Tenuta di Arceno, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG (Tuscany, Italy) 2017

 Tenuta di Arceno managed to succeed in a difficult vintage.  Their bold style worked well in 2017 because they captured ripeness, good acidity and suave tannins simultaneously.  Though rich and fruity, a subtly haunting bitterness in the finish reminds us, thankfully, it’s not just about fruit.  There’s a lot of herbal earthy notes and energy to complement those juicy cherry-like flavors.  This Riserva, unlike many, is ready to drink now because the tannins are finely polished and not intrusive.  Still, a hearty beef dish would be a good match.