Ruffino Chianti Classico Reserva Ducale 2006

Some people crave Jimmy Dean breakfast products, Big Macs and watch little cars going 'round and 'round really fast on a track.

I crave the Uffizi Museum, Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, statues by Raphael and Michelangelo's David.

Although it's not economically feasible to fly to Florence (unless this blog really takes off), I travel to Tuscany through the power of lasagna and Chianti.

Tuscany is one of the most aesthetically pleasing wine-producing regions of the world. Rolling hillsides and villas interspersed with decorative gardens, Renaissance sculpture, and timeless architecture alongside the sprawling centuries-old vineyards of Tuscan wines.

In Tuscany (Toscana), Chianti is the most famous of their production. Although Chianti has been traditionally produced with 100% Sangiovese grapes, Italian winemakers will sometimes use other varietals. Italian regulations stipulate that for a wine to be classified as a Chianti, it must have at least 80% Sangiovese grapes.

Chianti Classico is a region of Tuscany, and includes the region where 18th Century Chianti was strictly produced (according to an edict by Cosimo III de Medici, who specified this region as the official Chianti-producing region). The Ruffino Chianti Classico is specifically crafted from the Ruffina region found within the Chianti Classico region.

The cool breezes of the nearby Arno River affect the concentration of the Sangiovese grapes here in Ruffina. Chiantis from cooler climates tend to have higher acidity, and some of the fruit is nuanced and more subtle than in the warmer regions of Southern Italy and even Southern Tuscany.

The Ruffino Chianti Classico Reserva Ducale 2006 is a prime example of Chianti Classico produced in the Northeastern region of Tuscany. The wine is medium-body, and medium-high in acidity. The bouquet is subtle, but obvious berry, of which I could detect cherry as well as currant. Although some Chiantis offer a floral, even rosy bouquet, the Ruffino offered no such aroma. The oak was subtle and mostly noticeable at the finish, which was lasting.

The color is a ruby red, darker in the center with a slightly more brilliant hue on the rim. The flavor really kicks into gear with something spicy (such as the spiced Italian sausages added to the lasagna).

Ruffino wines enjoy a good reputation, and their product is quality.  The '06 varietal was cellar-aged for two years before being offered at market.

The Ruffino Chianti Classico Reserva Ducale 2006 is worth the $20 price tag, as it is as Chianti should be - fruity, subtle, medium-bodied and great with a delicious Tuscan meal.