Ruffino Tenuta Santedame

The new Santedame is using more and better sangiovese clones. There have been many vineyard improvements undertaken and there is a much stricter selection process for the fruit. The plan, according owner Adolfo Folonari, is to reposition Santedame as a 100 per cent sangiovese, from the acclaimed and eponymous Chianti Classic estate that should, and will, be taken much more seriously by consumers. The nose is clean and fragrant with red currants leather, ripe plums and peppery notes. The palate is dry and elegant with more black cherry fruit, liquorice and spicy cardamom flecks. It's impressive young Chianti with a bright future. Lay this away for 3 to 5 years. (Anthony Gismondi and Stuart Tobe).

Fresh cherry, plum, spicy, peppery nose with hints of liquorice and cardamom. Dry, elegant and round with soft, light tannins. Black cherry, peppery, smoky liquorice flavours. Good intensity and fruit, drinkable now but will improve over the next two years. Impressive tasty Chianti. (Anthony Gismondi and Stuart Tobe).

A dense smoke and toast cocoon envelops the dark fruit in this supple wine. Our tasters found the oak overbearing, obscuring the fruit. If it's juicy, it's in an unusual, cedary, raisiny way, with leathery accents. The wine seems at once young and closed, yet rather mature for its age. A curious offering.

Dark berry, cherry and herb aromas blossom into full flavors and pick up handsome tar and licorice accents on the palate. Full but smooth on the finish, it doesn't settle for superficial appeal, but has substance, good structure and it will age nicely.