Wine Cellar

Wine:  Guado El Tasso

The 2007 Guado al Tasso screams of Bolgheri. Sweet grilled herbs, mocha, spices and black cherry jam are woven into a generous, expansive frame. There is a wonderful sense of richness and warmth to the fruit that carries through to the round harmonious finish, where clean, minerally notes add freshness. This is simply gorgeous today, but it is young, and the oak needs to integrate. Still, it is impossible not to admire the 2007 Guado al Tasso. In 2007 Guado al Tasso is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The late ripening Cabernet Franc, used in place of Syrah for the first time in 2007, adds a measure of freshness that had often been missing in previous vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024

Wine:  Tignanello

Antinori’s 2007 Tignanello is wonderfully ripe and seductive in its dark cherries, flowers, spices, tobacco, sage, cedar, mint and minerals. This is as opulent a Tignanello as I have ever tasted but there is just enough acidity and structure from the Sangiovese to keep things from going over the top. The wine’s richness and warmth are such that in a blind tasting I mistook the 2007 Tignanello for a wine from Maremma! The dense, muscular fruit follows through to an impeccable finish with no hard edges and impossibly fine, silky tannins. Simply put, the 2007 is a magnificent Tignanello. The 2007 Tignanello is 80% Sangiovese aged in 300-liter French oak barrels (1/3 new), 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, both aged in 100% new 225-liter French oak barriques. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2027

Wine:  Camaracanda

The 2008 Camarcanda emerges from the glass with smoke, scorched earth, grilled herbs, black cherries and menthol. The aromas and flavors build beautifully towards a long finish framed by firm yet well-integrated tannins. The 2008 shows excellent balance in a fresh, vibrant style that is made relatively approachable because of the wine’s mid-weight structure. That said, the wine shows more and more freshness as it sits in the glass and may be headed for a period of dormancy. Magari is 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc that spends 18 months in French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.

Wine:  Magari Toscana IGT

Ripe dark cherries, plums, sweet spices and licorice are some of the notes that flow from the 2009 Magari. The 2009 is a pliant, open Magari with lovely length and an understated finish. Floral notes linger on the close. In this vintage Magari is built on a core of radiant fruit, with less aromatic nuance than the 2008. I like the way the wine comes together in the glass. Magari is 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc that spends 18 months in French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2017.

Wine:  Promis Toscana IGT

Promis is 55% Merlot, 35% Syrah and 10% Sangiovese

Wine:  Brunello di Montalcino

Wine:  Brunello di Montalcino Rennina

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is gorgeous in this vintage. Medium in body, the wine offers up attractive scents of underbrush, red cherries, tobacco, leather and licorice, all of which are framed by silky, ripe tannins. The wine reveals tons of purity and class in an understated style. As is often the case, the Rennina is the more feminine of the estate’s Brunellos. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.

Wine:  Brunello di Montalcino Rennina

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina flows across the palate with layers of sensual, perfumed fruit. Soft, gracious and impeccably balanced, the 2007 Rennina impresses for its overall harmony and sense of grace. Sweet red berries, crushed flowers and spices wrap around the feminine finish. This is a very pretty not to mention hugely appealing wine from Pieve Santa Restituta. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.

Wine:  Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille is darker and richer than the Rennina. Black cherries, plums, tar, licorice, minerals and leather all come together in this brooding Brunello. The fruit remains intense and full-bodied all the way through to the powerful and deeply satisfying close. Despite the wine’s heft, all of the components are woven together with remarkable harmony. This is a wonderful effort from Angelo Gaja. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026.

Wine:  Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille

The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille is dazzling. Dark fruit, tar, licorice and smoke come to life in this dramatic, large-scaled Brunello. The 2007 boasts incredible intensity and power all the way through to the palate-staining finish. Today the tannins are big and imposing, but they should start settling down as the wine approaches its tenth birthday. I saw the wine shut down quickly in the glass, which is an excellent sign for its potential longevity. This is a flat-out gorgeous bottle of wine. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.

Wine:  Brunello di Montalcino

This is tight and linear in profile, with a core of sweet berry, wild herbs and tobacco. Though this gains suppleness with air, it has a firm backbone of tannins. Nice length. Best from 2013 through 2026. 5,000 cases imported.

Wine:  Brunello di Montalcino Manachiara

Packed with plum and cherry flavors, along with dense tannins, this red is a bit monolithic now, yet well-proportioned, so give it time to stretch out a little. Best from 2013 through 2026.

Wine:  Rosso di Montalcino

The 2007 Rosso di Montalcino is a big, juicy Rosso that flows with generous red fruit. Made in a rich, textured style, it offers gorgeous delineation and a compelling personality. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012.

Wine:  Rosso di Montalcino

From young Brunello vines, this shows typical Brunello characters in a softer, more fruity style with less oak ageing. Allow for a year or two integration and drink to 2016

Wine:  Turan Sant Antimo DOC

A blend of 40% Petit verdot, 30% Sangiovese, 20% Syrah, 10% Colorino. St Antimo is a new DOC in Tuscany that catches varieties other than Sangiovese. This shows fantastic value with typical Italian tannins and rich red-berry fruit.