This is Cabernet Franc from Italy. It is really quite good if a bit on the riper side. Purple in color. The nose has dark cherries, roasted herbs, and slight cigar box. On the palate, this has a juicy acidity. Plenty of dark cherry fruit. Some tannins. It is just getting to maturity at this point but not quite. Certainly plenty of life left. Food friendly. Showing some complexity, it unwinds in the glass. Has some upside for improvement.
This is a Cabernet Franc from Tuscany. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, dark chocolate, slight floral notes and a hint of cigar box. On the palate, this is ripe and a big wine. Despite being 14 years old, it still shows medium tannins and fresh fruits. Black cherries, some blueberries, chocolate and tobacco. Nice balance. Smooth finish. This can compete with Cab Francs from anywhere. It will easily do another decade. A nice match for a steak or roast.
This showed well despite its youthfulness but its best days are certainly ahead. A blend of 85 % Cabernet Sauvignon 15 % Cabernet Franc. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, cedar, and spice. On the palate, plenty of cassis fruit. Very firm tannins. Lots of depth but its hard to see the bottom. Tight but does show a lot of fruit with a very nice texture. It is delicious today but would recommend 8 hours of air if opening. This should continue to mature and improve over the next decade or more and drink well for ten to fifteen more after that. Right now it
This Super Tuscan blend has Sangiovese, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It retails for $15 which is a fair price. The nose is dusty with cherries. This is a relatively simple wine but good and easy drinking. There is a bit of an under ripe vegetal note but not bad. Good acidity. This would work nicely with pizza or pasta or at a local Italian place.
This is a Bordeaux blend Super Tuscan wine from one of the top producers in Tuscany. It is one of their less expensive offerings and is always an outstanding wine. This wine is surprisingly open and drinking well already considering that 2015 is an outstanding vintage in Tuscany. Purple in color with ruby swirls. The nose has cassis, black cherries, slight tobacco and spice. On the palate, this has a nice juiciness to it. Black cherry fruit dominates at this point with some underlying tobacco/earth. Light tannins. Nice finish. This might still improve but either way should be good
Located in Southern Tuscany, Val Delle Rose is one of the largest wineries in the region. Their 2018 Aurelio, something of a flagship wine, offers superb quality fruit - muted pomegranate, rhubarb, black cherry, blackberry, along with a judicious use of oak that brings out cedar notes. There are vague back notes of dusty cocoa. This is a nicely balanced wine that combines all the necessary elements of oak, fruit, tannin and acidity, making for a wine that would be very complementary for any number of foods.
