($20):  The quality of this wine and the enjoyment from it should come as no surprise.  The 2016 vintage in Chianti Classico was fabulous, producing ripe but racy wines.  Badia a Coltibuono is consistently among the top producers.  The surprise here is finding a wine of this caliber for an average price of $20, though I’ve seen it for much less.  It delivers a perfect combination of herbal or earthy notes combined with delicate red fruit flavors.  Not a powerhouse, it wows you with elegance and complexity rather than brute force.  Its focus is not on fruitiness, but rather on alluring, non-fruit-based, savory nuances.  Juicy and fresh with fine tannins, it’s a delight to drink now with a hearty pasta dish or a grilled veal chop.  It isn’t going to fade anytime soon, so you can safely buy this one by the case.
94 Michael Apstein Sep 17, 2019