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Felsina, Tuscany, Italy
Due end of August. Book now. "The 2007 Chianti Classico is a sweet, super-ripe wine with an enticing core of fruit. The heat of the vintage has filled out the wine nicely. Although the acidity is still relatively high, this doesn't look to be an especially long-lived wine. That should hardly matter, though, as readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. In 2007 the Chianti Classico is a selection of fruit from eleven different vineyards harvested between the end of September and early October. The wine was mostly aged in cask, with about 10% seeing smaller neutral French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2015" R.Parker
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Fontodi, Tuscany, Italy
The Manetti family were terracotta producers for over three centuries and on turning to wine in 1968, Giovanni Manetti went for ultimate quality. "One of Tuscanys finest producers, Fontodi is a name readers can rely on for high quality wines." Parker
"Bright red. Vibrant raspberry and candied cherry aromas are strongly underscored by violet and vanilla. Juicy and dense on entry, then soft and creamy in the middle, with sweet flavors of red cherry, redcurrant, licorice and minerals. This wonderfully balanced wine finishes long and smooth, with enough ripe acidity to maintain its shape, and lingering mineral and peppery nuances. Beautiful wine."92/100 Tanzer
"Blackberry and dark plum aromas follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a bright, fruity finish. There's a nice combination of bright fruit and clean acidity. 91/100 Wine Spectator
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Tuscany - Other, Tuscany, Italy
La Massa is right in the heart of Chianti Classico, in an area known as the Conca de Oro or Golden Basin where four south-facing spurs are occupied by four of Chiantis top producers. Densely planted on a wide range of orientations and soil types, this is a crucial factor in lending great complexity to Giampaolo Mottays wines while late harvesting gives them beautiful harmony and super-ripe tannins. As for Giampaolo, he is a young, well-travelled Neapolitan. Taking his team on a fact finding mission to Chateau Margaux is just one example of the fresh approach he brings to Chianti. A beautifully crafted wine.
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Majo di Norante, Abruzzi, Italy
Continually rated in the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Red Wine Values of the World. Parker writes "Every year this wine delivers consistent quality, immense drinkability and excellent value for money. The 2008 Sangiovese is an incredibly delicious, full-bodied wine with gorgeous clarity and definition. Made in a bold, fruit-driven style, the wine offers terrific depth and a long, polished finish. This harmonious red is a knockout! Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012." 90/100 Parker.
Di Majo Norante is located in Molise, one of the least well-known regions on the east coast ( opposite Tuscany ) in Italy. Proprietor Alessio Di Majo and consulting oenologist Riccardo Cotarella make plump, richly-flavored wines that offer incredible value for the money.
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Falesco, Umbria, Italy
Robert Parker raves about Falesco's wine- and with good reason. "One of the great values in the world continues to be the blend of equal parts Sangioves,Merlot and Cabernet called Vitiano. As I have written before, it's almost too good to believe at this price. The 2008 Vitiano Rosso (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese) is a racy, sleek wine that impresses with its layers of perfumed red cherries and sweet toasted oak. The wine offers terrific clarity and precision in a slightly taut, focused style for this offering."
Riccardo and Renzo Cotarella, brothers and fellow enologists have been building their vineyard holdings in Umbria and Lazio for 20 years. (Riccardo consults for many of the worlds top wineries and has a huge following in the industry.) Vitiano, first produced in 1995, is the workhorse of their venture. Eighty -five percent of the grapes come from vineyards on the 740 acre Falesco estate- the rest from producers under strict control. This is a very modern, stylish Italian red and superb value.
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Cordero, Piedmont & Northwest Italy, Italy
"Medium red with a hint of amber at the rim. The nose and palate hit all the Barolo food groups: strawberry, tobacco, cedar, camphor, mocha, marzipan, nuts and flowers, complicated by a light balsamic quality. Plush in the middle yet delicate for 2006 in spite of its considerable body. A very firmly built wine that finishes with big, sweet, broad tannins and lingering complexity"90/100 Tanzer
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Tuscany - Other, Tuscany, Italy
At last we again have stock of this luscious beauty. This is one of those rare modern Italian finds that amaze you with what it delivers for the money. From the southern Tuscan zone of Maremma. This is a blend of 40% cabernet, 40% merlot, 15% alicante, 5% cabernet franc. A new project with superstar consultant Carlo Ferrini on board. Wonderful rich bordeaux blend but with that lovely Italian savoury twist. A very intensely dark fruited and spicy red that we guarantee youll want more of when you try it."very spicy and sweet,full and luscious but dense and with a certain savouriness.This strikes as more serious than its price suggests."Jancis Robinson
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Tuscany - Other, Tuscany, Italy
Colli Sensei is a sub zone of Chianti. Among the seven chianti zones Colli Senesi is the second only to the classico region in volume. This important area delivers real value to the sangiovese lover. The hilly countryside gives these wines real zip and presence. "From one of Chianti's sub-regions, Colli Senesi, this appealing wine exhibits medium red colour, gently fragrant aromas of red cherries, spice and dried herbs. The palate is nicely flowing with medium weight, finely gripping tannins and the Sangiovese's hallmark crisp acidity providing lovely freshness. With time in the glass it opened up to display game/meaty notes. A classically framed with modern bright fruit characters, this is an excellent entry level Tuscan red perfect for pizzas and pastas as well as antipastos. " Wine Orbit
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Tuscany - Other, Tuscany, Italy
Montepulciano is the hilltop town in Tuscany that is the centre of the Vino Nobile zone. High altitude hillside vineyards deliver a meaty sangiovese style. These are quite well structured souped up chiantis basically. An enormous amount of investment has gone into this region and because this is an historically great area the wines are magnificent.
"The 2006 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is an explosive wine packed with dark fruit. This medium to full-bodied red offers notable intensity and a long, harmonious finish. Sweet notes of tobacco and minerals linger on the polished finish. It is a terrific effort in this vintage, and an equally compelling value. The Vino Nobile is 90% Prugnolo Gentile ( One of many synonyms of Sangiovese, this one being the local name used in the town of Montepulciano ), 5% Canaiolo and 5% Mammolo that spent 18 months in a combination of cask (70%) and smaller French oak barrels (30%)." 90/100 Parker
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Tuscany - Other, Tuscany, Italy
A blend of 70% Sangiovese,15% sagrantino,15% merlot.
" Up until now, Caprai has been calling the shots in Montefalco, but there are indications that this virtual monopoly is going to end. Colpetrone is the property of a large Italian insurance company, SAI, which also owns the Fattoria del Cerro at Montepulciano and La Poderina in Montalcino. Lorenzo Landi, the new winemaker for the entire operation, arrived three years ago and all of his work is demonstrating unusual gifts. I do not hesitate to predict that he will be making some of Tuscany best wines in the coming years, and his influence is already apparent in these Umbrian wines as well." S.Tanzer
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