Packaged with a black label, the Istine 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Levigne is an attractive and darkly concentrated wine with a rich and voluptuous style. This certified organic wine is all Sangiovese, and it ages in large oak casks for 24 months, with fruit selected from over three special cru sites, each with different soil profiles. The wine starts off on a very elegant note, slightly pulled back at first, and then relaxes softly to coat the entire palate. This is a limited production of 3,000 bottles.

Made with certified organic fruit, the Istine 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Levigne shows some dried fruit and some delicately aged aromas with cassis, tar, licorice and crushed rose. The fruit feels a bit flatter than I might have expected for this classic vintage, but the wine is nicely direct and linear nonetheless. This is a good choice for near-term consumption with a sirloin and potatoes.