In Central Italy on the west coast with Florence at it's heart, Tuscany is Italy's most famous wine region. Sangiovese is the most important grape variety, producing Brunello di Montalcino and being the main component of Chianti. Tuscany is also home to fantastic wines made from international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot which are often blended with Sangiovese, the best of which are known as 'Super Tuscans'.
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc
Tasting notes: The exclusivity speaks for itself, only 3,000 cases made. Offers gorgeous aromas of blackberry, a full body, with superfine tannins and a long, long finish. A complex and wonderfully structured wine. Long and beautiful. Best after 2012.
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc
Tasting notes: The original Super-Tuscan, Tignanello is produced exclusively from the Tignanello vineyard, a 47 hectares (116 acres) southwest-facing, calcareous rocky-marl and limestone soil plot planted between 1,150 and 1,312 feet above sea level at Antinori's Santa Cristina Estate. It was the first Sangiovese to be aged in small oak barrels, the first red wine from the region in modern times to use a non-traditional grape variety, Cabernet, in the blend, and among the first red wines made in Chianti with no white grapes. In all three instances, it set the example for a new breed of exceptional top-of-the-line Italian wine, and established the rule in Tuscany for breaking the rules, which has been widely emulated.
The blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc gives Tignanello 2006 a full, rich and round rich palate, dense without hiding its great elegance and complexity. A powerful yet fine wine, with good length and a chocolate/citrus aftertaste. The tannins are present, but smooth and silky, which, together with balanced acidity, assures Tignanello 2006 good ageing potential.
Tasting notes: 'Suolo' originates from 100% Sangiovese grapes and originates from two single vineyard plots on the Argiano estate. One of them is “Vignoni”, the oldest vineyard that's well over 40 years old and “Oliviera”, one of the younger ones, being over 15 years old. The original reason for this selection was to study the difference between very old vines and newer ones. Suolo, Italian name for “soil” is a tribute to the vine’s host which gives it its wonderful complexity.
"Complex aromas of berries, plums, orange peel and cedar follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a crisp, delicately fruity finish." 91 pts Wine Spectator
Tasting notes: 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the estates in Chianti and Maremma, aged for 12 months in second year oak barriques. The wine is lively and elegant and represents an excellent introduction to the "Super Tuscan".
Tasting notes: Deep ruby color with some purple at the rim. Full tones of ripe black currant, blackberry and some cherry with hints of tobacco. Full bodied on the palate with ripe fruit and layers of tannins. Medium-long finish. A joy to drink now, but will improve over the next years. Drink now - 2015
Tasting notes: The Casa Via Syrah is ranked as one of Italy's top examples of the variety, and is a stunning Northern Rhone lookalike. Wine Spectator has referred to it as "La Turque" of Italy, such its elegance and proximity to the Guigal style.
Tasting notes: This wine from the Bolgheri region of Tusacny oozes quality. Red berries on the nose. Dense structure, with a hint of minerality which gives the wine a lovely harmonious, lingering flavour.
Tasting notes: The estate's top bottling, the 2005 Cepparello, is another strong effort. Classy and elegant, it possesses well-delineated vibrant dark red fruit intermingled with toasted oak and minerals. It remains quite fresh and will require a few years of bottle age to develop its full range of aromas and flavors. That said, it is a smaller-scaled Cepparello that should mature earlier than the superb 2004. Cepparello is 100% Sangiovese aged in French oak. Once again, Paolo De Marchi has turned out a superlative wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2020. 92 Pts RP
Tasting notes: "The 2005 Sassicaia is another strong effort from Tenuta San Guido. Medium in body, it reveals an understated, delicate expression of smoke, herbs, tobacco and sweet dark fruit. The wine possesses compelling harmony and a gorgeous sense of inner perfume that flows from start to finish. This is an outstanding showing in a very challenging vintage. Sassicaia is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025." 93pts Parker
Tasting notes: “Sassicaia could be described as Italy’s answer to Bordeaux, but we prefer to see it as Italy’s answer to the world! We think Sassicaia is one of the greatest wine creations of our century. It also happens to be a simply marvellous drink”. - Serena Sutcliffe MW and David Peppercorn MW, Italy's Answer to the World
This is a stunning achievement and displays all the finesse and elegance which one has come to expect from this renowned estate. An exceptional terroir in Bolgheri, composed of a myriad of different soil types, and a meticulous approach in the vineyard and cellar, create wines with incredible distinction, elegance and individuality. According to James Suckling, Wine Spectator’s Italian expert, Sassicaia "is never overdone or exaggerated. The wines always shows subtlety and reserve." 2007 is no exception but it is also a very special vintage and will be regarded as one of the finest wines ever made at the estate. Drink 2018-2040.
Tasting notes: 100% sangiovese from Tuscany this is a glass full of dry, dark cherry fruit. Interesting the tone these wines take, much more in keeping with Brunello rather than Chianti. Well-structured, but not heavy.
Price: £15.95
Size: 75cl
Colour/style: Red
This item is currently out of stock - please email us or telephone 01483 861164 to order.
Tasting notes: The 2007 Le Volte, Ornellaia’s entry-level wine, is especially opulent in this vintage. A soft, generous red, the wine offers terrific richness and depth in its ripe, perfumed fruit. Sweet scents of French oak linger on the long finish. This generous, seductive wine should continue to drink well over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. (The Wine Advocate) 90 points
Tasting notes: Made from Vernaccia, this wine is fresh and fruity with a good balance of structure, freshness and persistance. There is a Vernaccia signature of almond on the finish and whilst outstanding as an aperitif would work equally well with fish, chicken and also certain cheeses.
