Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico

Ruffino created its first Riserva Ducale Oro to celebrate a remarkable vintage year, twenty years after the original Riserva Ducale was released in 1927. This custom is still followed today. Riserva Ducale Oro is the most accurate expression of a particular terroir, sourced entirely from Ruffino's famed Gretole and Santedame Estates in the renowned Castellina subregion of Chianti Classico. This wine is only made in exceptional years. The wine will only be made if the grapes meet the winemaker's exacting standards.

Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico pursues a demanding degree of quality by beginning with the finest, hand-harvested Sangiovese grapes, principally from Ruffino's estate vineyards, and continuing with flawless standards throughout all stages of winemaking.

Ruffino only produces this Chianti Classico Gran Selezione in outstanding vintages. When they make Riserva Ducale Oro, they harvest the grapes by hand, mostly from their Gretole estate in the Chianti Classico appellation. The vineyard lots are vinified individually to preserve their specificity to the land. They age the wine in oak, stainless steel, and concrete vats for 36 months, twelve months longer than Italian law requires. The wine then spends additional months in the bottle before release. This is bright, featuring iron, loamy earth, and sweet spice notes flanking the core of the berry fruit. Shows tension and acceptable length, with all the components in the right place.

Riserva Ducale Oro pairs well with classic Italian fare like eggplant parmesan, wild boar ragu, and spaghetti Bolognese. It also pairs well with traditional American fare, like roasted veggies and grilled ribeye steak.

Color: Ruby red with garnet hues.

Aroma: The wine expresses a distinctive Tuscan bouquet of violet, cherry, and plum, with aromas of chocolate and spice. It has intense aromas of violet, blackberry, cherry, and ripe plum, with intriguing notes of cinnamon and clove.

Finish: Classic elegance and structure in which the fruit, tannins, and spices form a tightly woven balance, with a lingering finish of chocolate and coffee.