Ruffino Chianti Classico Reserve Ducale 2021

Introduction

The Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale 2021 (often referred to as the "Tan Label") is a historic and highly decorated release. In late 2025, it achieved a major milestone by being ranked #17 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year.

This wine is a tribute to the Duke of Aosta, who in 1890 appointed Ruffino as the official supplier to the Italian Royal Family after falling in love with their Chianti. The 2021 vintage is celebrated for capturing the classic essence of the region with a "racy" and "intense" energy that critics have found particularly impressive.

Wine Description

The 2021 vintage is noted for its vibrancy and structural clarity, reflecting a growing season that allowed for excellent ripeness and acidity.

• Varietal Composition: 80% Sangiovese, with the remaining 20% consisting of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

• Aromatic Profile: An elegant and complex nose featuring violets, cherries, and wild berries. Critics also highlight savory secondary notes of tobacco, white pepper, iron, and a hint of flint or underbrush.

• Palate and Body: Medium-bodied with a sleek and polished texture. It offers flavors of cherry, boysenberry, and blood orange. The wine is described as "racy" due to its high, vibrant acidity.

• Structure: It features sweet but firm, velvety tannins and a persistent finish marked by notes of rosemary and eucalyptus.

• Winemaking and Aging: Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel for about 10 days, followed by another 10 days of maceration. The wine is aged for 24 months in a combination of large oak casks, stainless steel, and cement vats, followed by 3 months of bottle aging.

• ABV: 14%.

Accolades

The 2021 release has earned some of the highest scores for this bottling in recent years:

• Wine Spectator: 93 points (Ranked #17 in the Top 100 of 2025).

• James Suckling: 92 points.

Food Pairing

Due to its high acidity and traditional profile, it is an archetypal "food wine":

• Italian Classics: Lasagna, pasta with Bolognese sauce, or mushroom risotto.

• Meats: Grilled ribeye with rosemary, lamb chops, or cured meats (salumi).

• Cheese: Aged Pecorino Toscano or Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Serving and Drinking

• Optimal Window: Drink now through 2040. While accessible today, its structure will allow it to develop more savory, leathery notes over the next decade.

• Service: Serve at 16°C to 18°C. Decanting for about an hour is recommended to allow the spicy and floral notes to open up.