Tuscany Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Wallter Speller writes:  Lustrous mid ruby. An elegant, fragrant raspberry nose, gorgeous supple and juicy cherry and raspberry fruit on the palate, and with gripping, nutty tannins. Very long and succulent and fragrant.  Drinking 2022 to 2028.  - Jancis Robinson 17++

Audrey Frick writes:  The dark ruby 2020 Chianti Classico is ripe with aromas of black raspberry coulis, red flowers, sweet tobacco, and pine. Elegant and medium-bodied, it fills the palate with supple texture, fine tannins, and an even, well-balanced finish. This is a highly approachable wine that I would be fighting to pour by the glass if I were still running a wine program. Pure, classic, and balanced, it’s a gulpable wine will drink great now or over the coming 6-8 years.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Jeb Dunnuck 92+

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Chianti Classico is super-impressive. It's the sort of wine that needs time to come together, though, so readers should be in no rush. The purity of the fruit is really quite compelling. Dark cherry, plum, cedar, incense and licorice build nicely in a mid-weight Chianti Classico that hits all the right notes.  Drinking 2023 to 2032.  - Vinous 91

Monica Larner writes:  The certified organic San Giusto a Rentennano 2020 Chianti Classico is a clever blend of 90% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo from a unique growing site in Gaiole in Chianti. This vintage absolutely stands out thanks to its ample and generous fruit profile, driven by a warm and sunny vintage. This sees steel, cement and oak. The wine travels over the palate with an elegant and velvety texture. This is an entry-level production of 51,872 bottles (and some magnums), and it hits all the right notes.  Drinking 2022 to 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A dense red, with solid tannins and lively acidity supporting expressive cherry, raspberry, iron and earth flavors. Balanced, long and will benefit from food or another year or two of bottle age. Sangiovese and Canaiolo. Drink now through 2028.  - Wine Spectator 90

Winemaker Description

It is a Chianti with a traditional style, energetic and elegant, expressing beautiful complexity and cleanliness in the nose. It is aged for at least 10 months in oak barrels and barriques plus 6 months in the bottle and expresses aromas of ripe red fruit and spicy notes, for an agile, fresh and soft sip.  

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling writes:  Lovely crushed berry and cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a crunchy and delicious finish. A blend of mostly merlot and cabernet sauvignon with some syrah and cabernet franc. Drink now.  - James Suckling 93

James Button writes:  Rosso dei Notri is Tua Rita's biggest production, at about 150,000 bottles a year. This is the first vintage using concrete alongside the usual stainless steel vats, which in theory should give a bit more softness of texture and fruit expression. Creamy red and black berry aromas carry through to the mouth, where they are joined by overtones of liquorice and violet. Fresh and spicy, this is a fairly straightforward, easy-drinking red which shows lovely purity of fruit. 80% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and Cabernet Franc.  Drinking 2024 to 2028.  - Decanter 90

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2023 Rosso di Notri, the estate’s entry-level red, is a fine choice for drinking over the next few years. Succulent red cherry, tobacco, spice and leather are nicely pushed forward in this refreshing, juicy red blend of 30% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 20% Cabernet Franc.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Vinous 

Winemaker Description

This youthful offering from Tua Rita is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Franc, harvested in September from vineyards in the foothills of Suvereto, a small hilltop village in Tuscany. After a gentle pressing, the wine is aged for three months in French oak barriques and stainless steel tanks.

Deep ruby red in color, with aromas of black fruits, namely blackberries, plums and ripe black cherries over more subtle notes of cocoa, licorice and sweet spice. On the palate, the wine is smooth, with silky tannins and bracing acidity, showing structural balance long into the finish.

Pair this wine with prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, spice rubbed chicken, or lasagna Bolognese with béchamel sauce.

