Chianti quality has come a long way since the mass-produced straw covered bottles that once were synonymous with this red wine from Italy. Chianti must contain at least 80% of the red grape variety Sangiovese, and to be called Riserva, it ages for more than 3 years. It is a wonderfully versatile red wine that goes well with a wide array of Italian fare. Let me tell you about one of my favorites...

Chicken Cacciatore over angel hair pasta is great comfort food for anytime of year, and my wife makes an incredible recipe that she scored while living in Tuscany. We prefer to use thighs in this dish because the dark meat creates an even richer balance along with the peppers, onions, garlic and tomatoes.
 
On a recent evening, while enjoying this wonderful dish, we opened a bottle of the 2007 La Maialina Chianti Classico Riserva. What a great surprise! This wine paired perfectly with the beautiful dark fruits in the nose and silky tannins that led to an incredibly long finish. Blackberries, spices and a mushroom earthiness filled the palate and delighted the senses. This was such a great match for this dish, I've been talking about it ever since. Grab some and try it today!

This 2007 La Maialina Chianti Classico (92 pts RP) is only $19.99/bottle and $239/case, and to no surprise is a huge seller here at Sokolin. It's hard to keep in stock at this price, so grab some today! 

As far as my wife's recipe for the Cacciatore, that's only available to a select few...  Enjoy!