2009 Sangiovese Wine between $25 and $50

Classic grape of Chianti and other great Tuscan wine, sangiovese has tart berry-cherry flavors with notes of herbs, spice, and damp earth. Marked more by crisp acidity than big, chewy tannins, sangiovese is nonetheless considered a classically structured grape variety. Found mainly in Chianti, but also the basis for other important Italian wines. Brunello di Montalcino is a specific clone of  sangiovese, the variety called Brunello. Successful in Argentina, but California has not yet gotten the knack.