Tuscany
Tuscany, a picturesque region in central Italy, is renowned for producing some of the world's finest wines. With its rolling hills, Mediterranean climate, and rich cultural heritage, Tuscany offers a perfect combination of terroir and winemaking expertise. The region is home to legendary vineyards and wineries that have become synonymous with excellence and tradition.
One of the most famous vineyards in Tuscany is Antinori, a family-owned winery with a history dating back over 600 years. Their wines, such as Tignanello and Solaia, have achieved iconic status, showcasing the region's commitment to quality and innovation. Another renowned vineyard is Castello di Volpaia, known for its exceptional Chianti Classico wines that beautifully represent the Sangiovese grape.
Tuscany is synonymous with Chianti, a red wine made primarily from Sangiovese grapes. Chianti Classico, produced in the heart of the Chianti region, is highly regarded for its balance, elegance, and age-worthiness. Vineyards like Castello di Ama, Fontodi, and Fèlsina craft outstanding Chianti Classico wines that capture the essence of Tuscan winemaking.
The region is also famous for Brunello di Montalcino, a prestigious red wine made from Sangiovese Grosso grapes. Montalcino is home to renowned wineries such as Biondi-Santi and Casanova di Neri, which produce exceptional Brunello di Montalcino wines with remarkable structure, depth, and longevity.
Tuscany's coastal region, Bolgheri, has gained international acclaim for its Super Tuscan wines. These wines often blend international grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with local varieties. Notable vineyards in Bolgheri include Tenuta San Guido, known for its iconic Sassicaia, and Ornellaia, which produces the renowned Ornellaia wine.
Tuscany's diverse terroir also allows for the production of white wines, with Vernaccia di San Gimignano being the most notable. Vernaccia vineyards like Teruzzi & Puthod and Panizzi create crisp and aromatic white wines that showcase the region's versatility.
Tuscany
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(6x75cl) 2016Vinous (92+)
The 2016 Chianti Classico is an explosion of floral-infused aromatics and red-toned fruit, all in the super-classic mid-weight style that is such a signature of the Querciabella house style today. Rose petal, lavender, mint and sweet raspberry fruit are pushed to the forefront. This is the first vintage in which more than half of the wine was aged in larger format oak ranging from tonneau to cask. Vineyards in Gaiole and Greve form the core of the blend, with a touch of fruit from Radda. The 2016 has enough freshness to drink well for another decade plus, but I would give it a few years in bottle for the bright acids to integrate a bit further. There are a number of pricier wines in Querciabella's range, but I am not sure any of them can match the Chianti Classico for pure pleasure. What a lovely wine it is.د.إ790.00 -
د.إ2,180.00 -
Wine Advocate (93)
The 2016 Chianti Classico impresses for the heightened level of vibrant freshness and aromatic precision that distinguishes it in a large playing field. Proprietor Maurizia di Napoli tells me that the 2016 growing season was not without its ups and downs. Farming was difficult, and not all sites came to ripeness with the same consistency because it was cooler toward the end of the growing season. Castello dei Rampolla avoids the use of sulfites in winemaking. However, these results are stunning, especially as this is positioned as a more affordable wine. The blend is 85% Sangiovese, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot.د.إ1,475.00 -
James Suckling (93)
A classic Chianti Classico with plums, strawberries and peaches on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a long, linear finish with brightness and focus. Juicy finish. Drinkable now, but even better in a year or two.د.إ589.00 -
James Suckling (100)
Earthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood rise up from the deep with Burgundian poise; fruitier orange zest and preserved lemons glimmer in their wake, while riper incense and tar lurk in this dense forest of aromas. Physics itself gives way as the line between reduction and oxidation is blurred. There’s such richness to the center palate, but the fruit there is vivacious and elegant, swaddled in robust but generous tannins that breach the outermost reaches of the mouth. The finish is hauntingly long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly. This is certainly in a quiet, reserved stage of evolution, and will need time to fully mature in bottle. Drink in 2025.د.إ1,690.00 -
The Wine Independent (97)
This Barone Ricasoli 2018 Casalferro is a selection of the best Merlot from three different vineyards with different exposures, heights, and vine age. The first impression on the nose is of sweet red fruits with a slight green note but after time this melts into a background of sweet spice. On the palate it is soft and medium-full bodied with an elegant texture, gentle acidity and freshness and fine tannins. This is a lovely, graceful example of Merlot. Drink 2022 to 2035.د.إ1,010.00 -
Decanter (94)
Since taking the reins at Riecine in 2016, winemaker Alessandro Campatelli has crafted a Riserva from the 2.6ha 50-year-old Gittori vineyard. It ferments in concrete Nomblot tanks and ages in large untoasted French oak casks from Burgundy cooper Grenier. Pretty strawberry notes provide a backdrop for cinnamon, cardamom and forest brush to shine through. The tannins are supple and powdery, while penetrating acidity rings out on the finish. Plenty of concentration for ageing.د.إ948.00 -
د.إ1,080.00 -
Decanter (100)
