The 1999 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is now showing amazing depth and complexity with a never-ending succession of pressed rose, licorice, balsam herb and cherry cola aromas. Small hints of rosemary and wild sage also lift from the bouquet. The vintage saw a mild spring and a hot summer season that made for full fruit ripeness. Indeed, the wine offers a good dose of berry fruit that is a sign of how well it has aged over the years. In the mouth, this older vintage of Rancia presents a fine and silky texture.

The brilliant 1999 Chianti Classico Rancia requires 1-3 more years of bottle age. Revealing a deep garnet/ruby/purple color as well as a tightly-knit personality, it offers notes of leather, black cherries, currants, earth, and compost. In the mouth, there is considerable depth, medium to full body, moderately high tannin, and a firm, Bordeaux-like structure super-imposed on the wine's fruit characteristics. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2015. Importer: Dominic Nocerino, Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (516) 467-5907