The house’s 2005 Chianti Classico Riserva is notable for its fine drinkability and overall harmony. Early notes of worn-in leather, spices and tobacco suggest this won’t be an especially long-lived wine, but it is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years as all of the elements are coming together with terrific balance. The Chianti Classico Riserva is 95% Sangioveto and 5% Canaiolo that spent 12 months in two year-old French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2015. This is a fine set of new releases from Castellare and proprietor Paolo Panerai. The estate is located in Castellina, right in the heart of Chianti Classico. The colorful birds that are featured on the labels are native species that have returned to an ecosystem that has been restored through the elimination of pesticides and herbicides in the vineyards. Panerai prefers to call Sangiovese by its historical name, Sangioveto, a convention I have followed in these notes. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

A good, traditional-style Chianti Classico, with plum, berries and hints of citrus peel and spicy tobacco. Medium-bodied and tangy. An easy-drinker with food. Drink now. 850 cases made, 250 cases imported.??–null??Region: Italy / Chianti Classico Select to Add