Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva, Frescobaldi 2022 75cl

Nipozzano is the bottle that put Chianti Rufina on the map, and this Riserva is the estate's calling card — a wine the Frescobaldi family have effectively been making since the 1800s from the castle vineyards above the Sieve valley.

Rufina sits higher and cooler than the rest of Chianti, north-east of Florence, and that altitude is the wine's secret weapon: it hands the Sangiovese a fresher, more taut structure than warmer zones can manage. The 2022 is 90% Sangiovese with a little Canaiolo and Merlot, matured in oak to build texture without smothering the fruit.

In the glass it is ruby-red, the nose opening on red and black berries with pepper and cinnamon warming underneath. The palate follows through with dark, spiced fruit, soft and integrated tannins, and a savoury lift that keeps everything fresh; the finish is fruity and pleasantly long. This is classic, dependable Tuscan Sangiovese — nothing showy, just properly made.

At £21.99 it is one of the best-value Chianti Riservas you will find from a name this serious. A brilliant house red for the colder months, ready now but with enough backbone to hold for another three or four years. Seriously good value.

How to Serve

Serve at 16–18°C in a medium bowl. A short decant of twenty to thirty minutes brightens it up.

Where to Drink It

The River Cafe for the full Italian experience. Bibendum for an unhurried dinner. Planque in Haggerston for a wine-forward evening.

Food Pairings

Anything tomato-rich and slow-cooked — the acidity is built to cut through it. A classic lasagne or a bowl of pasta al ragù will not let you down.