Batàr 2010 75cl

Toasty, displaying vanilla, clove, nutmeg, butterscotch and baked apple flavors. Balanced, this is rich in texture, with a long finish. Needs some air to blossom. Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc. Drink now through 2016. 1,080 cases made. –BS

The 2010 Batar wraps around the palate with juicy peaches, apricots, flowers, spices and French oak. This is a decidedly ripe, opulent style for a cold year. Querciabella has made gigantic strides with their Sangiovese program over the last few years; perhaps that is why this Pinot Blanc/Chardonnay blend seems a bit stuck in the past. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2014. Querciabella is located in the hillsides of Greve, one of the most beautiful corners of Chianti Classico. Proprietor Sebastiano Cossia Castiglione, one of the most thoughtful and conscientious owners in Italy, has quietly sought to ramp up the quality of his wines in a big way. Castiglione has enlisted the services of Vietti's Luca Currado to help him reach a number of ambitious goals. Recently acquired vineyards that give birth to single-village wines will start appearing in the estate's lineup as soon as next year. These new releases are a step in a new direction, although 2010 was not the easiest of years, especially for the reds. The estate did not make its flagships Camartina and Palafreno in 2009.