A pleasure to taste, this wine is ready to enjoy now or cellar until 2022. Pair this Tuscan beauty with your favourite tuscan delight, such as antipasti, firm cheese, a Florentine steak, or grilled vegetables. Tasted Jan 2016 and Feb 2016. @jonsteeves

Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

A rich, voluptuous red made from single-vineyard 100% Sangiovese. Bellezza is the nickname for the vineyard where the grapes for this wine grow, reflecting their quality and importance for Gabbiano.
The winemaker describes Bellezza as "having a Tuscan soul, but produced in a new way". He refers to the use of new French oak barriques for aging 14-16 mos, then continued aging in the bottle. The resulting fragrant wine shows ripe cherries, plums, vanilla, spice and pepper, then the palate gives a little more oak. Full-bodied, smooth well-integrated mouthfeel with silky tannins leads to an elegant complex finish.
This wine can age well for more than 12 years, or can be enjoyed now.

Trevor Sabourin - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Incredible, fresh bouquet of perfectly ripe dark cherries and blackberries, intense violet, sage, sweet black olive, vanilla, sweet tobacco, espresso and just a touch of earth. Full-bodied, with medium-high acidity and tannins, and already supple and integrated. Long finish of pure black fruit and violet. Gorgeous.

David Skinner rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Medium garnet core and lightly bricked rim. Clean and bright. Spice and dried cranberry with stewed plums and hints of sweet vanilla on the nose. Full bodied and firm tannins with nice acidity. Dark fruit, nuts and smoke play a role on the tongue but the barrel still dominates. A lengthy finish where the oak gives way to a nice dried fruit flavour. This wine is great now but will improve with some time to settle the tannin-fruit balance.

Pair this with lamb shanks slow cooked with root veggies.

Nick Onischuk - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

The Gabbiano Bellezza Chianti Classico 2012 is a beautiful full bodied red wine. Nice aromas of blackberry, dark berry fruit and spice. A must try wine! Tasted on January 31, 2016 (91/100)

Mymi Thesingingsommelier - Sommelier, FWS rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

The Castello di Gabbiano estate is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region in Tuscany. The historical “castello” dates back from the 12th century but has been restored into a spectacular hotel which includes its own restaurant, a swimming pool, as well as the winery itself and over 100 hectares of vines and olive groves. All the winemaking work is done on the premises so guests also witness the whole process from picking grapes to bottling.
Belleza means beauty and this wine is the embodiment of a true Belleza! Only the most sublime grapes from a 9 hectare, high altitude, single vineyard end up in this wine. With a ten to fifteen year ageing potential created by 70 year old vines and impeccable winemaking, the beauty of this wine is seriously “almost” ageless.
Deep ruby red in color. Fresh, earthy and opulent on the nose with cranberry compote, stewed strawberry, balsamic vinegar, dried mint, forest flor and dried herb aromas.
Dry but very ample on the mouth with muscular tannins and a zingy acidity. Red and black fruit, toasted wood, touch of almond extract, Mexican vanilla and a hint of savouriness.
WOW

Monique Sosa - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A bold Gran Riserva Chianti that offers quite the finesse! Clean complex pronounced aromas include: ripe cherry, figs, baking spices, dark chocolate and tobacco. The flavours reflect the nose and are equally pronounced with ripe fruit concentration. Acidiy, sweetness, acohol and tannins all balance elegantly on the palate. This wine is full bodied with a satiny smooth mouthfeel and a long scrumptious finish. Enjoy this wine with a prime rib roast. Tasted Jan 2016.

Gwen Barton rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Loved the complex nose on this chianti- rich chocolate and tobacco notes with some earthiness and leather coming through. When I finally allowed myself to taste it - it did not disappoint. Big tannins with dark fruit, herbs and mild spices. Would love to be sitting in Tuscany with a slice of pizza!

Lynn van der Linde - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Enticing aromas of smoke, blueberries, earthiness, and hints of eucalyptus, with a persistent spicy finish. Wonderfully rounds tannins, will continue to soften in the bottle if you lay this one down for a few more years.
Tasted January 2016.

Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Dark fruit, spice, cedar oak and some pepper mingle on the nose. Spice and berry mingle on the palate long with bright acid and some soft tannin. Lovely, long finish. Enjoy with a range of dishes, but would be great with a steak, or to enjoy with cheese and charcuterie.

Terry Jeans - Certified S rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A very elegant Chianti classico, that is full-bodied and smooth. Ripe dark cherries, spice and oak on the nose with high tannins, makes this an incredible food friendly wine. Worth keeping a few years to see of the tannins mellow out. Pair with a meaty, spicy pizza.

Adam Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Not everyone is willing to get to this price point with Chianti, but I will! This wine has everything you need, acidity that fires straight through the palate carrying the fruit and tannins all the way back to the jaw and then bites. I love wines that have a delayed attack to point that you give your head a shake. This is not pizza wine folks, a term I don't particularly enjoy. Remember big wine needs big food, I recommend veal, rabbit...or take some time and braise something.this is serious wine!

Emilie Ryan rated this wine as 83/100 with the following review:

A good Chianti Classico but a little overpriced…
Presentation: Elegant, stately, sophisticated.
Appearance: Light-medium ruby, a little orange tinge on the outer edges
Nose: Leather, wood, crayons
Taste: Leather, wood, anise, very tannic.
Finish: Leather and strong tannins.
Overall impression: Good, but needs food, like a hearty lasagna, four-cheese pizza or gnocchi in red sauce
Value: 2 out of 5

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Castello Di Gabbiano Bellezza Chianti Classico 2012 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 93/100

Pricing & Stock Information