Tenuta Le Colonne Bolgheri Rosso 2021, Tuscany, Italy

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday

Ruby in color with medium intensity. A pretty color.

Nose of fresh cherries, raspberries, light wood, earth, bitter vegetables, bell pepper and tobacco leaf.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, currants, light wood, spices, espresso, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice Merlot based blend from Bolgheri. Tangy, with lots of earth notes. Spicy and entertaining.

The Cabernet Franc seems to be dominating the nose right now.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.

Good by itself or with food. Easy drinking with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

A blend of 50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. Aged in large Chianti oak barrels for 12 months.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$40.

Tenuta Argentiera Villa Donoratico Bolgheri Rosso 2021, Tuscany, Italy

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim, with a beautiful Bordeaux nose.

Full-bodied with medium acidity, and dry on the palate.

Showing black cherries, currants, plums, licorice, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, earth, dark chocolates and peppercorn.

Nice finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a tasty Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Bolgheri. Elegant and rich. Fruit forward with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years.

Good by itself or with food. Will pair nicely with fatty meats.

A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. Aged for 10 months in French and Austrian oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$60.

Castello di Bolgheri Varvara DOC 2021, Bolgheri, Italy

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Very pretty color of ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Nice nose with unique aluminum notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with red and black fruits, earth, herbs, oak, chocolates, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco and peppercorn.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Bolgheri in Tuscany. Elegant and fruity with nice complexity.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Easy drinking and needs time to open up properly.

Already tasty and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

Elegant and robust. Spicy and fruit forward.

Feels like an old world Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of new world.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, and 6 months in large Austrian barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30.

Tenuta Castello di Bolgheri Bolgheri Superiore 2021, Tuscany, Italy

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Showing plums, black cherries, currants, chocolates, light oak, spices, coffee, licorice, light vanilla, peppercorn, tobacco leaf and light earth.

Medium plus in length on the finish, with grippy tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Bolgheri. Spicy and interesting. Nicely balanced and elegant.

Very tasty and already enjoyable, although still young. Needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot. Aged for 16 months in French oak barrels and then 6 months in Austrian oak.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85.

Campo Alle Comete Stupore Rosso Bolgheri 2022, Tuscany, Italy

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let’s bring Merlot back!

Pretty ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with red fruits, earth, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf, light barnyard, dark coffee and peppercorn.

Short finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Merlot blend is still harsh, but good with food right now. A little unbalanced, but drinkable nonetheless.

Would be interesting to try it again in 3 years.

A blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Syrah. Aged in steel vats on the lees for 12 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$20.