Antico Colle Chianti

Antico Colle Chianti is listed as an Italian-style red from Esplanda, with Massachusetts given as its origin. That is worth knowing before you buy. Chianti is traditionally a Tuscan name, so treat this bottle as a Chianti-style red made in the United States. The label details don't name the grape blend, vintage or alcohol level. What follows describes the style and how to serve it. It is not a measured profile of this particular wine. Reds in the Chianti mold are usually built on Sangiovese, and the style tends to be medium-bodied. Expect tart red cherry and dried cranberry, possibly with dried herbs, tomato leaf or a little orange peel. Acidity is typically bright and the tannins moderate and slightly dusty. Oak influence is usually restrained, which keeps the wine savory and food-oriented rather than plush. The finish is generally dry and fairly short to medium in length. That firm acidity is the point of the style: it cuts through fat and tomato-based sauces. Pair it with the dishes this style was made for. Tomato-sauced pasta, baked ziti, lasagna, sausage and peppers, and margherita or mushroom pizza all suit it. So do roast chicken with rosemary, grilled pork and hard aged cheeses such as Pecorino or Parmigiano. The acidity can feel sharp next to very sweet or very spicy dishes. It also tends to overpower delicate fish. Serve it lightly cooled, at about 60 to 65°F (15 to 18°C). A short 15 to 20 minutes in the refrigerator before opening is usually enough, because a warm room can make a wine like this taste thin and alcoholic. Decanting isn't necessary for a wine of this weight. Pouring it into a glass and letting it sit for ten minutes or so is plenty. A standard red wine glass or a medium-sized tulip bowl will concentrate the cherry and herbal aromas without exaggerating the tannin. Treat it as a drink-now bottle. Light-to-medium reds like this are generally made for the first few years after release rather than for long cellaring. Keep it on its side, away from heat and light, and open it within a year or two of purchase.