Tuscany
Italy's most ancient wine region, Tuscany may not be a heavyweight in terms of quantity, but as the home of two of the country's most famous fine wines – Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino – it certainly holds its own in terms of quality. Tuscany's climate ranges from Mediterranean on the coast to continental deep in the Apennines. More than two thirds of the province is covered with hills, an important terroir factor in its fine wines.
Responsible for only 6 percent of Italy's total wine production in 2006 (half that of the Veneto) Tuscany may not be a heavyweight in terms of quantity, but as the home of two of the country's most famous fine wines - Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino - it certainly holds its own in terms of quality.
Tuscany is Italy's most ancient wine region, dating back to the 8th century BC when the Etruscans developed the area in parallel with the Greeks, before ceding to the Romans. Along with building roads and sewers, they developed the region's viticultural potential, using wood for winemaking rather than amphorae, and passing their expertise onto their French neighbours. With the demise of Rome in the 5th century AD, the Longobards established Lucca as the capital of what was then known as Tuscia. Florence and Siena became banking and trading hubs during the Middle Ages, with Chianti – then a white wine – first documented in the 14th century.Tuscany passed from the Medicis to the Habsburgs as part of the Holy Roman Empire, and then onto the Austrian Empire before becoming part of a reunified Italy in 1861. The quality of Chianti was first recognised by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III, who classified its finest areas in 1716.
Located in the west-central part of the country with the Tyrrhenian Sea lapping its coastline, Tuscany's climate ranges from Mediterranean on the coast to continental deep in the Apennines. More than two thirds of the province is covered with hills, an important terroir factor in the production of fine Tuscan wine. The finest such areas are Chianti Classico, Chianti Rufina, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano and Bolgheri. Sangiovese (in its various clones) is the black grape of choice.
Recommended producers: Valgiano, Caiarossa, Villa Calcinaia, Bibbiano, Badia a Coltibuono, La Serena, Scopetone, Lisini, Sesti, San Giuseppe, Cerbaiona.
Prices:
Bottle
£15.04
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Katherine Dart MW - Wine Buyer, June 2017
Bottle
£15.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl 247cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 17cs
Bottle
£23.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle
£55.25
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle
£65.50
Bottle
£66.50
Bottle 3 x 75cl 11cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Imperial 1 x 600cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
H/Bottle
£74.00
H/Bottle 3 x 37.5cl 7cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
David Berry Green
Bottle
£86.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle
£90.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Over the recent years, the growing excitement and appetite for Italy’s top wines and in particular the Super Tuscan wines has become insatiable.
The excitement behind the renaissance of the Super Tuscan wines is paraphrased brilliantly by Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate – “The buzz is back. Italy’s most iconic wine estate – the ground zero for all fine wine made in the country today – has entered an exciting new chapter with a renewed sense of purpose. This change was not sparked by any single event, rather a confluence of events starting with a fortuitous string of great vintages.” With a string of very good vintages such as 2008, 2009, 2010 and now 2011, Tignanello is on fine form.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 1 x 150cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 6cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 4cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle
£158.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 23cs
Case price (Bottle 3 x 75cl)
Bottle 3 x 75cl 5cs
Bottle 3 x 75cl 2cs
Case price (D. Magnum 1 x 300cl)
D. Magnum 1 x 300cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Case price (Imperial 1 x 600cl)
Imperial 1 x 600cl 1cs
Case price (Imperial 1 x 600cl)
Imperial 1 x 600cl 1cs
Matthew Tipping, Fine Wine Sales Manager
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Annata was among my favourite Brunello releases earlier this year, so I had high hopes for the 2010 riserva. It’s always immensely satisfying when those expectations are met and in this case, exceeded. An immediate superiority to the Annata is obvious on the nose, with an extra layer or two of depth, complexity and focus. The notes of ripe red fruit, spices and grilled steak are compelling and implore you to taste it. It is of course still very young, but even at this stage the concentration and impeccable balance are stunning. All of the above notes are echoed on the palate and combine to create a delightful mouth-feel and a finish which goes on for over a minute. This is a very special wine and one that will make very old bones, if you can resist drinking it while it’s still young.
Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager
Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager
The 2012, is a classic Bordeaux blend, as Ornellaia has always been, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot making up the lion’s share of the cepage and Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot adding complexity. Cabernet Franc is becoming recognised as one of the most successful varieties for Bolgheri and the quantity in the blend of all the major wines in the region seems to be increasing. It may well be that Bolgheri is one of the world’s best sites for this often overlooked variety.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Magnum 1 x 150cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
95-97/100 Monica Larner - erobertparker.com
Sassicaia’s “Bordeaux blend” is unusual in that it contains no Merlot and is simply made from the two Cabernets; Sauvignon 85% and Franc 15%. The success of the latter in Bolgheri has been a real revelation, normally difficult to ripen, it has found a niche in Bolgheri and is able to lend a cool sophistication to the blends. Sassicaia’s first commercial vintage was 1968 and can rightly claim the title “the first Super-Tuscan”, made, as it was, outside the traditional production zones and from non-traditional grape varieties.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 1 x 150cl 1cs
Jeroboam 1 x 600cl 1cs