The open-knit, flattering 1994 Chianti Classico Riserva exhibits aromas of cigar tobacco, roasted almonds, leather, and sweet strawberry and cherry fruit. This charming, medium-bodied wine possesses low acidity, no roughness around the edge, and a clean, soft, pleasant finish. Drink it over the next 3-4 years. It is another example of a charming 1994 Chianti, a vintage that was relatively difficult because of harvest rains.
This estate, owned by Paolo Panerai, has made significant changes (cutting yields, eliminating fining, and curtailing the amount of filtration) since the 1993 vintage. The vineyards, which are managed with no pesticides, consist of 49 acres in Tuscany's heartland.
A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620