Wines of Chianti, compared head to head

Tosco Melini's Chianti Superiore DOCG at €8.61 and Frescobaldi's vino liquoroso at €8.36 are jockeying for position with nearly identical scores, but their profiles are quite different. If you are looking for a versatile red that can accompany a bistecca or aged cheeses, the Melini, with its score of 8.6 at the table, is your ally. For a sweet white to serve at the end of the meal, only with desserts and aged cheeses, the Frescobaldi, with its precise grounding in Colli Fiorentini, will do the job, even though its table score remains lower at 7.4.

Tosco The Melini Chianti DOCG Riserva at €7.55 stands out for you if you are looking for long aging of at least 24 months and extended maceration, with a value-for-money rating of 8.1, despite more limited pairings. The Melini Chianti Superiore DOCG, at €8.61, relies on greater versatility at the table (8.6) and a sharper typicity thanks to Sangiovese Grosso, but its minimum 9-month aging and lack of distinction make it less accomplished. Between these two Melinis, it all depends on your priority: the depth of the Riserva or the flexibility of pairings of the Superiore.

Tosco Two Tuscan reds at nearly identical prices (around €8), but very different profiles: the Melini Chianti DOCG Riserva relies on the classic Sangiovese cherry and violet, with long traditional winemaking (24 months of aging) that makes it ideal for a red meat or game meal. The Frescobaldi Vino liquoroso, on the other hand, is a more unusual amber white made from Trebbiano and Malvasia, with notes of dried fruit and honey, designed to end the meal with a dessert or aged cheeses. If Melini offers a better value for money (8.1 versus 7.6) thanks to its extended maceration, Frescobaldi wins on typicity thanks to its precise Colli Fiorentini sub-zone, but its use remains limited: choose according to the occasion, knowing that neither has recognized distinctions.

Tosco The overall score is nearly identical, but the Chianti Superiore DOCG – Melini wins for the table: its versatility at 8.6 and its price of €8.61 make it smarter for a varied dinner, without official distinction. Facing it, the Chianti DOCG – Castello Monsanto, 2021 vintage, stands out for its more detailed winemaking (6–12 months of aging) and a firmly established producer, but its value-for-money rating of 7.4 and its €11.71 price suit those curious about the estate. In short, choose Melini for budget and flexibility, Monsanto if the producer's identity matters more than the economy.

Tosco The two Frescobaldi wines show exactly the same scores, 7.7, on identical criteria, so the choice comes down to price and format. The 75 cl bottle at €46 is simpler for a table of four or six, but its reliability is average because the 2020 ratings do not cover the 2022 vintage offered, a real point of caution. The €93 version, on the other hand, shows high reliability and its 1.5 L large format works out to €46.39 per 75 cl, which makes it clever for a large meal or an occasion that justifies the purchase, despite a heavier upfront outlay. If your budget is tight and you accept the vintage gap, go for the small one; otherwise, the large one, reliable and more generous at the table, is my pick for a group.