Tuscany

• Brunello di Montalcino
• Chianti

Like Chianti, Vino Nobile wines are mostly Sangiovese grapes and from Tuscany.  The best of them compare with many of the good Chianti's and the price is often less.  Frescobaldi (a famous Chianti producer) expanded into this area by buying this property in 2021.  This wine was made prior to that but recently released by Frescobaldi.  It is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, known locally as Prugnolo Gentile, and 10% other red grape varieties.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, sandalwood, spice and slight sour cherries.  Medium bodied.  Medium tan

This is a Kermit Lynch wine.  Pale ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is interesting with cherries, some black cherries, black olives and spice.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cherry fruit.  This drinks easy and is a nice quaff.  Better with food this is a great "pizza" wine.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

This was a bit different than a bottle of this I recently opened.  Both were excellent, but this one had an issue or two.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, dust, slight anise and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  Great acidity.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, this has cherries, slight black cherries, celery and spice.  The green note gets bigger on the finish.  Overall, this is a very good wine, but the green streak is  a bit disappointing.  Still, this wine is made to drink with food and that should help out that issue.  Pappardelle al R

This is a traditionally styled BdM.  Wonderful vintage.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, tea leaves, sandalwood, and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Excellent acidity.  On the palate, this is  lively.  Flavors of cherries, spice, forest floor and slight earthiness.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but really needs food to shine.  A plate of your favorite pasta would be great.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  

This is 100% Vermentino from Tuscany.  Pale yellow/hay in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lots of minerality, some peach and some "sea air".  Light bodied.  Good acidity.  Clean.  On the palate, this is very refreshing.  Mostly mineral drive with a touch of peach on the finish.  Perfect on the patio on a hot afternoon/early evening.  This is nice on its own and will work with sea food or lighter foods.  It would work well with a variety of appetizers and cheeses.  Drink over the next year or two.  Good value.

Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, sandalwood and tea leaves.  Medium to full bodied.  Firm tannins.  This is young but reasonably accessible already.  On the palate, this is concentrated and deep.  Flavors of black cherries, slight anise and slight forest floor.  Long finish.  No harm drinking now but better to wait three to five years and then drink for ten to twelve after that.  A great match for Pasta Bolognaise.  

This is a Bordeaux blend from Tuscany.  It is comprised of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petite Verdot.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cherries, mike chocolate, spice and tobacco.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, cherries, fresh cut oak, chocolate and a bit of funk.  Long finish.  This is a great "Bordeaux" styled wine (you can also call it a Super Tuscan) for the money.  It is drinking well now but may still improve with some cellaring.  Drink over the next ten years.  Nice on its own b

There are a lot of Vin Santos being made but not a lot of outstanding ones.  This Vin Santo is consistently outstanding.  Amber in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with apricots, orange peel, honey, maple syrup and roasted cashews.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Great acidity.  On the palate, roasted nuts, honey, peach, apricot and a bit of maple.  Long finish.  Delicious. Complex.  This is great on its own and would be nice with Biscotti or another less sweet cookie.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

One of the  best values in top Chianti, this is fairly priced, ageable and outstanding.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, sandalwood, spice, slight anise and black cherries.  Medium bodied.  Excellent acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, cherries with some black cherries, anise and spice.  Long finish.  This is very nice on its own but it is made for food.  It will work with most foods (not seafood) and is a great choice with pasta or pizza.  Drink over the next twenty years.  

I am a big fan of Costco/Kirkland wines.  They often don't get the credit they deserve as people consider them "discount" wines, but it seems they are usually well done and from very good source.  This one was tasted directly after tasting nice other Chiantis that were a couple of years of older and it showed just fine.  It turns out that this wine is made by Baron Ricasoli, a quality producer in Chianti.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight dust, tea leaves and spice.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this has br