2009 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale

Sometimes you want to drink a wine that you know will be good. Maybe not great, not special, but reliable. For me, Ruffino Chianti is that wine. In general, I drink Ruffino at all their price points, but tonight’s Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale hits the spot and meets all my requirements for a satisfying Chianti. Dark cherry fruit, a little tobacco, even a little graphite. Some nice berry comes through and the tannins give it plenty of structure without any hardness. Like many Italian reds, there is plenty of acidity too, which makes it a great wine to pair with food.

When it comes to food and wine pairings, it’s one of my go-to wines for richer Italian food, mushroom risotta, meaty pizza, etc. It’s even got enough going on that you could simply sit down with a nice cheese board and call it day.