The 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva (100% Sangiovese) from Antinori’s Badia a Passignano estate, possesses gorgeous delineation and energy from start to finish. Sweet red cherries, flowers, licorice, tobacco and mint take shape beautifully in the glass. Deceptively medium in body, the 2008 Chianti Classico Riserva possesses marvelous depth for the year and terrific balance. Raspberries, crushed flowers, licorice and spices are layered into an understated finish built mostly on energy. Over the last few years, this has been one of the most improved wines in the Antinori line-up. This is a great showing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2023. Importer: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, WA; tel. (425) 415-3738

The 2007 Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Riserva (Sangiovese) comes across as quite plush and deep. It shows lovely mid-palate pliancy in its floral red fruit along with soft, silky tannins that frame the finish. Tar, licorice and smoke are nicely layered into the finish. The Badia a Passignano is 100% Sangiovese. This vineyard ripened on the late side in 2007, giving the wine much of its textural finesse. With air, the wine is absolutely singing today. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2017. Antinori seems to do everything well these days, from churning out millions of bottles of supermarket wines all the way to turning out superb versions of their many flagship bottlings. This is another impressive set of new releases with a number of highlights. Over the years oenologist Renzo Cotarella has moved away from the super-late harvests of the late 1990s/early 2000s in favor of picking slightly earlier, a decision that has paid off handsomely, especially over the last few years. Antinori’s 2008s, from a vintage that is quite inconsistent across the board, are superb. I remember spending a few days near the estate’s Tignanello and Badia a Passignano estates in mid-August 2008. The days were very hot, but the nights were so cool that a sweater or light jacket was a necessity Importer: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, WA, tel. (425) 415-3738

The 2006 Badia a Passignano Chianti Classico Riserva is a pretty, juicy red laced with cherries, dried flowers, tobacco and underbrush. The tannins dry out a touch on the finish, which is the only thing that keeps the score from going higher. Still, this forward, fruit-driven Chianti should drink nicely over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016. I continue to be amazed at the high average quality Antinori achieves across a production that exceeds a whopping 20 million bottles per year. This is a fabulous set of new releases. Long-time Oenologist Renzo Cotarella could certainly have rested on his laurels; after all he is already one of Italy’s most celebrated winemakers. Instead, Cotarella continues to improve quality in a meaningful way. The highlights are the 2007s, which are off the charts. I first sampled Antinori’s 2007 Tignanello and Solaia two years ago, when they were still separate wines from individual parcels, but even then it was clear these were going to be special wines. Tasting Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Tignanello and Solaia vineyards, both in Chianti Classico, was an unforgettable lesson in the uniqueness of each of these fabulous terroirs. The Solaia vineyard in particular is clearly one of Italy’s greatest sites. Everything I tasted was loaded with personality and sheer character. One of the recent major changes at Antinori is the separate vinification of component wines for Guado al Tasso, Tignanello and Solaia, which began with the 2004 vintage. In 2007 Cotarella took that approach even further, with small parcel-by-parcel vinifications that allowed for maximum flexibility when the final blend for each wine was ultimately assembled. The 2007 harvest brings with it a number of additional changes. Syrah has been eliminated from Guado al Tasso in favor of Cabernet Franc, a grape that is proving to be exceptionally well-suited to the Tuscan coast. If the 2007 is any indication, Guado al Tasso is taking on a much more Bordeaux-like personality. The estate is also gradually moving toward slightly larger barrels and less new oak for their Sangioveses. Importer: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, WA, tel. (425) 415-3738