There is something majestic about a mist-veiled landscape—and about the grapes that thrive within it. The fog-steeped hills and castles of the Langhe wine region seem a more likely place for mystery than winemaking mastery, but this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the origin of some of Italy’s best and longest-lived wines.
It all began in 1971 with a passion and a purpose. Giovanni Neri, in search of the perfect vineyard, purchased a large estate in Montalcino. Seven years (and three additional land purchases) later, the first Brunello harvest marked the beginning of an era of excellence—one that is not expected to conclude anytime soon. Casanova de Neri swiftly built a reputation as one of the best wineries in the region—high praise indeed for vintners hailing from Tuscany.
All great sequels do two things: they maintain the high quality of the original, and they stand on their own as something unique, and perhaps something better. For wine enthusiasts, the release of the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino wines may just prove them to be the perfect sequel to the legendary 2015 vintages.
From the first bottling of Tignanello back in the 1970s, Super Tuscan wines have played the part of the rebellious youths of the Italian wine industry, daring to step outside of conventional prescriptions of what Italian wine should be to deliver bold, powerful, unforgettable experiences. Born of necessity in the same region that sparked the Renaissance centuries before, Super Tuscan wines were created as part of an effort to revitalize Italy’s wine industry—and they continue to surprise and delight us to this day.
MENTIONED IN THIS POST: -2013 Gaja Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo -2016 Gaja Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo -2015 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto -2001 Alfredo & Giovanni Roagna Barbaresco Crichet Pajé -2000 Domenico Clerico Barolo Per Cristina -1990 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Riserva To those unfamiliar with them, Barbaresco wine and Barolo wine might…
The hotly anticipated release of 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is finally here, and many critics are already raving about the power and purity of these Tuscan wines. After the difficult 2014 vintage (a year that was plagued by cool, wet weather and under-ripe grapes), winemakers had an excellent 2015 season. Hot, dry weather resulted in quality wines that are lush, but not overly ripe, with plush tannins and relatively low acidity. This is a great vintage for Italian wine enthusiasts, especially those looking for exceptional young wines to drink over the next few years.
Tuscany epitomizes a great Italian wine region. The area is known for producing some of the world’s finest wines, from Chianti to Brunello di Montalcino. While Super Tuscan wines don’t have the storied history of styles like Brunello, it didn’t take these wines long to earn both the respect and the value associated with the very finest traditional Italian wines. If you enjoy drinking a Super Tuscan wine at your favorite Italian cafe but have yet to add a bottle to your collection at home, it’s time. You can’t go wrong by choosing from among some of the best Super Tuscan wines ever made, so we’ve gathered a list of the very finest examples to help you get started.
Famous for their reputations as great-tasting reds and for the histories behind their evolution, top Italian wines Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino are sometimes confused. It’s easy to see how these well-known Italian wines with similar-sounding names could be mistaken for one another–that is, until you understand what makes each of these wines distinct.
To help you explore the region’s most complex and age-worthy wines, we’ve created a list of the top ten wines from Tuscany that are perfect for serious wine enthusiasts and collectors. While Tuscany has many other top-quality wines to offer, these ten are among the best on the market today. They are enthralling, complex, valuable, and have great aging potential, making them a wise choice for almost any collection.
Fall is harvest season for producers, but it also release season across New- and Old-World wine regions. This year, California and Italy offer up their 2016 vintage while Burgundy, Chile, and Sauternes in Bordeaux offer their 2017 wines. Across the board, these releases are top-notch and represent great deals at their release prices. Here’s what…
When many people think of Chianti, they picture a squat wine bottle encased in a rustic straw covering and served alongside a heaping plate of Tuscan antipasto. This is, after all, a bright, acidic wine that has been shared at Tuscan dinner tables for centuries. It’s one of the few wines in the world that enhances almost any dish you pair with it.
The Umbrian wine region of Italy may be small, but its wines pack a powerful punch. The best wines from Umbria are racy and vibrant and many have aging potential. This region is also incredibly diverse; while it’s known for citrusy, dry white wines, Umbria also produces many bold, tannic red varieties that are gaining in popularity among Italian wine collectors. This guide will explore what collectors need to know about this marvelous “green heart of Italy,” including the area’s best-known subregions, finest producers, and most collectible blends.