This is quickly rising to the top of the list of the most collectible wines made in the Chianti Classico appellation. The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a spectacular achievement with a super dense and dark core that recalls this rocky growing site with little top soil. The rock was blasted out with dynamite to make room for the vines that power this beautiful wine today. This is a gutsy and muscular expression that benefits quite specifically from warm and sunny vintages such as this. This wine needs a little extra sunshine to loosen and soften up the very tight texture that comes so naturally. You definitely feel the youth of the tannins here, and I suggest giving this wine a lot of lead time to allow for a slow and graceful evolution. Only 6,000 bottles were made.

Castelnuovo Berardenga. 100% Sangiovese. Just mid ruby with orange tinges. Spicy fruit with a hint of gingerbread. Quite ripe and evolving too quickly into the dried-fruit spectrum for my liking, even if it has some class right now. (WS)