Expert Description

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | Ampeleia Estate Unlitro is a light, earthy, natural blend of Alicante (Grenache), Mourvedre, Carignano, Sangiovese and Alicante Bouschet from the Tuscan Coast made by Biodynamic wine grower Elisabetta Foradori. The Ampeleia Estate consists of 150 hectares of which 35 are planted to vines and the remainder to wheat, legumes, vegetables, olive groves, woodlands and animals. This vivacious red, which boasts a modest 12% alcohol, sees no oak during production, keeping it agile, light on its feet and almost too easily quaffable.

Aromas of forest flowers, strawberry blossoms, earthy blood plums and delicate spices open up on the nose with crisp, peppery fruit refreshing the palate complimented by invigorating acidity and gentle tannins on the finish.

Not a trace of heaviness, just a pure, natural expression of organic grape growing and harmonious winemaking done with lots of love.

Serve chilled, pour generously, and pair it with just about anything!

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Vinous 93 Points | The 2023 Unlitro is fresh, aromatic and vibrant, all of which make it a delight to taste. Crushed flowers, herbs, mint, orange peel, spice and leather are all nicely lifted in this mid-weight red. A whole range of savory and floral overtones lift the finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 92 Points | Currant, blueberry and violet aromas follow through to a medium body with firm, fine tannins that give the wine form and focus. Chocolate and hazelnut emerge in the undertones. Drink or hold.

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot features alluring aromas evoking cassis, black-skinned berry and underbrush. The concentrated palate offers black plum, tobacco and mocha alongside polished tannins.

Winemaker Description

The olfactory impact is of considerable aromatic intensity: it expands with notes of small, fully ripe red fruits, accompanied by clear balsamic and Mediterranean hints. In progression, typical mineral notes develop. The gustatory impact is austere, of remarkable freshness and of large volume. It develops in a balanced fusion between the broad minerality and the fine and enveloping tannins. Everything is found in the long final persistence that foreshadows a long life ahead.

Goes well with game, wild boar, roast, braised and stewed red meats, and medium aged cheese.

Expert Rating

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | Next up is the 2020 Grattamacco, which really takes things up a notch. A deep, ruby red, it offers decadent and harmoniously layered armoas of pristine oak spice, fresh leather, mossy earth, tobacco and kirsch. Full-bodied and refined, it has a velvety texture, plush tannins, even acidity, and a long finish. This deamnds to be cellared and will continue to improve if adequately stored over the next two decades and likely beyond. (2020). 

Robert Parker 95 Points | The organic Grattamacco 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Grattamacco is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 15% Sangiovese fermented in conical oak vats and aged in barrique for 18 months. The vintage is fruit-driven for sure, and this expression shows nice detailing in terms of the quality and structure of the tannins. The bouquet is focused on grilled cherry and mixed berry. You definitely get a warm, earthy quality with black licorice and sweet Mediterranean tones. (2020).

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | A nose that is luxuriously fruity also has undertones of salt, flint and herbs providing balance. The palate runs wild with fruit but simulaneously offers notes of dark chocolate and a subtle spiciness to keep things lively. Tannins are chalky and resilient, and persistent acidity holds up a long finish. (2020). 

91 Points Vinous | A blend of musky dried peaches and apricot offset by savory herbs wafts up from the 2022 Il Rosé di Casanova. It's zesty and wickedly fresh, with vibrant acidity and wild citrus notes that excite the senses. The 2022 finishes floral and crisp, showcasing nectarine hints. Il Rose di Casanova is a blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Prugnolo Gentile.

Pink onion peel in color. Aromas of fresh grapefruit, wild strawberry, and tropical fruit. Mineral and precise, with intense citrus and marjoram notes. The finish is delicate and persistent. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 95 Points | The brightness and purity of fruit is so beautiful here, showing flowers and currants. Very aromatic. Lots of finesse and focus on the medium-bodied palate with super-fine tannins and a lovely finish.

The Wine Advocate 94 Points | The Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri Rosso Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is a blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc that saw 15 months in barrique with one-third new oak. Following in the general Ornellaia philosophy, the team has been leaning off long maceration times for more delicate extraction. Blending for this wine usually occurs 12 months after fermentation. This vintage is structured and rich with sweet tannins and a supple texture. This hot vintage brings more fruit weight for sure, but the wine remains fresh and well balanced overall.

