BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast

92
Castello d’Albola 2007 Acciaiolo (Toscana).
Acciaiolo is a super Tuscan blend of
Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon that opens with
concentrated and opulent aromas of dark cherry, chocolate
and exotic spice. The mouthfeel shows heft and
depth. Give the wine a few more years in the cellar to
soften those toasted oak influences. Zonin USA. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $90
92
Collazzi 2007 Rosso (Toscana). Soft and
velvety, this super Tuscan blend delivers intense
and pure notes of chocolate, cherry, blackberry
and spice. It balances a dense, rich texture with loads
of bright fruit on the finish. The Sorting Table. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $39
92
Poggio Antico 2010 Lemartine (Toscana).
A new wine from Poggio Antico, Lemartine is
a hearty blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and
Petit Verdot that offers intense and pristine aromas of
black fruit, spice, rum cake, pepper and black pipe tobacco.
It shows both substance and freshness on the
long finish. The Sorting Table. —M.L.
abv: NA Price: $52
91
Agricola Querciabella 2007 Camartina
(Toscana). This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon
and Sangiovese opens with plush layers of cherry and
blackberry and touches of spice and toast that are never
overdone. In fact, the wine shows power and determination
allied to delicacy. Maisons Marques & Domaines
USA. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $130
90
Bibi Graetz 2009 Testamatta Soffocone
di Vincigliata (Toscana). This is a special expression
of Sangiovese (and a small amount of Cannaiolo)
with a pure, luminous quality aided by subtle aromas
of forest berry, white licorice, cola and pressed lavender.
It’s an elegant wine from start to finish.—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $45
90
Castelvecchio 2007 Il Brecciolino (Toscana).
You’re in for a big, bold wine the minute
you pour Il Brecciolino into the glass. This blend of
Sangiovese, Merlot and Petit Verdot opens with a dark,
inky color and intense aromas of ripe fruit, blackberry,
rum cake and spice. It’s soft, supple and rich. Atlantic
Importing. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $45
87
Buccia Nera 2007 Amadio (Toscana). This
blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and
Merlot opens with earthy aromas of leather, tobacco
and button mushroom, followed by fresh cherry. Crisp
acidity makes this a good wine to pair with cheesy risotto
or pork. Casa Torelli . —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $23
87
Castello d’Albola 2009 Il Solatio (Toscana).
From a vineyard located 580 meters
above sea level, Il Solatio delivers cool aromas of wild
berry, cola, white mineral and crushed stone. The wine
is lean and compact in the mouth, but it definitely bears
the mark of its origins. —M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $NA
26 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | MONTH 2012
87
I Giusti e Zanza 2008 Nemorino (Toscana).
Nemorino (a blend of Syrah, Sangiovese
and Merlot) shows chewy cherry and blueberry
characteristics with easy spice tones on the finish. The
wine is fresh and bright and would pair with meat lasagna
or tortellini with grated Parmigiano. Vindagra USA.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $17
87
Mocine 2009 Rosso (Toscana). This organically
farmed blend of Sangiovese, Foglia Tonda,
Barsaglina and Colorino opens with sweet cherry
and blueberry notes followed by light accents of spice
and leather. This easygoing wine shows medium intensity
and fresh acidity. The Italian Wine Trader. —M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $19
86
Capezzana 2010 Monna Nera (Toscana).
In 1475, Monna Nera was the name of the
woman who purchased and managed the historic Capezzana
wine estate in western Tuscany. This easy wine
offers loads of bright cherry aromas and a lean, crisp
mouthfeel. MW Imports. —M.L.
abv: 12.5% Price: $12
86
Fattoria la Castellina 2008 Reale (Toscana).
Reale (100% Merlot) offers sweet cherry
and raspberry aromas with light touches of spice and
toasted almond in the background. This ruby colored
wine offers an easy, fresh and lean feel in the mouth.
Saranty Imports. —M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $30
86
Varramista 2007 Ottopioppi (Toscana).
Grenache is a grape variety that is slowly making
its mark in central Italy. This 80-20 blend of Sangiovese
and Grenache shows the bright cherry and blue
flower aromas of Sangiovese with slightly smoked, savory
layers in the background. Vigneti D’Italia. —M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $30
85
Buccia Nera 2008 Camprianese (Toscana).
This easy blend of Sangiovese and
Ciliegiolo opens with a dark, garnet color and sharp aromas
of raw cherry and blueberry. It’s finely focused and
crisp, making it perfect for pizza or pasta. Potomac Selections.
—M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $11
84
Fattoria di San Quintino 2008 La Fagiana
(Toscana). La Fagiana is a bright, rubycolored
wine with aromas of forest fruit and bramble,
with white almond and spice at the back. It’s an easy, nofuss
expression with a clean, tart close. Vindagra USA.
—M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $NA
84
Massanera 2005 Prelato di Massanera
(Toscana). Vintner Carlo Cattaneo offers a
lean, crisp expression of Sangiovese with aromas of cassis
and spice. The wine shows sharp acidity on the close.
Total Wine & More. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $35
OTHER TUSCAN REDS
88
Marchesi Antinori 2009 Achelo Syrah
(Cortona). Achelo is a bright, chewy and lively
red wine with aromas of blueberry, spice, milk chocolate
and crushed white pepper. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.
—M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $21
87
La Braccesca 2010 Sabazio (Rosso di
Montepulciano). Sabazio is a bold and savory
Rosso di Montepulciano with spicy aromas of leather,
tobacco, ripe fruit, blackberry preserves and rum cake.
The intensity of the bouquet is there but the mouthfeel
is light and tight. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $15
85
Pieve Vecchia 2009 Albatrello (Montecucco).
Aged only in stainless steel, this blend
of Sangiovese and Alicante combines bright fruit nuances
of cherry and blueberry with a lean, crisp mouthfeel.
It’s got enough acidity to cut through cheesy
pizza.Supreme Wines & Spirits. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $18
ROSÉS
88
Fattoria Le Pupille 2010 RosaMati Rosé
(Maremma). RosaMati opens with a bold pink
color and follows up aromatically with bright raspberry,
cassis and cranberry. The wine shows a cool, silky feel in
the mouth with a crisp close. Winebow. —M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $20
87
Terre di Talamo 2010 Piano... Piano Rosé
(Maremma). Here’s a lively rosé from Tuscany
(a 50-50 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon)
that offers pretty aromas of cranberry, red rose and
white almond. Pair it with smoked salmon and capers.
Michelangelo Selections. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $15
87
Terre di Talamo 2009 Piano... Piano Rosé
(Maremma). A 50-50 blend of Sangiovese and
Cabernet Sauvignon, Piano... Piano opens with a pretty
pink color and delicate aromas of rose petal, white cherry
and almond paste. Pair this wine with spicy Thai beef
and basil. Michelangelo Selections. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $15
87
Fabrizio Dionisio 2010 Rosa del Castagno
Rosé (Toscana). This bright peach-pink
colored rosé is made using Syrah from the Cortona area.
It shows aromas of peach, cranberry, white almond and
pink grapefruit. USA Wine Imports. —M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $29
87
Il Poggione 2009 Lo Sbrancato Rosé
(Toscana). A rosé of Sangiovese from southern
Tuscany (Montalcino), Lo Sbrancato features ripe
aromas of wild berry, cranberry and white almond. It’s
a simple, fresh wine that would pair well with mussels
steamed in cream sauce. Terlato Wines International.
—M.L.
abv: 12.5% Price: $NA