Castello di Gabbiano, Chianti Classico Riserva (Tuscany, Italy) 2008

 Relatively widely available and very well made, this is a delicious Risesrva made mostly with Sangiovese with a little dab (5%) of Merlot added for good measure.  Medium-bodied, it was aged entirely in French oak, with half of the barrels being new.  The oak enhances the tannic structure of the wine but not at the cost of rendering it astringent, and the fruit notes (recalling dark cherries with a floral undertone) persist through the finish.  Quite fairly priced in light of its quality and production techniques, this is enthusiastically recommended.