A Chianti that I liked......

[Bucko]

I plead ignorance to most Italian wines, but I liked this one.....

2000 Fonterutoli, Chianti Classico, D.O.C.G., Tuscany, Italy, $26, 16,660 cases. This is a fun wine at a fair price that has an elegant, balanced presentation. Spicy red fruit, earthiness and vanilla aromas meld seamlessly with the flavors of leather and blueberry/strawberry compote. 89/89.

[stevebody]

Big, fat "here-here" to that one, Bucko. Silk in a bottle for at least the past four vintages. In general, the damned things are getting bigger and more balanced, instead of the acidy mess a lot of them used to be. Also liked the Nittardi ones we tasted at Esquin recently. The Reserva is to DIE for: as inky and rich a Chianti as I've ever tasted, BUT...Forty-two bucks. There's your downside of the sudden upswing in Chianti quality. Still a ton o' bargains out there, though....