Decanter Magazine 93 Points | Merlot-dominant Serre Nuove is deeper, earthier and spicier in aroma compared to Le Volte. It has cool, balsamic herb edges with a concentration of chocolatey dark berries at the core; a finessed style that impresses. The tannins are fine and slightly grainy and grippy, and the acidity rings out. A wine of sapidity and freshness, this is a delightful option for drinking in the near- to mid-term

Wine Spectator 93 Points | A smooth red, this evokes cedar, plum, black currant, blackberry, vanilla and resin aromas and flavors. Broad and dense, with accents of leather, earth and tobacco on the long finish.

Vinous Media 93 Points | The 2022 Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is everything a second wine should be. Open-knit and racy, the 2022 caresses the palate with succulent red fruit. Floral and spice notes with a kick of blood orange open the wine nicely on the mid-palate and into the finish. Soft, silky tannins wrap it all together. This stylish red from Ornellaia is ready to go.

Winemaker Description

Coming from a classic, Bolgheri vintage, Promis shows a bright, ruby-red color. The nose has hints of spice such as cinnamon and star anise along with pronounced red fruits like strawberry and black cherry. 

The tannins are juicy and persistent all culminating in a salinity that is a classic hallmark of good vintages in Bolgheri. 

Coming from a classic, Bolgheri vintage, Promis shows a bright, ruby-red color. The nose has hints of spice such as cinnamon and star anise along with pronounced red fruits like strawberry and black cherry. The tannins are juicy and persistent all culminating in a salinity that is a classic hallmark of good vintages in Bolgheri. 

Winemaker Description

Wine Spectator 91 Points "Plum, cherry and almond flavors are framed by hints of orange peel, blood, earth and tobacco in this complex, firmly-structured red. Compact for now, ending with mouth-coating tannins. Best from 2025 through 2040. 5,000 cases made, 3,500 cases imported."

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Winemaker Description 

This Tuscan “Super Value” is a blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and comes from a single-vineyard site in the Alta Maremma called Rompicollo. The vineyard benefits from southern exposure, ample sunlight, and a soil rich in tufo, a particular type of volcanic rock.

A deep, bright ruby red in color, on the nose it offers an elegant, varied bouquet of ripe berry fruits (such as blackberries and raspberries), dried aromatic herbs and delicate sweet spices. On the palate it is full-bodied, mellow and mouth-filling, with velvety tannins. Though richly flavored, it displays an attractive suppleness in the mouth.

Winemaker Description 

Montesecondo represents the purest expression of the Sangiovese grape that this earth produces. The aging process occurs in cement tanks, allowing the grapes tannin to soften, leaving space for the fruit to express itself and giving light to the wine. The grapes, 100% Sangiovese, come from our younger vines with a planting density of 6250 plants per hectare.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | The nose is defined by a delicate sweetness, as undertones of clove and orange peel bring nuance to leading aromas of vanilla and strawberry, followed by a crack of black pepper. On the palate, fruit leads the way, but a hint of that bitter, spicy element perseveres all the way through the warm, acidic finish. 

Decanter Magazine 92 Points | With a picture-perfect view of the town of Montepulciano to the north, Salcheto’s 18 hectares of Vino Nobile surround the winery. The self-sufficient facility is a model of genuine green initiatives, and the wines sit at the top echelon of the denomination. The 2019 captures the warmth of the vintage, with sun-warmed raspberry and cherry, heady violets and yellow broom. Fresh and succulent, it is loaded with concentrated, joyful fruit while smooth, suede-like tannins hem it all in effortlessly. Deceptively simple sounding but in reality quite sophisticated.

James Suckling 92 Points | A pretty full-bodied Vino Nobile with dried strawberries, plums, hazelnuts and some blood oranges on the nose. The fruit is juicy but the mouthfeel is round and supple. Tannins are supportive and fine. Drink or hold.

