4 | Wine | Tuscany Misc | Page 5

"The 2006 I Sodi di San Niccolo is fabulous. Beautifully delineated aromatics meld into a breathtaking array of dark fruit, crushed rocks, smoke, tar, minerals and flowers in this totally thrilling Tuscan red. The fruit completely saturates the palate, while persistent notes of crushed rocks and all things mineral round things out. I love the way Malvasia Nera confers darkness, richness and power to the Sangioveto, but without abandoning a pure-bred Tuscan expression of sheer class. I Sodi has a track record of developing beautifully in bottle and I have no doubt that will be the case here."

"On the nose, a complex blend of dark morello cherries, spice and dark mocha minerality comes together. The flavors of this wine are powerful and harmonious. Blackberry, black cherry and cassis tones are expressed within an integrated core of minerality. The tannins are firm yet integrated, with a long finish, driven by a firm core of acidity."

"The 2009 Il Borgo flows across the palate with sweet dark red cherries, tobacco, flowers and spices. This intriguing blend of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon impresses for its silky personality and long finish. All the elements come together nicely in the glass. The 2009 is a harmonious, sleek wine to drink over the next 10-12 years."

"The Rosso dei Notri is fabulous in 2010. Dark fruit, flowers and spices meld together effortlessly as this flat-out delicious wine flows across the palate. All of the hallmarks of the house style are captured in this gracious, entry-level Sangiovese-based red. It is a dazzling wine for the money."

"The estate’s 2008 Il Nero di Casanova (Sangiovese) presents an intriguing profile of dark cherries, leather, licorice and tobacco, all of which come together in a medium-bodied, relatively delicate frame that is typical of Sangiovese. The Nero shows lovely inner sweetness and perfume through to the long finish."

"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."

"The 2009 Greppicante ratchets up the intensity of fruit in a round, seamless style laced with dark fruit, mocha, spices and French oak. Elements of slight over-ripeness come through on the finish."