Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Montesodi 2003

I opened this chianti with the Lovely Young Lady to drink with with my Italian-themed dinner on Friday night. Eh. Lush, dark fruit aromas on the nose with not-so-subtle touches of smokey oak. The palate was opulent and still tannic. Over all, not really what I expected from a Chianti -- it shows more power than grace or elegance. In fact, it seemed like a Cali Cab. YMMV. Two and a half stars out of five.

Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Riserva 2004

With my dishes finally arrived in San Francisco, I decided to make a basic: Veal Parmigiana. To go with what is generally a light meal, I picked a Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Reserva 2004. At approximately $20 a bottle, it was a surprisingly great find. Clear cherry on the nose, with light to medium tannins and additional red fruits on the palate. The aftertaste is minimal but, hey, it was a cheap bottle of red (and when added to the ingredients, it did some amazing things to the meal). However, I would not say that this wine should be set in the cellar for consumption a year from now. A very strong three out of five stars.