Ruffino Ducale Oro Riserva Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2011

Jane Staples rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

My all-time fav Chianti. Made from 80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot. Elegant and aromatic, giving cherry, vanilla, leather, floral violet, allspice and cedar. Satiny and mouth-watering with soft tannins. An excellent gift wine.
Tasted June 2017

Carola Price rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Bright and garnet to the core. Nose of macerating cherries, leather, cedar and plum.In the mouth it is a well balanced cherry to smokey, earthy flavour. Some herbaceousness and a gentle assault of tannin and alcohol to let you know it isn't quite ready to be drunk.
Pair with braised beef and vegetables, mushroom risotto and a serious veal roast.
Drink 2 to 9 years.

Jacky Blisson rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Pale ruby, orange hued colour. Restrained, yet elegant aromas of talcum powder, dried floral notes, earth and red cherries. Lovely balance on the palate, with lifted acidity, medium body, fine grained tannins and attractive sour cherry notes that linger on the finish.

Matt Steeves rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Ruffino's Riserva Ducale Oro is only produced in outstanding vintages, a tradition started in 1947 to showcase the finest fruit from Ruffino's acclaimed vineyards. The 2011 sourced fruit from Ruffino's Gretole and Santedame Estates in the renowned Castellina subregion of Chianti Classico. Less fruity than the 2010 vintage, the nose is full of fresh sage, violet, plum, dark chocolate, cherry, espresso, leather, and cedar. Terrific structure, very well balanced, fine tannins coat the palate making this fine wine ideal for rich dishes such as pasta Bolognese or Beef Stroganoff. Decant one hour and enjoy over the next decade. Tasted February 2015. 91 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

Monique Sosa rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A bombshell of a Chianti! This wine showed me more aromas and flavours from baking spice, smoke and tobacco leaf initially, but once you get to know it, aromas from dried fruit (figs especially) start to open up. Tannins are present (medium plus), the acidy is integrated (medium and balanced), body is medium plus and finish is long and luscious. This drinks well now (October 2015) but has potential for aging. Enjoy with a tenderloin roast.

Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A big wine with distinctly herbal qualities. Lots of white pepper and mint hit you up front, followed by plum, a bit of candied cherry, and chocolate. The taste is velvety with plum and strawberry flavours and some grippy fine tannins. A great wine for meaty Italian dishes or rare meats, but a treat on its own as well.

Courtney Flood rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Loved this wine, Deep red, cherry liquer and cocoa powder, with undertones of anise and mint. Could keep for another 5 years, or decant before drinking.

Cherie Cole rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Complex, layered aromas of ripe, dark cherry and violet with secondary aromas of baking spice and smoke. Would pair wonderfully with grilled steak, grilled vegetables or wild game stews.

Sean O'Regan rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Deep ruby, with intense nose of black cherry, spice, floral/herb and dusty mineral notes. Burlier than the evolved 2010, with ripe black cherry, plum, toasty oak and savory/fennel notes with good depth and concentration. This should reward a little patience in the cellar for 2-3 years, and drink nicely with grilled beef/game.
Tasted Oct 2015 at Ruffino wine tasting dinner.