Castagnoli - Chianti Classico 2016 (750ml)

The 2016 Chianti Classico offers a super-appealing combination of dense, pliant fruit and supporting structure. Succulent red cherry, white pepper, mint and dried flowers all flesh out in the glass. Ideally, readers should plan on cellaring the 2016 for at least a few years. This is a very serious wine.

The Rocca di Castagnoli 2016 Chianti Classico offers balanced spice and dark fruit. It does a great job of facing these two elements off one another. The bouquet shows sweet tones of ripe cherry, blackberry and plum. A second wave of aromas delivers spice, leather and tobacco. This is a mid-weight blend of 90% Sangiovese with 10% Canaiolo and Colorino that is enormously attractive to drink right now. It's also an incredible value (with 250,000 bottles made). I actually liked this base wine more than the two top-shelf releases.