Toscana

Borgo Pretale   Stone farmhouses, old tradition and the rhythm of life are still marked by the cultivation of land in the Chianti DOCG. Chianti Classico is the result of noble grapes, the highest percentage of which is constituted by Sangiovese – that gives the wine its body, bouquet and strength. A small quantity of black Canaiolo softens the character of Sangiovese, and finally, white Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes lighten and intensify the aroma. This Chianti Classico is comprised of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and Ciliegiolo, and 5% Trebbiano and bursts with well-defined blackberry, plum and violet.

Chigi Saracini   From one of the most famous properties in Chianti, dominating the village of Castelnuovo Berardenga and adjacent to Fattoria del Felsina, this is a traditional botti-aged Chianti with a 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo blend. This is a hearty wine with a deep, saturated ruby color and an attractive, roasted black fruit nose. Pogiassai is a relatively new Super Tuscan from the Chigi Saracini estate and with the 2000 vintage it was awarded “tre bicchieri” in the Gambero Rosso guide. The 2001 vintage was also awarded 3 glasses from the Gambero Rosso and 91 points by the Wine Spectator. It’s the highest rated “Super Tuscan” in its price range! A flashy blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is aged for 18 months in French barriques, one-half of which are new. A rich entry leads to a chewy, full-bodied palate with lots of stuffing. Elegant and polished, this wine will age gracefully over the next 5 to seven years and it is a great value when considering the price of other wines in its class.

Crociani   Arnaldo Crociani, owner of the Crociani winery, belongs to a family whose members have spent generations , barrels, bottles and flasks.Arnaldo's father and grandfather were cellarmen to the Conti Samueli, and since he was a boy, was cellarman to the Marchesi Ricci Paracciani and Cantina del Redi, which, in the 1950's, was the first cellar to open to the public.  Signore Crociani’sVino Nobile Riserva is made from grapes grown in his “Caggiole” vineyard and his creation is an incredible experience for the most sophisticate palates that are looking for power, perfumes and complexity in an elegant glass of wine.  The nose is delicate and intense with pronounce notes of violet; but it is in the mouth that this Vino Nobile expresses its best: dry and completely integrated, displaying spice, coffee and licorice aromas supple tannins and a velvety mouthfeel.  The wine is a blend of 60% of Prugnolo Gentile, a clone of the Sangiovese, 20% Canaiolo Nero and 10% of Mammolo an ancient grape varietal unique to this region.

Fattoria di Bagnolo   Colli Fiorentini is one of the eight geographically recognized zones of Chianti. It lies on the hills circling the southern area of Florence and along the northern border of the Chianti Classico zone. Once belonging to the Machiavelli family, the Fattoria di Bagnolo estate dates back to 1500. It is now owned by Marco Bartolini Baldelli, who made a bet with his father that quality rather than quantity could also be profitable in Chianti and that Bagnolo was indeed capable of producing high quality wines.  Marco’s DOCG Chianti comes from his 12-acre vineyard located in the rolling hills of the Colli Fiorentini and is a blend of 80 % Sangiovese and varying amounts of Colorino, Malvasia and Cabernet Sauvignon.

La Gerla   Sergio Rossi, owner of La Gerla, bought the property back in the 70’s from Biondi Santi. The farm is equipped with modern equipment and is situated on several hills outside Montalcino and produces roughly 6,000 cases of wine per year. After retooling the winery and updating everything, Sergio hired Vittorio Fiore to make his wines. Low yields and a rich, concentrated style is what the La Gerla wines are all about and we feel that the Rosso di Montalcino may be the finest Rosso you can find in the market for the price. If you are looking for handcrafted, superbly made Brunello, La Gerla fits the bill. These are expertly made and the press supports our claims. The 2001Reserva “gli Angeli” and the 2001 Brunello received 94 points and 92 points respectively from the Wine Spectator.

Montecarbello   Montecarbelo is a new shining star on the Brunello scene. Gianni Sacchi is essentially a one man show doing it all as he works his 8 acres of vineyards outside of Montalcino. His style can be best described as elegant and finesse in orientation but with a subtle edge of muscle and power. It sits softly and velvety on the palate but with a mouthful of rich, ripe fruit that goes on and on. Balanced and all about the fruit, you won’t find harsh, bitter tannins and over-oaked juice in any of Gianni’s wines. You will find deep cherry fruit, hints of smoke and coffee, leather and spice with a sexy, silkiness that only makes your mouth feel good. What a great find from a hot, new Brunello superstar.

Signano Estate   Signano “Rosso di San Gimignano” DOC is actually a real appellation certified by the Italian government. It became a DOC wine in 1996 and therefore it is not an IGT status wine like most of the “Super Tuscans”. Therefore, some strict guidelines play into the makeup of this wine: It must consist of at least 80% Sangiovese, the wine must spend a minimum of 18 months in barrel, and it must spend at least 6 months in the bottle. This Super Tuscan is chewy and concentrated with deep, dark cherry flavors. It has beautifully managed tannins yet still delivers that expected grip and backbone that a big Tuscan wine should. It’s delicious!

Villa Calcinaia   On the old medieval road, via Chiantigiana, that winds you past the ancient town of Greve in Chianti Classico, you come upon the Villa of Calcinaia purchased by the Capponi Family in 1524. The estate is located in the very heart of the Classico only 21km south of Florence and 50km north of Siena. Chianti Classico from Villa Calcinaia is the truest expression of a family's pride and sense of history. The wine is ruby red showing flavors of deep, dark cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and vanilla. The red fruit is mature and ripe with the perfect complement of toasty oak – this is true to form Chianti Classico the way it should be. Salute!