Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva

Dry, savory and elegant. This is a medium- to full-bodied Chianti Classico Riserva with ripe red fruit and a silky texture. The nose shows marasca cherry, plum and red currant, with tobacco, cocoa and a balsamic, minty lift. The palate brings cherry and wild berries, with sweet spice and cedar. Oak aging adds gentle toast. The tannins are sweet and supple, the acidity is fresh, and the finish is long and savory.

The Antinori family first made Villa Antinori in 1928, as a Chianti Classico built to age. The Riserva reinterprets that historic label at the family’s Antinori nel Chianti Classico winery. It is mostly Sangiovese, with a small share of complementary varieties, traditionally Cabernet Sauvignon. The blend is aged mostly in large oak casks, with some time in used barriques. It is bottled at roughly 13.5–14% ABV in a 750 mL bottle.

Enjoyable now, it will develop over five to eight years. Serve with bistecca, mushroom risotto or aged pecorino.