The 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori is a fleshy, radiant wine graced with expressive dark red fruit. This is a fairly plush style for this bottling, no doubt owing to the personality of the vintage. I don’t quite see the delineation or structure of the superb 2006, but in exchange the 2007 is much more pleasing to drink young. Tobacco, sweet herbs, licorice and dark red cherries leave a very positive, lasting impression. The Marchese Antinori is predominantly Sangiovese, with a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate’s vineyards in Peppoli, Badia a Passignano and Tignanello. The darker color and flavor profile and presence of Cabernet relative to the 100% Sangiovese Badia a Passignano Riserva makes the Marchese a baby Tignanello of sorts. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. Antinori seems to do everything well these days, from churning out millions of bottles of supermarket wines all the way to turning out superb versions of their many flagship bottlings. This is another impressive set of new releases with a number of highlights. Over the years oenologist Renzo Cotarella has moved away from the super-late harvests of the late 1990s/early 2000s in favor of picking slightly earlier, a decision that has paid off handsomely, especially over the last few years. Antinori’s 2008s, from a vintage that is quite inconsistent across the board, are superb. I remember spending a few days near the estate’s Tignanello and Badia a Passignano estates in mid-August 2008. The days were very hot, but the nights were so cool that a sweater or light jacket was a necessity Importer: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, WA, tel. (425) 415-3738