An impressive Chianti Classico with a bouquet of violets, leather, cherry, raspberry, tobacco and undergrowth. It is concentrated with elevated acidity and refined tannins. Drink until 2024.
Dark red, tiled rim. Ripe cherry, tobacco, tar and spices on the nose. Soft attack, full-bodied, the firm to very firm tannic backbone has a fine graininess. Slightly bitter finish. Great potential.
A bright and vibrant wine with juicy cherry flavours, lifted acidity, balanced and long with a touch of savoury spice on the finish. A great example of how good the simplicity and purity of Barbera d’Asti can be with respect to drinkability and as an everyday food wine. A great value.
Did you know that Vernaccia di San Gimignano was the first Italian wine to be awarded Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status in 1966? If you did, well done, geek. The wine was elevated to DOCG status in 1993. The wine's history in the Tuscan region is recorded back to the 13th century, though the Vernaccia grape fell out of favour in the 20th century. This is 85% Vernaccia, complemented with other local grapes and aged entirely in stainless steel. Lemons lead the chorus of citrus, followed by almonds and wild flowers. There's an mushroom earthiness to the fine bed of lees that finishes this medium-bodied white with a bitter twist.
Ruby in colour with a mature rim; an earthy, cherry nose is backed by spicy oak; medium-bodied, dry, cherry flavour with a smoky note and a firm tannic finish.
Outside of Chianti Classico, the sub-region Rufina, NE of Florence, holds premium position. Altitude (up to 900 m), soils (galestro, chalk and marl) and pedigree (Florentine merchant families of the Antinori and Frescobaldi lineage own the majority of acreage) make Rufina an elegant and prominent place. This estate, originally built as a summer residence for Florentine bishops, is 240 hectares, 45 of which are planted to vine and 31 to olives. It was purchased in 1827 by Michele Giuntini Selvapiana and since 1957 it has been run by the 5th generation Giuntini family member, Francesco Giuntini Antinori. Consulting winemaker Franco Bernabei has been at Selvapiana since 1978, and Bucerchiale, their flagship wine and only made in the very best years, was born the year after he arrived. Gripped by stones and herbal thorns but with tannins eased with time in bottle, this is an age-softened Chianti Riserva with poise. Dried roses, worn leather, dried cherry and grippy, persistent tannins run the length of this streamlined red. Graphite and dusty stone, blue plum, fine mineral and a lifeline vein of acidity propel, but those chewy tannins still dry out on the finish. I would pour this with rabbit and wild mushrooms and be quite content.
Ruby-garnet. Shy nose of ripe red berries, little oak if any. Supple, soft texture with a firm core. A nice roundness in the mid-palate brings elegance. Finish is firm.