Wine of the Week: Castello di Gabbiano Chianti DOCG

Wine: Castello di Gabbiano Chianti DOCG

Grapes: Sangiovese (90 percent), colorino (5 percent), canaiolo (5 percent)

Region: Tuscany, Northern Italy

Vintage: 2012

Price: $7.99

Availability: All wine retailers, chain stores

In the glass: Gabbiano Chianti is a very firm ruby-red color with a semi-opaque crimson core, going out into a bright red to pink rim definition and medium-high viscosity.

On the nose: There is immediate classic red and black fruit with crushed red cherries, red currant trifle and cranberry crush, then some interesting star anise, dry flint and mineral undertones with a touch of herbs.

On the palate: The wine is clearly medium-bodied, which is perfect for the hot summer months, but also shows character with fresh tasting red berry fruit, predominantly strawberry and red cherry, then wet stone and slight hints of acidity and hints of wood in the background. Is is very easy on the midpalate and goes through to a nicely balanced finish that seems rather uncomplicated by most Chianti standards. It is not a very complex wine by any stretch of the imagination, but it is excellent for drinking right away and with food.

Odds and ends: This is turning out to be quite an Italian spring for me, as several nice selections have passed through my rigorous criteria for getting picked as Wine of the Week. Like most great Tuscan wine estates, Castello di Gabbiano was built in the early 12th century and has been producing wine for almost that long. While not able to claim great uninterrupted lineage in winemaking like their peers, the Antinori and Frescobaldi families, they are today producing delicious and drinkable Chianti and Classico Riserva wines from the best lands in this prestigious winegrowing region. With about 150 acres planted with predominantly sangiovese, which is the main grape varietal for making Chianti wines, they also have small parcels of merlot and cabernet sauvignon that are used in some of their limited release blend wines. This is not the Chianti that one used to find in a straw bottle; it is a much more modern version of it, much less rustic and way easier to drink. This is a great value if you’re looking for something easygoing in the Italian section of your grocery store, and it always delivers a great drinking experience. Try it as they would in Tuscany with some pasta Alfredo, and drink it now through 2018.

Gil Lempert-Schwarz’s wine column appears on Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or email him at gil@winevegas.com.