Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions. Along with the Piedmont, Tuscany is the country’s most important and high-yielding wine area. Perhaps the most famous, Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (all made with the Sangiovese grape), and Vin Santo (a dessert wine), have been named the "Super Tuscans." They represent a large group of some of Italy’s best red wines born in the early 1970s.
Tuscany is divided into twenty-nine Denominazione di Origin Controllata (DOC) and seven Denominazioni di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). The regulations imposed by these groups were what brought about the “super Tuscans.” Producers felt restricted and made wines outside DOC/DOCG regulations that were considered to be of high quality—and demanded a high price as a result.
Some producers sought to keep away from using some legally “suggested” grape varieties, like the Italian white grapes which were considered an integral aspect of Chianti. Other winemakers began blending Cabernet and Merlot with indigenous grape varieties, which, at the time in the early 70s, wereforbidden.
While the Tuscany region produces a wide range of excellent wines for wine lovers, some of the more famous Tuscan wines, like Chianti and Brunello, are experiencing a marked decrease in bottles sold. There are many reasons for this; among them: a steep rise in prices recently; the hot Tuscan real estate market pushing some of the more experienced winemakers out; and the influx of oenological consultants who are having a negative impact on the diversity of wines. Fortunately, most recently, this trend may be reversing.
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: Wow. Fantastic aromas of blackberries, currants, minerals, violets and graphite. Full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that are incredibly polished and intense, yet ever so refined and integrated in the wine. It goes on...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: Extremely perfumed and crystal-clear with violets, plums, raspberries, walnuts and black olives. It’s medium-to full-bodied with very fine tannins that are extremely polished and refined. The length is long and very...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: What an amazing nose with pure herbs coming to the fore, soon to be joined by fresh brambleberries, blueberries, violets, heather, lavender, pine needles and forest floor. Full body, chewy but incredibly fine tannins, and...
jamessuckling.com, 92 points: A very fruit-driven nose with blueberry cake, brambleberry pie, dark plums and spices. Medium to full body, soft tannins and a fruity, round and spicy finish. Drink now.
Wine Enthusiast, 98 points: All about radiance and finesse, this iconic Tuscan red has beguiling aromas of cedar, wild red berry, menthol and pipe tobacco that mingle with fragrant blue flowers. Made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Creme de cassis, freshly picked blueberries, crushed violets, hot stones, dried sage and thyme, charcoal and bark. Full body, tightly worked tannins and a long yet tight finish. The palate shows real transparency and a...
Wine Spectator, 94 points: Intense and pure, with a beam of black cherry, wild herbs and spice piercing a dark abyss of finely wrought tannins. Terrific acidity keeps this fresh and focused, while the finish evokes chocolate, ripe fruit, spice and...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Dark blueberry and shiitake mushroom turn to mineral and blue fruits. Full body, juicy and rich. Soft and round. Gorgeous. Rich style but remains so velvety. Available in January 2017. Better in 2019.
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: A beautifully soft and balanced red with berry, chocolate and vanilla. Full body, round tannins and a juicy finish. A rich and gorgeous wine. Drink or hold. Made from organic grapes.
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Subtle currant, light sandalwood and some cherry aromas. Full-bodied, yet fine-tuned and polished with tannins that melt beautifully into the wine. Long and focused. Beauty and balance to this. Better after 2022.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: This wine brought to mind precise imagery of tailcoats, striped dress pants, wingtip collar shirts and other gentlemen's fashion choices from the Roaring Twenties. Sporting a retro but classic personality, the Marchesi...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: So aromatic and complex with blackcurrants, blueberries, fresh violets and lavender on the nose. Some graphite and iodine, too. Medium to full body with firm, chewy tannins that are polished and refined, yet the palate is...
Wine Spectator, 90 points: Pure aromas and flavors of black currant, blackberry and violet are shaded by notes of wild Mediterranean herbs, iron and sweet spices in this balanced red. The tannins are solid yet refined, and the finish lingers...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Described as the "grand vin" of this estate, the 2015 Marsiliana is remarkable for its precision and definition. This limited-release Tuscan red is a well-structured blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: The 2014 Sammarco was bottled in August and will be released in January 2019. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese. At this young stage, the wine already offers an impressive array of complex...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: Very complex aromas of crushed berries, yet the fresh herbs, dried berries, sandalwood and Spanish cedar add complexity and brightness. Full-bodied with tannins that melt into the wine. Savory. Cabernet franc, merlot...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Aromas of blueberries, blackberries, chocolate and hazelnuts follow through to a full body, round and velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Tight and focused right now. Needs three or four years to soften. Try in 2022.
Wine Spectator, 89 points: This red is dense with cherry, strawberry and floral notes, building to a juicy finish. The structure is there too, but this is more about the fruit. Sangiovese and Colorino. Drink now through 2023. 6,983 cases made. –BS
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: A bright and fruity red with a level of tightness and precision that suggests greatness. Medium to full body. Intense tannins give focus to the center palate. Super length and beauty. Celebrates its 25th anniversary. 80%...
Wine Spectator, 96 points: Featuring concentrated flavors of blackberry, black currant, earth and leafy underbrush, this red is wrapped in a shroud of stiff tannins that upsets the balance a little. Nevertheless, this will come into its own with...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: What a nose. Such intensity but freshness, showing brambleberries, dark plums, dark cherries, fresh mint, tea leaves, mocha, oyster shell and iodine. Incredibly structured and dense yet agile and tangy. The purity of...
Wine Spectator, 94 points: Rich and polished, this shows a light hand with new oak. Black cherry, plum, blackberry, iron, vanilla, coffee and tobacco flavors mingle, supported by lively acidity and dense, refined tannins. Balanced and long...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: A balanced and fresh red for the hot 2017 vintage with medium body, fine tannins and plenty of currants, blackberries and blueberries on the finish. Drink or hold.
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: A big, rich wine for the vintage, yet poised and lively with firm, chewy tannins that give form and intensity to the wine. It shows loads of blackberry, blackcurrant and walnut flavors. Ripe yet polished tannins. Give...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: There’s purity of fruit here with crushed plums, flowers, fresh sage and rosemary on both the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied, yet soft and pretty at the finish. Very drinkable now.
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: This is very firm and dense with fantastic structure and a superb depth of fruit and silky tannins. Full body showing a core of ripe fruit featuring currants and blackberries. Minerals and fresh mushrooms to add. Better...
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