2001 was the first vintage that oenologist Andrea Giovanninihe had the opportunity to handle from start to finish, and, though perhaps it is only a coincidence, they appear to be some of the best which Monsanto has ever made. The 2001 Chianti Classico has never been of major importance in Monsanto’s line. But this version, in its spicy tar and tobacco nose and its finesse and freshness, is an excellent example of what the zone is all about. Importer: Veuve Clicquot, New York, NY; tel. (212) 888-7575