4 and 6 bottle levels    $23 (member price $20)
Sangiovese with complementary varieties  13.5% ABV

Nipozzano Riserva is one of those wines that comes in and out of my stream of consciousness.  I started drinking it in the 90’s, and have featured it on other restaurant wine lists, as well as VV’s retail shelves.  Made by one of Italy’s most historic wine families, with the fruit from the Frescobaldi’s Nipozzano Estate in Chianti Rufina, just east of Florence.  While not Chianti Classico, Rufina is considered amongst the finest Crus in Chianti, especially since it’s has some of the highest elevation and coolest vineyard sites in Chianti.  The wine sees 24 months in barriques (mostly neutral).  Rich blackberry, red raspberry, anise.  This is a new world style, approachable red that California drinkers would like.

Food Pairing Suggestions:
This flavorful, yet elegant Italian stallion is simply divine with bacon-wrapped filet mignon over red-wine risotto, braised veal cheek ravioli with shaved Parmesan, Florentine steak with parsley potatoes, coffee-marinated lamb brochettes, seared duck breasts with hazelnuts, garlicky grilled lamb chops with rosemary, Italian-style beef stew or grilled rib eye steaks with tarragon, shallot and pink peppercorn butter. Hard Italian cheeses like Parmesan, Tallegio, Pecorino and Asiago also make for a perfect after-dinner dynamic duo.