1 | Wine | Tuscany, 2009 | Page 5

"The 2009 Galatrona is a beautifully centered wine. It shows terrific energy, freshness and vibrancy from start to finish. Cassis, blackberries, mint, spices and new leather are all woven together nicely in the 2009. Firm yet well-integrated tannins support the finish. Although quite overt today, the 2009 appears to have the structure to age well for a number of years. The 2009 is a serious wine with a bright future. Both bottles I tasted were immensely pleasing"

"Firm yet well-integrated tannins support expressive sweet red cherries, freshly cut flowers and mint. The 2009 is a highly attractive, pointed Montevertine that oozes class and elegance. Clean, saline notes inform the beautifully pointed, delineated finish. This is far from an easygoing 2009. The wine still needs time to fully come together."

"The 2009 Mediterra comes across as round, sensual and polished, which is probably an advantage for a wine like this that is meant to be enjoyed upon release. Sweetly perfumed notes of black cherries, smoke and licorice wrap around the palate in this polished, inviting wine."

"A very powerful and rich Merlot-based red that delivers so much currant bush, tobacco and toasty oak character. Full and layered. Goes on for minutes on the palate."

"The 2009 Sassicaia is unusually big, rich and opulent. Layers of fruit saturate the palate as the 2009 explodes from the glass with a heady melange of dark berries, plums, menthol, licorice and new leather. This is an especially racy Sassicaia. Readers who enjoy the classicism of Sassicaia are likely to find the 2009 too rich, especially at this early stage. The wine needs at least a few years in bottle to drop some of its baby fat. Despite its huge fruit, the 2009 is also pretty closed down and not anywhere close to being ready to show off its pedigree. Sassicaia is arguably Italy’s most famous wine, so it’s always great when it lives up to its reputation."

"Ruby-red. Enticing aromas of red cherry syrup, raspberry, violet and sweet spices. Clean, fresh and juicy, with bright red berry and cherry flavors that are joined by a repeating floral note on the smoothly tannic, pungent finish."