1990 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale DOCG

92 points Wine Advocate: Scheduled for release in early 1995, this wine exhibits the opulence and abundant richness of this great Tuscan vintage. A saturated plum/garnet color complements a sweet bouquet of cedar, roasted herbs, smoked meats, and jammy, black-cherry fruit. This full-bodied, spicy, concentrated wine possesses muscle, power, and moderate tannin. It will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and easily last for 20+ years. It appears to be one of the best Riserva Ducales Ruffino has produced.

Grape Varietals: 80% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and Colorino.

Aging: The wine was aged for about one year in traditional large and neutral oak casks(Slovenian oak of 925-2,985 gallons). After a year, the wine was transferred into small second-use barriques for another 12 months. Neutral oak allowed the blend to fully develop an elegant and complex flavor profile. The wine then spent an additional 3-4 months in bottle to allow it to settle before release.

Ruffino is a large wine company based in Tuscany, producing wines from several regions in Central and Northern Italy. The company was founded in 1877 when cousins Ilario and Leopoldo Ruffino established a small winery in Pontassieve near Florence. By the 1880s the company was regularly winning international awards and, in 1890, it became an official supplier to the Italian royal family.  Ruffino purchased its first estate after World War II, and became the first to own estates in Chianti Classico, Montepulciano and Montalcino. The Gretole estate is almost entirely devoted to the flagship Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Oro, while the Greppone Mazzi estate in Montalcino provides the company's Brunello.  It now farms around 600 hectares (1483 acres) split across six Tuscan properties; generic Chianti and Toscana IGT in all three colors are also produced. In Veneto, the La Duchessa and Ca' del Duce estates were acquired in 2019. Here, 130 hectares (321 acres) are organically farmed and produce approximately 35,000 hectoliters each vintage. Constellation Brands have owned the company since 2011, having initially acquired a 40 percent stake in 2004.