Monsanto, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione (Tuscany, Italy) 2016

 Although this is a wine from Chianti now approaching 6 years of age, it has a long and distinguished life ahead of it for those who can keep their mitts off it in the meantime.  It has already absorbed and integrated most of its overt oak notes, yet still shows good firmness and grip through the mid-palate and into the finish, but without the finish being abbreviated by any coarse tannins.  Savory notes are already emerging, with saddle leather being the most prominent among them, but the wine shows lots of other subtle nuances as well.  Although this is a wine with plenty of flavor impact and structure, it is at least as fresh and brightly acidic as it is powerful.  This excellent balance and broad array of attributes bodes well for a very long future of positive development.