The 2009 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico S. Niccolò (750 ml) is a blend of Trebbiano and Malvasia aged for five years in small oak barrels called caratelli. This dessert wine is enormously intense from an aromatic point of view with dried apricot, honey, caramel, brown sugar and button mushroom. The mouthfeel is rich, long and extra silky. I was able to watch the air-drying process for this wine during my visit to Castellare di Castellina, and can confirm that Vin Santo is one of the most labor-intensive wines made in Italy. Each drop is precious.