5 | Wine | Chianti, $20 to $50

"The 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori is a fleshy, radiant wine graced with expressive dark red fruit. This is a fairly plush style for this bottling, no doubt owing to the personality of the vintage...Tobacco, sweet herbs, licorice and dark red cherries leave a very positive, lasting impression."

"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."

"The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva boasts considerable richness in its powerful, dense fruit. Over the last few years the estate has eliminated new oak barrels, and what comes through most in the 2009 is a generous, pliant personality that is quite appealing. Super ripe red cherries burst from the expressive finish."

"This has grip and fine Sangiovese character, evoking bitter cherry, tobacco, leather and spice flavors. A harmonious wine, lingering with an aftertaste of tobacco and mineral."