Fattoria di MonteMaggio Torre di MonteMaggio Toscana 2016 IGT, Italy

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here’s a great surprise from Italy.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Great nose of black cherries, blueberries, wood, cloves, vanilla, espresso, chocolates, earth, wet leaves, tobacco, vinaigrette, forest floor and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, black cherries, light vegetables, wood, licorice, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, tobacco, wet leaves, herbs, earth and leather.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Tuscany. What a great surprise. Tasty and spicy with a soft mouthfeel.

Good by itself or with food and easy drinking.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, and show that beautiful nose.

Feels much older than a 4 year old, and would be nice to revisit it in 3 to 5 years.

High in alcohol, but very nicely integrated. Loved the nose here.

Thank you Wendy for sharing.

I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

100% Merlot grapes, were aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Unfiltered.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50.

Amantis Sangiovese Riserva 2007 DOC, Tuscany, Italy

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish/ brick rim.

Wonderful nose of blueberries, black cherries, black currants, earth, chocolates, licorice, wood, light vanilla, tobacco, coffee, light vinaigrette, leather and wet leaves.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cooked cherries, chocolates, earth, wood, spices, black pepper, leather, light vinaigrette, wet leaves, herbs and licorice.

Long finish with fine grained tannins.

This 13 year old is drinking very nicely now. This is a delicious Sangiovese from Tuscany. Drinks like a nicely aged Brunello.

Nicely balanced with great complexity and a great nose. Loved smelling on it for a while. Soft, rich and interesting.

At its peak now, but will drink nicely in the next few years. Needs 2.5 hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle, too. (So much better once it opens up, so be patient). Started declining after 4 hours.

This is a great surprise. Thank you Elvira for sharing this with me.

I paired it with cheeses, light appetizers and pizza.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

Uproot Wines Grenache 2014 Santa Ynez Valley, California

Ruby in color with medium intensity and a reddish rim.

Strong fruity nose of blueberries, cherries, sweet strawberries, light oak, raspberries, spices, light earth, and black pepper. Fresh and inviting.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, red currants, light oak, licorice, dark chocolates, peppercorn, spices, earth and light vegetables.

Medium finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice and refreshing Grenache from Santa Ynez Valley, California. Easy drinking with mild complexity. Spicy, fruit forward and good right out of the bottle.

This six-year-old feels young and fresh. Would be nice to revisit it in a couple of years.

I gave it a light chill and had it by the pool with cheeses and crackers.

A blend of 86% Grenache, 9% Syrah and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels for 11 months (33% new). A small production of only 300 cases.

14.7% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$46.

Ruffino Modus Toscana 2005 IGT, Italy

Dark ruby in color with a brick rim.

On the nose black currants, blueberries, light wood, earth, forest floor, tobacco, vegetables, Mediterranean spices, wet leaves, coffee, black pepper, over ripen cherries, vinaigrette and leather.

Full-bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and fat legs.

Dry on the palate with stewed blackberries, ripped black currants, licorice, earth, wood, light vanilla, Mediterranean spices, tobacco, peppercorn, espresso, chocolates and wet leaves.

Long tangy finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a nice surprise. This is a very tasty Italian Super Tuscan. Tastes very much like a 20 year old Cabernet based Bordeaux blend from California.

Over the hill by now, but very interesting with great complexity and a yummy mouthfeel. Spicy with lots of earth notes and vegetables.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points.

Thank you Wendy for sharing.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 50% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$20 (current vintage).

Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2003, Italy

Happy New Year everyone! Here is a beautiful Italian Bordeaux blend.

Very dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim.

Great nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, wet leaves, leather, mushrooms, eucalyptus, peppercorn, vegetables, green pepper, tobacco leaf and spices.

Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables and black pepper.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This is a great Italian, Cabernet Based, Super Tuscan. Nicely balanced with great complexity. A little hot at the back of the throat still, which will probably go away in the next 5 years.

This 16 year old has a beautiful nose that you can smell on for hours (which I did). Reminds me of a nicely aged Left Bank Bordeaux.

We let it open up for 4 hours. Tannins come in only after 4 hours, so be patient. Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years. A great quality wine.

Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.

Robert Parker 93 points.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers. Was great with the triple cream truffle Brie cheese.

Delightful and elegant. Tasty and delicious.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in (70% new) French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

96 points.

$200.

Marchesi Antinory Tignanello 2011, Tuscany, Italy

This iconic wine is always enjoyable at this age. Showing great complexity and mouthfeel.

Dry on the palate with black fruits, earth, chocolates, tobacco, spices, mocha, coke, vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

This 8 year old is drinking very nicely now and will age nicely in the next decade.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show some tannins.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

A great wine to have with good friends. Thank you David for sharing.

I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses. Delicious.

Robert Parker 93 points.

A blend of 80% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$120.

Tenuta Di Arceno Il Fauno Di Arcanum Toscana 2014 IGT, Italy

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here’s a great one from Tuscany.

Dark ruby in color with a reddish rim.

Great nose of blueberries, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, wild flowers, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, vegetables, graphite, light alcohol, bell pepper and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium plus acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, plums, cherries, oak, licorice, spices, coffee, pencil lead, cola, leather, smoke, vegetables, light bell pepper and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm tannins (but not grippy any longer).

This Merlot based, Super Tuscan Red, is very enjoyable now as a 5 year old. Showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and show the beautiful nose.

Still young, but already drinking very nicely. Would be nice to try it again in 3 years.

A blend of 72% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a cheeses and crackers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$20.