Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta is our favorite Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, that other other Sangiovese from Tuscany that strikes a neat balance between savory, rustic flavors and textural elegance. This 2018 Riserva had us seeing stars! Sharp, shiny notes of dewy cherries leap out of the glass, with accents of sweet tobacco, tomato leaf, toasted orange peel, every dried herb in the Italian Seasoning jar, and dusty limestone-infused clay. It's a wine that smells so good it's almost hard to drink, but the palate is pretty good too. Rich notes of cherry, dried cranberries, and earth come through with touches of toffee and cinnamon barrel spice, wrapped in firm tannins and plenty of acidity to help the wine match up to food. The finish is long, with baking spice and fruit lingering. This is a classic Italian wine for classic Italian fare, rich pastas and thick cuts of steak are the preferred pairing.