Showing soft and ripe fruit, the Castello di Gabbiano 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Cavaliere d'Oro is a mid-weight wine with fresh acidity, easy fruit tones, lilac, spice and dried blueberry. The wine maintains easy momentum over the palate and would pair with breaded veal steak or fried chicken. Some 150,000 bottles were made.

From the Tuscan estate of Beringer Blass, the Castello di Gabbiano 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Cavaliere d'Oro is a softly textured and darkly concentrated wine from a hot vintage. The bouquet opens to dark cherry, plum, spice, tar and some fragrant blue flower. This is a medium to full-bodied expression that boasts a fine and silky mouthfeel to drink within the next five years or so.

Opening to sweet and ripe fruit, the 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Cavaliere d'Oro is a plump and juicy expression of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Merlot from a warm and sunny vintage. The wine offers moderate complexity, nothing too mind-blowing, but what stands out most is that soft and plush approach you get in the mouth. This wine has been engineered for maximum ease and drinkability alongside a simple ragù. An ample 150,000 bottles were made.

The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva is a terrific wine for the money. Dark cherries, plums, tobacco, leather and licorice all flow from this juicy, plush Chianti. Layers of fruit meld together nicely through to the pliant, round finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. Importer: Treasury Wine, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 299-3260