The Wine Spectator 91 Points | Ripe, evoking macerated cherry, plum, leather, almond and loam flavors backed by a dense layer of tannins. Stays within bounds and lingers nicely. Best from 2025 through 2033. 12,500 cases made, 4,500 cases imported.

Vinous 90 Points | The 2020 Nobile di Montepulciano opens with a classic blend of dusty black cherries, cedar shavings, worn leather and sour citrus hints. This is soft textured yet cool-toned in feel, with zesty red fruits and cedary spice guided by vibrant acidity. It tapers off long and lightly structured, leaving a bitter tinge to linger as violet inner florals fade.

Eric Guido | Dusty dried flowers, crushed rocks, lavender and red currants can all be found as the 2020 Nobile di Montepulciano opens in the glass. This floods the palate with silky textural waves contrasted by tart wild berry fruits and a salty sensation brought on by pronounced minerality toward the close. The result is both savory and sweet and full of zesty tension, as the 2020 finishes with a bitter cherry pit twang.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2019

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points |  The 2019 Rosso Di Montalcino is ripe but energetic, with pure red cherry, rose petal, orange peel, and white pepper. It is medium-bodied, with elegant ripe raspberry with a graceful feel. Seamless, with fine tannins, it is supple and soft in its texture and raises the bar in a big way for the category. 6,700 bottles were produced. 

Vinous 93 Points |  An unbelievably pretty blend of dusty rose, cherry and sage wafts up from the 2019 Rosso di Montalcino. It’s strikingly beautiful and graceful within, silky yet cool-toned, mixing saline-tinged minerals with ripe red fruits and floral nuances that resonate throughout. The 2019 finishes structured yet potent and long, leaving lingering dried cherry and licorice notes. Cellaring will be required, but with that said, this is a Rosso of astonishing depth and complexity.

Winemaker Description

The Pian dell Orino estate is adjacent to the Biondi Santi property. This area has a long history of being particularly suited for growing grapes for high quality wines. Husband and wife team Caroline and Jan's love for Tuscany and passion for viticulture binds them particularly to this land, their vines and the resulting wines. 

The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area. 

The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area. 

Winemaker Description

The estate Chianti Classico is central in representing Badia a Coltibuono's vision and relationship with its place and its history. Using the traditional blend of Sangiovese and complementary varieties, as well as propagating vines the traditional way - by massal selection - has always been the backbone of the wine. Modern techniques such as vinification by gravity are used to bring forth the best expression of the fruit, but traditional approaches, from indigenous yeast fermentation to aging in oak casks rather than barriques, are central to the authenticity of the wine. The winery's long-established organic practices are also fundamental in the development of the truly unique character of the grapes.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 93 Points | A very typical and beautiful Chianti Classico with cherry, burnt-orange and polished-wood aromas that follow through to a full body with round tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. (2019).

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Ripe wild berry, blue flower and dark spice aromas form the nose along with whiffs of new leather. Tangy and easy drinking, the savory palate offers mature Marasca cherry and licorice alongside lithe tannins. 

Robert Parker 89 Points |  The certified organic 2019 Chianti Classico is 90% Sangiovese with smaller parts Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo and Colorino. Fruit comes from calcareous clay soils in a wild and thickly forested corner of Gaiole in Chianti. The wine shows genuine clarity and shine with simple berry aromas balanced by easy spice and earth. There aren't any extra bells or whistles. The point is finding the essence of Sangiovese, without adding layers. 

Wine Spectator 89 Points | This silky red shows a pure cherry center offset by earthy, leafy flavors. A touch dry in the balance, where the earth and underbrush notes echo. Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo and Colorino. Drink now. (2019). 

Winemaker Description

The name Monte Bernardi appears in records dating back to the eleventh century. The Monte Bernardi estate now extends to over 70 hectares of land including 22 hectares of organically farmed vineyards. Monte Bernardi has the highest percentage of old vines of any commercially producing estate in Chianti Classico, including six hectares over 55 years old, and one extraordinary hectare planted in 1933, all thriving under the care of the vineyard team.

