Which Chianti to buy

For anyone interested in wine this article has some useful recommendations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/dining/reviews/a-neighborhood-prowl-through-the-city-of-chianti.html?ref=dining&pagewanted=all&_r=0

Very helpful advice, particularly on the lasting properties of some varieties. Also, notice that prices quoted are from wine merchants in the USA. In Italy we get better prices.

The guide to Italian wine that has never let me down over the years is :- ABV 13-14%, Price €6 - €10. I have always had a good bottle no matter what region (prefer Morellino di Scansano or Primitivo) but an not averse to drinking a 5l plonk from Carrefour.

Great link, very interesting. Red wine is almost history to me as it just does not agree with me... But love a young chianti that has nothing like the 13-14% ABV... Being here in Abruzzo, obviously it's now Montepulciano d'Abruzzo if we ever dare the dark red stuff. At those prices in the USA, think I would rather drink water...

I also like the Primitivo wine. Lidl carry a very acceptable one at about E2.29 a bottle and 14%. Usually buy a dozen or so when I go there. Although they are a supermarket, they do seem to have some good wine buyers
Have had some good Montepulciano wines as well, buying them when in the area.

Our local Cantine is 5 minutes down the hill, I've seen San Lorenzo wine on sale in the USA for over $20 a bottle, same wine at the cantine is around €1.20 a bottle.. I'll put up with the occasional IT blip...  

... think we all better stock up... global wine shortage LINK

I tend to buy around the €5-6 mark.  Its difficult to get decent Chianti Classico for less than €7-8 now, although all of the supermarkets have discount drives so its possible to pick it up at €5-6 if you're in the right place at the right time.  There's a Penny Market discount store not far from Bagni di Lucca and its knocking out Primitivo at €1.95.  
Now I have'nt tried it, but plan to this summer.  We've also bought those 5L containers from a local wine supplier but we tend to find that keeping the wine for any period of time is difficult, so we bottle it ourselves and that helps to preserve it a bit longer.

I recommend you to have a look at our local Enoteca "Non solo vino". Excellent advice as well. Enoteca Bagni di Lucca

Also try the 'La Vineria' on the SS12 just past Borgo Mozzano excellent wine from the 'Petrol Pump' and cheep too.

Hi Flip.  Yep, thats where we get the 5L containers.  Love the petrol pump style.  A wine pump, now thats something worth having!

Sfuso wine is great, but I don't think it keeps too well. If you have a cantine near by, then they will sell much cheaper and better wine, well we have many, many here that do.

Sfuso wine.  Thanks for that Steve.  If I track any down I'll let you know.

Sfuso wine does not keep well; however, if you get a good provider and you like it, it is great for daily use. For wines worth storing , you have to look at 13% alcohol volume. And you also need to store them for a long time. The guy at the Enoteca can tell you which are the right ones to store. Avoid temptations, keep them for 10 years properly stored... and enjoy them!

... Chris, try to get to Cantine Aperta next year and try lots of wines. Forget the so called experts (except of course for storing advice) as it's you that is drinking it and it's your taste and preferences that count!

Thanks Steve.  I've made a note of this in my calendar for 2015.