3 | Wine | $20 to $50, Unrated, 2007

"Riserva Ducale Oro 2007 is ruby red in color, with garnet hues. The wine shows the distinctive Tuscan bouquet of a great Chianti Classico Riserva with notes of violet, cherry and plum which fades into aromas of chocolate and spice. On the palate, the wine has well-defined structure and a generous, fruity core accented by hints of chocolate, cinnamon and spicy hints of black pepper. Full-bodied and well-balanced with powerful fruity notes, Riserva Ducale Oro’s round yet impressive tannins support a good acidity and lead into a lengthy finish featuring notes of plum, clove and sweet tobacco."

"Intense and deep ruby color. On the nose, rich perfumed, packed with red and black fruits. Sweet and bursting of flavors of black berries and black currants balanced by firm tannins. Long and lingering velvety smooth finish."

"This has a much more precocious nose than other 2007s: honey, apricot, peach, a touch of spice, mandarin and a soupcon of warm alcohol, in other words, quintessential Doisy-Vedrines. The palate is full-bodied, viscous on the entry and maintaining good balance, fine acidity cutting through the rich honey, quince and apricot fruit, with great definition and vitality towards the botrytis-rich finish. There is real pedigree here, and the 2007 surely represents their best wines since the triumvirate of 88, 89, and 90. This is a benchmark Doisy-Vedrines."

"On the nose, a complex blend of dark morello cherries, spice and dark mocha minerality comes together. The flavors of this wine are powerful and harmonious. Blackberry, black cherry and cassis tones are expressed within an integrated core of minerality. The tannins are firm yet integrated, with a long finish, driven by a firm core of acidity."

"This wine shows fresh, black fruit and dark cherry aromas and flavors, with spice notes. This concentrated, structured wine has great volume and mouthfeel, with fine length on the finish."