Retromarcia means “to back up” or “to reverse,” and this wine is Monte Bernardi’s traditionally made beacon of Sangiovese’s natural elegance and expressiveness. It’s a medium-bodied wine that blends fruit freshness with bright acidity and structure. Fresh and fruity, medium bodied, well balanced, with a nice structure, juicy acidity and a long finish.

Monte Bernardi Retromarcia Chianti Classico is a deep, ruby red with hints of purple. Intense notes of mountain herbs, aromas of cranberry, wild cherry and red plums, anise, spice, and orange peel. Fresh and fruity, medium-bodied, well balanced, with a nice structure, juicy acidity and a long finish.

Expert Reviews

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A bright, fruity style, with elements of earth, wild herb and menthol adding interest. Fluid and moderately long, featuring beefy tannins. Sangioveto, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2015 Maremma Toscana Le Sughere di Frassinello is a great value blend of 50% Sangioveto, 25% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon (aged in French oak for one year). This wine boasts a proven track record for its consistent value and accessibility and can be counted on for both. It releases a steady flow of dark fruit and spice aromas that build in momentum. The mouthfeel is generous and softly velvety in texture, especially in this warm vintage.

James Suckling 92 Points | A juicy and ripe red with dried berry and chocolate. Medium body with chewy and soft tannins. Flavorful finish. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | Offering a clean and bright fruit profile, the Fattoria dei Barbi 2019 Brunello di Montalcino shows plum, dark cherry and blackberry. The fruit presented in this vintage is fresh, velvety, nicely contoured and still tastes quite primary in nature. This bodes well for the wine's future bottle evolution. The tannins are slightly chalky but supported by rich texture...Great job here.

James Suckling 95 Points| Blueberry and orange peel with some cedar and nutmeg in the aromas and flavors. Medium to full body with firm and polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Polished and refined, yet structured. Solid wine.

Wine Spectator 92 Points| Fresh and lively, this light-bodied red offers flavors of cherry, strawberry, earth and herbs, with crisp tannins emerging on the finish. This is approachable now but should improve with a few more years of age. Drink now through 2038.

Vinous Media 91 Points|The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a mentholated freshness, blending savory herbs with wild strawberries and camphor hints. It’s softly textured and supple in feel, more lifted than expected. Crisp red berry fruits cascade throughout and are supported by brisk acidity. This finishes tannic and long, leaving a bitter tinge to linger as hints of licorice fade. I find myself craving a little more flesh on the bone. That said, with maturity should also come more fat that should help to balance the 2019.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Monica Larner writes:  The 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It opens to an impenetrable, full-bodied approach with dark fruit, pencil shaving, toasted oak, Spanish cedar, campfire ash and iron ore. For sure, this is an especially concentrated and oak-driven vintage of this iconic wine. It absolutely requires more aging time. It feels quite tight and firm in its youth. The concentration is abundant.  Drinking 2026 - 2045  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Audrey Frick writes:  The 2020 Ornellaia is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in 70% new French oak for 18 months, with another 12 months in bottle prior to release. Flush with herbs and menthol, blackberry, and cedar, it is full bodied and fills the sides of the mouth with rounded fruit of luxurious plum, black cherry, and toast, with supple and velvety tannins. Drink 2026-2046.  - Jeb Dunnuck 96

Jancis Robinson writes: Deep, lustrous crimson. Very sumptuous nose followed up by a hedonistic palate that finishes especially fresh. Ripe but not too-ripe fruit – a drier (much less sweet) vintage than usual which should age well. Unusually, there is some vestige of tannin on the finish. It's certainly possible to drink now if it's aerated before serving but ideally, I'd keep this awhile. Savoury persistence.  Drinking 2024 - 2028  - Jancis Robinson 18

Bruce Sanderson writes:  Inviting aromas of blackberry, black currant, anise, cedar, vanilla and tobacco draw you in to this red, which is sleek and open on the palate. This is so well-balanced, it's approachable now, yet there's a bit of reserve too. The fruit flavors are prominent on the finish, along with mineral and spice notes, while the lasting impression is a salty, flinty element. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2045.   - Wine Spectator 96

