The purity of fruit here really makes an impression on you. The nose shines with freshly picked blackcurrants, dark plums, freshly cut herbs, cinnamon, raspberry cheesecake, glazed cherries, orange and lemon rind. The palate is so well-crafted with a silky ball of tannins surrounded by layers of blue and red fruit and enveloping acidity. A long finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold.

The 2015 Chianti Classico is rocking stuff that shows the warmer style of the vintage yet stays fresh, vibrant, and even elegant. Almost opaque ruby-hued, with gorgeous notes of ripe cherries, kirsch, white pepper, licorice, tar, and violets, I’d almost guess Nebbiolo blind off the nose. This carries to a ripe, medium to full-bodied, rich, beautifully concentrated Chianti that pretty much just knocks it out of the park. If you like the richer side of Sangiovese made with class and elegance, don’t miss this. It should cruise for 10-15 years in cold cellars.

100% Sangiovese, fermented in stainless steel and matured for 24 months in French oak barriques. This is one of Tuscany’s under-the-radar wines, as Giovanni Manetti treats this classico as a riserva in all but name. A cool, elegant, built-to-last style, which has all the hallmarks of great claret.

This is a great vintage for Sangiovese, and Fontodi embraces this fact with exuberance and enthusiasm. The 2015 Chianti Classico offers tight and precise fruit characteristics with crisp forest berry, cassis and dried blueberry. The wine is profoundly steady and straight with absolutely no rough edges. This is a lean to mid-weight red with balanced acidity tucked in on the finish. - Monica Larner