Cellar Favorite: 2015 Soldera Sangiovese
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Italy: Tuscany
, May 2021
Tasting the 2015 Soldera Sangiovese brings back so many memories of tasting the wine from cask with Gianfranco Soldera prior to his passing in 2019. The routine was always the same.
Cellar Favorite: 2011 Cupano Brunello di Montalcino
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Italy: Tuscany
, Apr 2021
After the tragic passing of proprietor Lionel Cousin, I found myself digging through my cellar for past vintages of his lovely creation, the Cupano Brunello di Montalcino.
Cellar Favorite: 2004 Poggio Il Castellare Brunello di Montalcino
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Italy: Tuscany
, Apr 2021
Having just celebrated its fifteenth birthday, I thought it was about time to check in on the 2004 Brunello di Montalcino from Poggio Il Castellare, an estate from the southeast that I associate with suave character and dark ripe fruits.
Vino Nobile & Carmignano: Italy’s Forgotten Noble Reds
featured, Italy: Tuscany
, Apr 2021
Italy is one of the world’s most fascinating and diverse countries. There are of course famous wines like Brunello di Montalcino, Barolo and Chianti Classico. But the country is also home to many other wines that have enjoyed periods of prominence mixed with less brilliant eras of near obscurity. Vino Nobile and Carmignano are two wines with long, rich histories, deep connections to the land and much for the curious wine-lover to explore.
Tuscany Odds & Ends
featured, Italy: Tuscany
, Apr 2021
This brief update mostly covers a number of Tuscan wines with releases that fall in between my larger regional reports as well as a handful of notable wines that were missing from our database.
In the Sweet Spot: 2001 Brunello di Montalcino
featured, Italy: Tuscany, Verticals & Retrospectives
, Mar 2021
Montalcino has come so far in a relatively short amount of time. Generational transitions, a focus on terroir and the willingness to showcase Sangiovese’s inherent character above winemaking wizardry have come together, resulting in many wines that have never been better than they are today. In this article I look back at the 2001s, wines from another era that, in a sense, helped pave the way to the region's success. So where do the 2001 Brunellos stand today, twenty years later?
2018 Tuscany Preview
featured, Italy: Tuscany
, Feb 2021
The 2018 Tuscany Preview revives a tradition from years back, when I published an early look at new releases from Tuscany each spring. Well, the Tuscany Preview is back and features some of the year’s most exciting upcoming releases, many of them reference-point wines of historical significance.
Cellar Favorite: 2006 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, Italy: Tuscany
, Feb 2021
Because of Il Poggio’s amazing ability to mature over the course of decades, this night was the first time that I decided to open a bottle of the 2006 since tasting it upon release - and I sure am glad that I did.
The Power of Three: New Vintage Rosso di Montalcino
featured, Italy: Tuscany
, Jan 2021
Rosso di Montalcino took a bit of a backseat this year due to all of the excitement over 2016 Brunello di Montalcino, but now it’s time to focus some attention on these wines. The three vintages currently in the market all have their merits, and also provide some insight as to what might be in store for Brunello.
New Releases from the Tuscan Coast
featured, Italy: Tuscany
, Jan 2021
The Tuscan Coast is one of the most idyllic, evocative regions in Italy and beyond. Breathtaking landscapes dotted with striking vineyards influenced by the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea give birth to compelling wines that run the gamut from daily drinkers to highly coveted, age-worthy reds that stand with the very best wines from around the world. This report focuses on 2018s and 2017s that are in the market now, along with a handful of entry-level 2019s.