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Ornellaia is a gorgeous, elegant wine. Seamless and wonderfully deep on the palate, the 2020 is super-refined from the outset. Even with all of its depth, the 2020 retains terrific freshness and cut to play off its soft, succulent fruit. Overall, the 2020 looks to be a relatively accessible Ornellaia that will drink well with minimal cellaring. I especially admire the precision and understated finesse here.  Drinking 2027 - 2045  - Vinous 96

James Button writes:  Estate director Axel Heinz called 2020 ‘a classic Ornellaia,’ and picked the theme of ‘La Proporzione‘ (proportion) to describe its character. Indeed, the blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot marks a return to a more typical blend following the pendulum swings of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon in 2019, and 51% Merlot in 2018. Fine-grained and beautifully textured, its finely integrated tannins support a concentration of black fruits lightened by red berries. Aromas of black cherry, liquorice, dark chocolate, cedar and damp earth make for a fragrant wine, accompanied by menthol and balsamic streaks which run through the wine and impart plenty of freshness. It finishes with a stony and salty element along with some chocolatey and woody hints. Tight and moreish, its ripeness of fruit combined with freshness and structure adeptly tells the story of this earlier-ripening vintage. It lacks complexity in the mouth – this will come with time – but the array of aromas gives a hint of what is to come.  Drinking 2023 -2050  - Decanter 96

Georgina Hindle writes:  Black bramble fruit on the nose, heady, expressive, forward and open. Aromatic and inviting - on the riper, jammy side. Lithe and supple, this has an energy and weight giving plush tannins but with an austere, mineral grip. A curious combination but one that serves to give a round, interesting mouthful with both balsamic black and sweet blue fruits with touches of wet stone, cola and liquorice. Dark and brooding, a little sombre right now, clearly powerful with concentration and you can tell it's been well worked - feels controlled but still quite tense and constricted. The overall texture is sublime and I do love the dark sticky liquorice and bitter orange zest but this isn't quite giving the wow factor. Nice layering, linear and pure, tannins a touch dry on the finish. Refined and austere. Has a touch of ripe jamminess that detracts a little from the charming elegance you know this wine can have. 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend.  Drinking 2026 -2046

James Suckling writes:  Alluring aromas of lead pencil and currants with crushed stone and iodine. Full-bodied with hemmed in tannins that are tight and focused. Very fresh and energetic with wonderful length and intensity for this vintage. Needs four or five years to come together. Better in 2028 and onwards.  - James Suckling 98

Expert Notes

James Suckling writes:  Attractive notes of cherries, dried blood oranges, cocoa and hints of hibiscus and licorice. Bright and savory on the palate, with dusty tannins and lively acidity. Medium-bodied. It’s very pretty and refreshing, with savory nuances at the end. Drink now.  - James Suckling 91

Winemaker Description 

Is the result of the union between Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon (85% Sangiovese & 15% Cabernet Sauvignon): it gives the idea of a young red, significant but with easy drinkability and is linked to the characteristics of its native territory, with an unforgettable Casanova di Neri stamp.

Winemaker Description

Borgo Reale Chianti Riserva is made from a selection of the finest grapes, receiving additional aging following fermentation. Enjoy with all types of pasta, hor d'oeuvres, and red or white meats.

