Azienda Agricola Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT 2016, Italy

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim. This 7 year old is showing a great nose now.

Dry on the palate with medium plus acidity.

Showing red and black fruits with wood, earth, herbs, spices, wild flowers, chocolates, leather, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and black pepper.

This is a delicious, yet very young, Sangiovese from Chianti. Nicely balanced, powerful and tangy.

This 2016 vintage holds great promise for aging gracefully over the next two decades. However, at present, it has yet to fully reach its full potential. Would be nice to revisit it in 5 years.

Would have been nice to have it decanted for a few hours, but it wasn’t my call. I had it blind, so it is what it is.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

100% Sangiovese grapes.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$350.

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Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano Riserva 2010, Italy

What a delicious Brunello this is. Well balanced and powerful with nice complexity.

Dry on the palate with medium acidity and a nice mouthfeel.

Showing black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, spices, licorice, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries.

Very enjoyable now as a 13 year old, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime. After an hour in the decanter, tannins and complexity come to play.

Robert Parker 95 points.

This Single Vineyard is made only in the best vintages. I’ve had this vintage a few times before, and it is always delicious.

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

14.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$250.

Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 1995, Tuscany, Italy

This is a beautiful Brunello from Tuscany.

Dry on the palate with medium acidity.

Showing red and black fruits with tobacco, light oak, herbs, light vegetables, peppercorn, wet leaves, chocolates, dark coffee and graphite.

Long finish with fine grain tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 27 year old is showing nice complexity at this point. Still has a lot in it, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Needs 2 hours in the decanter to open up properly, be patient, you’ll thank me later.

Wine Enthusiasts 92 points. Wine Spectator 91 points.

Delicious and complex. Good by itself or with food. A great sipping wine.

Aged for 2 years in oak barrels.

13% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$160.

Caiarossa Aria di Caiarossa Toscana 2013, Italy

This is a very interesting red blend from Italy.

Medium bodied and extra smooth with medium acidity.

Showing red and black fruits with earth, wood, spices, peppercorn, chocolates, vegetables, herbs and black tea.

Long finish with grippy tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a good food wine. Elegant and fruit forward. Easy drinking and good for parties.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years.

Needs 2 hours to open up properly. It is worth it to be patient.

A blend of Cabenert Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 14 months in oak barrels, and then 6 months in concrete vessels.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40.

I Greppi Greppicaia Bolgheri Superiore DOC 2019, Tuscany, Italy

Dark ruby in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, sweet cooked plums, licorice, light earth, oak, light vegetables, cola, light barnyard, chocolates, tobacco leaf and coffee.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, wood, spices, vanilla, tobacco, espresso, chocolates, earth, light vegetables, pencil lead, peppercorn and cola.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Tuscany. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Spicy and entertaining.

Needs a few hours to open up properly.

Still young and will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. Has great potential to be a 95+ point wine.

Fruit forward with a great mouthfeel. Rich and extracted.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. Aged in (80% new) French oak barrels for 18 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65.

Inserrata Winery Rosso Toscano Insieme 2019, Italy

It’s time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

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

Pretty nose of sweet cherries, raspberries, black plums, spices, light oak, earth, eucalyptus, light alcohol, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, spices, earth, dark chocolates, peppercorn, light wood, vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and light forest floor.

Long tangy finish with fine grained tannins and pomegranates.

This is a very tasty Merlot – Sangiovese blend from Tuscany.

Needs 90 minutes of air time to smooth out the tannins, and remove some of the alcohol.

This 3 year old shows nice complexity already, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 years.

A good food wine that I paired with cheeses and nuts. Paired nicely with the Brie cheese.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$25.

InSerrata Inusuale Bianco Toscano Sangiovese 2019 IGT, Italy

Pale lemon in color with a golden tint.

Earthy nose with citrus, limes, earth, minerals, green apples, bitter herbs and vegetables.

Light to medium in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, earth and vegetables.

Tangy finish with limes and bitter almonds.

This is a nice and easy drinking white Sangiovese from Tuscany.

Refreshing and earthy. Good by itself and better with food.

I paired it with a cheese plate and had it by the lake.

A small production of only 6,680 bottles made. This is bottle number 3,785. Organic.

13% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$25.

In Serrata Wines Inebriante Rosé Tuscany, Italy

A very pretty color of light salmon with an orange hue.

Nose of raspberries, citrus, limes, lemons, light earth and minerals.

Light to medium in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, spices, limes, light earth, green apples and white pepper.

Nice finish with limes and herbs.

This is a nice surprise. This Sangiovese Rosé from Tuscany is drinking very nicely. Refreshing, crisp and better when properly chilled.

Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Good by itself or with food. Easy drinking and good for parties.

Not bitter nor tart, which I liked.

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

13% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$26.

In Serrata Intrigo Bianco Toscana Chardonnay 2020, Italy

Pale lemon in color with a golden hue.

Strong nose of citrus, green and red apples, earth, light vegetables, light oak, vanilla, spices and white pepper.

Full bodied and creamy with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, melons, black pepper, herbs, bitter vegetables, nuts and spices.

Long finish with almonds and black pepper.

This is a delicious Chardonnay from Tuscany. Rich yet elegant. Fruit forward with nice balance.

A very nice surprise for me. Good by itself or with food, and a great sipping wine.

I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40.

Terra di Seta Pellegrini Della Seta Chianti Classico Riserva 2016, Italy

Dark purple/ ruby in color with a reddish rim and medium intensity.

Strong nose of cherries, red currants, bitter herbs, earth, vegetables, light thyme, wood, spices, black tea and peppercorn.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Very dry on the palate with currants, sour cherries, tangy strawberries, light oak, spices, earth, bitter herbs, tobacco leaf, bitter vegetables and peppercorn.

Medium finish with round tannins and tangy pomegranates.

This is a nice Italian Sangiovese.
Tangy and spicy. Showing mild complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

Still young and would be better in 5 years. Needs a couple of hours to open up properly and bring the tannins to play. The high alcohol is nicely integrated, so watch out.

A good food wine that will pair nicely with pizza.

100% Sangiovese grapes were grown at 1,500 feet of elevation and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Kosher and not Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$35.