Badia a Coltibuono, Chianti Classico DOCG (Tuscany, Italy) 2016

 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.