The 2008 Chianti Classico Querciabella is a very pretty, attractive wine laced with fragrant red fruit. This is a finely knit, small scaled vintage of the Querciabella with beautiful balance and a long, harmonious finish. A beautifully delineated, crystalline finish rounds out this wine that shows the more delicate, Burgundian side of Sangiovese. I hope readers can appreciate just how hard it must have been to make a wine of this level from biodynamically farmed vineyards with minimum intervention in the very challenging 2008 harvest. The Querciabella is 95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016. Querciabella has been on a roll over the last few years. I can’t say enough good things about these wines, all of which merit your serious consideration. Querciabella doesn’t make a big deal about the fact that their vineyards are now biodynamically farmed, but then again they don’t have to?the wines speak for themselves. Importer: Maison Marques & Domaines, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000

A juicy, rich wine, offering lots of fruit. Full and velvety, with sliced plum and chocolate flavors. A big Chianti Classico. Needs a little time to mellow. Best after 2010. 11,665 cases made, 3,335 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Chianti Classico Select to Add

This youthful and fruit-forward Chianti Classico is balanced and fresh with bright berry and raspberry aromas that give it a cheerful, bright personality. The wine is fresh and zesty on the close and would pair with creamy vegetable risotto. ——M.L.(4/1/2011)—— 89