Tuscan reds from the 2017 vintage confront the serious disadvantage of arriving on the heels of a sublimely stylish year in 2016 and a rich, impressive vintage in 2015. The hot 2017 growing season made it difficult to produce nuanced wines with delicacy, but Ruffino managed very nicely in this case — and in one of their more widely available releases. Deep in color and rich in flavor, this is nevertheless neither chunky or obvious, and the energetic acidity associated with Italian wines generally and Sangiovese in particular lifts and lengthens the finish. A Platinum Award winner at the 2021 Critics Challenge International Wine and Spirits Competition.
Ruffino, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG (Tuscany, Italy) 2017
By Michael Franz