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.

Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT 2018, Italy

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

On the nose, black plums, black currants, stewed cherries, vanilla, oak, light vegetables, coffee, licorice, spices and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, black currants, oak, light vanilla, spices, licorice, tobacco, earth, herbs, dark coffee and peppercorn.

Medium plus in finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty and tangy Sangiovese based red from Tuscany. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Spicy, powerful and tangy.

Still young and would be better in 3 to 5 years. A good quality wine with good potential. Would continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Needs time to open up. I gave it 90 minutes, but I don’t think it was enough. Still a little hot, which will dissipate with time.

A good food wine that I paired with cheeses and olives. Will pair nicely with pizza.

A blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$25.

Tenuta MonteRosola Corpo Notte 2016 Toscana, Italy

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

On the nose blueberries, cherries, cooked strawberries, earth, wood, licorice, spices, chocolates, eucalyptus, pencil lead, light alcohol, herbs and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, light vanilla, dark chocolates, peppercorn, earth, black tea, wet leaves, herbs, pencil lead, dark coffee, leather and spices.

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

This is a very nice Sangiovese based Tuscan wine. Showing nice complexity and structure. Tangy and interesting.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature, but starting to drink nicely now. Will age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

This Single Vineyard needs time to open up, so be patient. I gave it two hours in a decanter to open up properly, and show the structure, tannins and the pretty nose.

A good food wine that I paired with meats, cheeses and crackers. Will pair nicely with BBQ meats too.

A blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months. Limited production.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$50.

MonteRosola Winery Canto Della Civetta 2016, Italy

Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here’s a nice one from Italy.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose with blueberries, currants, black cherries, earth, oak light vegetables, wet leaves, leather, espresso, pencil lead, peppercorn, herbs and spices.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with cooked cherries, red currants, sweet strawberries, earth, oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco leaf, light vegetables, pencil lead, espresso, spices, black tea and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very nice Merlot from Tuscany. Showing a great nose with nice complexity and structure. Tangy and spicy. Interesting and rich. Feels like a right Bank Bordeaux.

This Single Vineyard is still young and would be better in 5 years of bottle time. Would age nicely in the next 15 years.

I decanted it for 90 minutes, which is when the the tannins showed up.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses. Paired very nicely with the Prosciutto.

100% Merlot grapes were hand picked and fermented in concrete vats. Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months. Limited production.

15% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$65.

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.