Rating for Italy-Tuscany: 92 (slightly better than average year)<br/><br/>Drinkability: drink now<br/>

"The 2005 Chianti Classico Riserva reveals a profile of red berries, herbs, crushed flowers and spices. The wine possesses an attractive up-front personality and finessed tannins, but it does taper off a bit on the mid-palate. In this rain-plagued vintage Monsanto did not produce its Riserva Il Poggio, and the best fruit from that site was added to this Riserva bottling, which was aged in a variety of used French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2017."

"Stay-at-home pasta or pizza dinners call out for a simple but solid Chianti, and Monrosso fits the bill beautifully. The ruby-colored wine (80 percent Sangiovese with smaller components of Canaiolo and Merlot) is fermented in steel and aged six months in oak casks for fresh, fruit-forward results. It is redolent of cherry, plum, milk chocolate and has distant hints of spice and licorice. Its lightweight consistency and subtle tannins make it an excellent, no-brainer match for most foods."