Winemaker Description

Vibrant acidity and refined tannins seep into the fabric of this round red, which is laced with cherry, raspberry and floral aromas and flavors. Mineral and underbrush accents add depth as this plays out on the long, dusty finish. Best from 2026 through 2043.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019 

Vinous 94 Points | The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte opens with a minty freshness as flint stone and dusty rose give way to crushed cherries. Silky and pliant, this possesses an elegance not often seen, with violet and lavender tones accentuating its polished red and blue fruits. This tapers off with sweet tannins balanced by an orange hint. A structured yet mouth-watering sensation lingers on. What a beauty this is.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019 

James Suckling 91 Points | Perfumed nose of cedar, spearmint, morello cherry, vanilla and lemon verbena. Medium-bodied with polished tannins. Spicy character with ambitious new wood. Mocha at the end.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva shows velvety richness and good textural support. This comes thanks to the warmer microclimate and thicker soils, sometimes with a lot of clay, that distinguish the Castelnuovo Berardenga region of Chianti Classico. The finish is dry and long, but there is plenty of sweet earth, dark fruit, plum and balanced cherry in the mix.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva (90% Sangiovese and the rest Merlot) takes on more spiced layers of smoke, cedar, menthol, and blackberry. It is full-bodied, with snappy acidity and fine tannins, and is noted with redcurrant, orange zest, tea leaf, and clove. Hold another year or two and drink 2025-2035.

Winemaker Description

Intense purple red. To the nose rich with red fruits, ripe black cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant. It opens up and offers ethereal scents after a little while. 

Tannins are strong. Long, warm and soft finish.

Ideal match for local dishes of the Maremma, wild boar and venison meat. It also goes perfectly with Pecorino Toscano DOP. Winemaker Description.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Vinous 97 Points | The 2020 Cepparello is a total stunner, just as it was last year. Deeply colored, layered and explosive in the glass, the 2020 possesses striking textural richness and overall intensity. Black cherry, graphite, plum, spice and lavender flesh out effortlessly. There's tremendous pedigree and sheer stature here. Cepparello is surely one of the wines of the year.

The Wine Advocate 96 Points | Supple and smooth, the 2020 Cepparello brings Sangiovese to soaring heights in a manner only Paolo De Marchi can manage. This is his second to last vintage before he would retire and sell this historic estate. The wine opens to medium to full-bodied concentration with dark plum and redcurrant. Those cede to sweet spice, earth, crushed stone, rusty nail and candied orange peel. Give the wine more time to flesh out with cellar age.

The Wine Spectator 96 Points | Expressive and sumptuous from the get-go, this red features cherry, strawberry, rose, orange peel, mineral and Tuscan herb aromas and flavors. Sangiovese. Best from 2025 through 2045.

James Suckling 94 Points | Attractive red and dark berries with dried flowers, nutmeg and cocoa powder. Dried orange peel and wet earth, too. Medium- to full-bodied, toned and steady with fine-grained tannins that are slightly chalky. Polished and even with a lingering finish. Try after 2026.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Danielle Callegari of The Wine Enthusiast writes 91 Points | A cool earthiness defines the nose, with aromas of flint, wild herbs and tart blackberries, and then umami notes of mushroom and balsamic. The palate brings cherries and more berries, but dusty, chewy tannins and notable acid emphasize that flinty earthiness, which continues to anchor the wine.

Winemaker Description 

The Chianti Classico Borgo wine is born in the prestigious Tenuta San Felice, in Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the heart of Chianti Classico. Here, the Sangiovese and Pugnitello grapes, grown organically in harmony with nature, find an ideal terroir, characterized by soils rich in skeleton and clay of calcareous-marly origin.

The 2022 vintage , characterized by a favorable climate with mild temperatures and well-distributed rainfall, contributed to an optimal ripening of the grapes, giving the wine a balanced and harmonious character.

Vino Chianti Classico Borgo seduces with its intense ruby red color. On the nose, it is an explosion of aromas: notes of cherry and raspberry intertwine with hints of violet and sweet spices, creating a fragrant and inviting bouquet. On the palate, the wine is fresh and savory, with sweet and well-integrated tannins. The finish is persistent and harmonious, with a pleasant return of fruit and spices.

Pairings: versatile and immediate, it pairs perfectly with Tuscan cured meats, tasty first courses, grilled red meats and mature cheeses. Try it with a Florentine steak or with a platter of pecorino cheeses.

Produced with a small percentage of Pugnitello, a native Tuscan grape that helps enrich the wine with spicy notes and greater structure.