1 | Wine | Tuscany, 95 or higher | Page 3

"Explodes onto the palate with masses of rich, opulent fruit that caress the palate with gorgeous length and a seamless beauty that is hard to fully capture. Dark wild cherries, plums, spices, minerals and herbs develop in the glass. This is an especially bold, perhaps slightly uncharacteristic Sassicaia in its extroverted personality, but it is beautiful all the same. The inner perfume and sweetness carries through the long finish, where the sheer weight and glycerol of the fruit leaves a lasting impression."

"The 2007 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is another dazzling wine. This is a vintage of overt, sumptuous fruit and pure sexiness. Despite its richness, the 2007 never loses its sense of structure, but in this vintage the tannins are nearly buried by the huge fruit. Today the 2007 comes across as a hypothetical blend of the 2004 and 2006, with the finesse of the former and the size of the latter. Not a bad combination, to put it mildly. In the glass the wine is alive, vibrant and totally captivating."

"The 2008 Sassicaia is a rich, deep wine imbued with notable class in its black cherries, plums, grilled herbs, minerals and smoke. The 2008 is a decidedly buttoned-up, firm Sassicaia that is currently holding back much of its potential, unlike the 2006 and 2007, both of which were far more obvious wines. Readers who can afford to wait will be treated to a sublime wine once this settles down in bottle. Muscular, firm tannins frame the exquisite finish in this dark, implosive Sassicaia."

"A lively dark ruby, it is a vibrant effort bursting with expressive aromatics and layered, well-delineated fruit, showing much purity on the palate and closing with a long, finessed finish."

"The 2008 Redigaffi is impeccable in its elegance and polish. Dark cherries, licorice, espresso and mocha meld together beautifully in this textured, fleshy wine. Despite its sophisticated personality, there is plenty of tannin lurking underneath to provide support. This is a beautifully round, opulent, yet impeccably balanced wine of the highest level. Smoke, minerals, licorice and tar wrap around the intense finish. Redigaffi remains a unique and powerful expression of Merlot from the Tuscan coast."

"Shows violet, cream, mineral, mint and blueberry on the nose. Full-bodied, with fabulous fruit and polished, velvety tannins. The finish lasts for minutes. The balance is wonderful. Deep and beautiful. Hard not to drink now."

"The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino is striking in this vintage, just as it was in 2006. Freshly cut flowers, spices, mint, licorice and tobacco are some of the many notes that jump from the glass in this highly expressive, engaging Brunello. The 2007 shows the freshness and energy of this hillside site on the Montosoli hill with the generosity of the vintage, a very appealing combination in my book. The finish is pure silk and finesse. Once again, the Voliero Brunello is one of the most exciting and complete wines of the vintage."