This red starts out supple, revealing cherry, blackberry, violet and spice flavors. There's a line of dusty tannins underneath, yet this is balanced and long in the end. Best from 2025 through 2039. 16,600 cases made, 5,000 cases imported.

The stony, metallic nose is all graphite, pencil shavings, pennies and topsoil with subtle fruit aromas of cherry skin and orange peel scorched quickly to release its essential oil. Juicier cherries on the palate are still traced by graphite and crushed soil, held together with tightly wound tannins.

A much darker crimson color, the 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva is more forward with its oak profile at this youthful stage, with notes of toasted cedar, black licorice, black cherry, and woodsy forest herbs. Full-bodied, this profile continues to the palate with ripe tannins and good underlying freshness, its oak still hovering a bit on the finish as well. I imagine the oak will integrate to a certain extent, and the wine is likely to show its best in another couple of years. Drink 2025-2037.