Santa Margherita Chianti Classico hails from the historic Tuscan region of Chianti; the spiritual home of Sangiovese. This exciting Sangio has an intense ruby red colour with faintly garnet tones. The initial aromatic sensations are sweetish and vanilla-like, typical of wines matured in barriques. The clean, ethereal bouquet then highlights Sangioveses spicy notes. On the palate we again find very well integrated oak which soon gives way to hints of wild berry fruit preserve and to that nuance of spices we perceived on the nose.

This blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a site that overlooks the Chianti hills. Rich and complex this wine from Carpineto Sillano has powerful flavours of blackberry liquorice and spice will evolve in the bottle over many years to come.

Rich plums, tarry leather, cedary oak and a long dry finish. An utterly delicious full bodied wine. Perfect with pan fried scaloppini.

In the glass: Deep garnet crimson.On the nose: Exotic aromas of succulent red and black cherry, woody herbs, brown spice, earth and smokey oak.On the palate: Beautifully rich yet not sweet with a layered and elegant core of bramble fruit, dried herbs and fine tannin depth. So savoury, long and elegant with a delicious mix of secondary leather, tobacco and primary fruit richness blending seamlessley. A wine of character and brooding complexity.

In 1979, the Zonin family acquired Castello di Albola situated in Radda at the heart of the Chianti Classico DOCG appellation. The estate has earned various accolades for its wines. Castello di Albola Chianti Classico DOCG is intense and elegant with floral lily notes and hints of spices, pepper, cinnamon and tobacco. Decisive, voluminous and gently tannic on the palate. Long and lingering finish.

Winemaker Justin Bubb splits his year between Tasmania (Pooley Wines) and Tuscany, where he makes a delicious collection of wines under the Babo label. There are a couple of firsts here; this is the first Chianti to be bottled under screwcap and it's one of the first to be bottled in a Burgundy bottle as opposed to the traditional Claret shape (for the Fiasco wicker bottle!) For this Chianti-Beaujolais hybrid, Justin has employed whole berry fermentation with roughly 30% carbonic maceration, simply fermented and then raised in concrete vats for six months. It's a wonderfully bright and aromatic Sangiovese with notes of raspberry and red cherry, good texture and lightweight tannins, with sappy acidity and a thirst quenching finish.

CASTELLO DI VOLPAIA Coltassala Gran Selezione, Chianti Classico DOCG

Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva is ruby red in colour. The nose shows intensely fruity notes of ripe cherries, red currants, and wild berry fruit along with well integrated notes of toasted oak and tobacco, and a touch of balsamic sensations. The palate is ample and enveloping, savory, soft in its tannins and velvety in texture. The finish and aftertaste are long and persistent. Antinori is a name synonymous with wine in Italy, the equivalent of the royal family of wine in the country. Intimately involved in the wine industry of Italy since 1385, initially in Tuscany, but in more recent years their influence has grown seeing them involved in wine-making projects across the country. They were instrumental in the renaissance of Chianti and their portfolio of wines includes some stellar names such as Tignanello - the Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc blend that was most influential in the Super Tuscan movement, Solaia - the Cabernet dominant blend also from the Tignanello Estate and the beautiful Peppoli Chianti Classico.

The 2016 Vino Nobile Montepulciano shows an intense ruby red colour. The nose is marked by fruity notes well balanced by hints of vanilla and violets. On the palate, the wine is balanced and pleasurable and is characterized by the notable persistence of aromas of cherries and strawberries. A long finish with delicate sensations of vanilla and supple tannins completes the tasting experience. The Tenuta Braccesca in Montepulciano was purchased by Marchesi Antinori in 1990 and consists of 151 hectares of vineyards between the towns of Montepulciano and Cortona with a further 87 hectares situated in the prime Montepulciano real estate of Cervognano, Graciano and Santa Pia. The local clone of Sangiovese, Prugnolo Gentile is planted along with non-indigenousvarieties such as Merlot and Syrah. The range includes the delicious 100% Syrah wine, Achello and Bramasole from the Cortona DOC, the Sangiovese blend, Sabazio Vino Rosso di Montepulciano and the stunning 100% Prugnolo Gentile, Vigneta Santa Pia designated as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG Riserva.