This wine hits a sweet spot for me between a relatively traditional style (meaning, low oak, nice high acidity, and just a hint of earthy rusticity) and a moderately modern one (as in, ripe fruit with a touch of sweet juiciness). This combination can make for a very versatile wine, but only if all the elements work well together thanks to being proportioned properly, and this wine hits that mark. Delicious on its own (hardly a “given” for Chianti), but also sized to work with everything from a roast chicken to a moderately robust beef dish, this is a terrific wine to have around the house for opening on a moment’s notice — as it will work for almost any moment or purpose.
Rodáno, Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy) 2018
By Michael Franz