Mocha notes on the nose, coffee, cola, vanilla, cinnamon and pink flowers. Fresh with a tannic hold, ample, massy and fleshy but with such clear definition - tannins are mouthfilling but detailed and nuanced so you feel the precision going on as well as the flavours themselves. Feels extremely well worked, all in its place. I love the chewiness, the concentrated ripeness and overall 'in your face' expression because you feel the detail behind it as well as the nuance ranging from primary blueberry, cherry and blackcurrant fruit to more tertiary elements of tobacco, coffee beans, leather, sweet exotic spices and peppery tones. It's lifted and sophisticated, powerful but poised. What a wine! Amazing potential here. It gives you the chills tasting a wine like this. From vines at 450m on schist-based Galestro soils.د.إ1,340.00 -
د.إ1,580.00 -
Decanter (93)
As high temperatures in mid-August shut down the ripening of Sangiovese, Marco Ricasoli reports picking approximately a week later than usual. He also introduced a sorting table to remove dried or green berries as well any pieces of stems. His resulting annata is pristine and sophisticated. Deep violet in colour and equally youthful on the nose, it exudes wild berries, black plum, and hints of wood spice. Tangy dark red cherry fills the mouth, buoyed by rambunctious acidity and framed by suede-textured tannins. Winter mint and liquorice root linger on the finish. With admirable complexity, this outperforms its category.د.إ452.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)
The 2015 Ridolfo is still a very young wine, even from a standard 750ml bottle (the commercial release is only in magnum). Blood orange, spice, star anise, dried herbs and pomegranate lend notable freshness and complexity. This vivid red is so beautiful, so expressive. With a bit of air, the 2015 can be enjoyed now, although I would prefer to wait.د.إ2,260.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)
A total stunner, the 2016 Ridolfo is potent and intensely vertical right out of the gate. Beams of tannin immediately announce an important, structured young red. Blood orange, plum, spice, new leather, menthol and dried rose petal scream out of the glass. What a vivid and dynamic wine this is.د.إ1,865.00 -
Distinguished by its robust bouquet, the Rocca di Montegrossi San Marcellino Chianti Classico 2016 is an elegant blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Pugnitello grapes. Crafted in the heart of Tuscany by Rocca di Montegrossi, a winery revered for steadfast commitment to tradition coupled with a dash of innovation. This vintage shines with a deep ruby colour and treats the palate to complex layers of cherry, plums, and well-integrated tannins with a spicy finish. Matured in French oak barriques for two years before being transferred to bottle, this splendidly balanced wine epitomises the winemaker's meticulous attention to detail. The Rocca di Montegrossi San Marcellino Chianti Classico 2016 pairs well with sumptuous meat dishes and robust cheeses, promising to be a showstopper at your dinner table. It further cements Rocca di Montegrossi's pedigree with its decadent flavour profile and impressive structure.
د.إ1,720.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)
The 2017 Geremia is fabulous. Rich and explosive, the 2017 stains the palate. Inky red fruit, blood orange, spice, new leather and cedar are all wonderfully amplified. All the elements are so well balanced. The 2017 has aged magnificently. I find it exotic, seductive and flat-out gorgeous.د.إ1,095.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is laced with spicy, dark red fruits, wild, sweet and spicy floral tones that give way to savory herbs, hints of animal musk and black earth. On the palate, it's soft, enveloping, almost creamy in texture and offset by a mix of savory spice, fine tannin and saturating mineral tones as black cherry and sage seem to hover on the senses. The finish is spicy and long, structured, but also with vibrant primary fruits holding on strong, as a twang of savory herbs lingers long.د.إ1,155.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The Castello Romitorio 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a classic expression of the vintage, showing lots of ripe fruit, crushed mineral, herbal nuances and varietal-driven purity. This wine nails that sweet spot between elegance and power that is not easily achieved. It offers an expanded array of Sangiovese flavors with wild cherry, forest floor, crushed clove and medicinal herb, but it also shows plump density and a velvety texture. Filippo Chia and his team have created a sold wine for medium or long-term drinking. Production is exactly 58,874 bottles.د.إ1,275.00 -
James Suckling (96)
Extremely perfumed and pure on the nose with bright and vivid, crushed cherry and berry character. Full body. Tight and poised with rich yet polished tannins and an ever so long finish. Needs at least three or four years to come together. Better after 2021.د.إ2,325.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta is a remarkably pretty and pure expression of the vintage. It impresses with a lifted yet stimulating display of bright red fruits and savory spice, framed by notes of crushed stone, animal musk and dusty florals. This boasts striking depth and elegant textures, all offset by a mix of tart wild berries and cool-toned acids, as salty minerals create an almost-crunchy feel toward the close. The tannins are firm yet rounded, displaying tremendous balance and length, as the 2016 Filo di Seta never grows tiring or youthfully clenched. That said, the best is yet to come for this complex and age-worthy effort.د.إ1,105.00 -
Wine Spectator (98)
This stunning red exudes bright cherry, blackberry, plum, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors, all knit together almost seamlessly, with vibrant acidity and refined tannins. Shows a combination of power and grace, with a long fruit and savory aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2047. 620 cases made, 150 cases imported.د.إ4,730.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva lifts up with elegance and richness, as sweet lavender and violets give way to a more savory display of black cherries, Tuscan dust and cedar box with hints of cooling mint. This rushes the palate with sweet red fruits and spices, silky yet lifted, and displaying a delicacy not expected from the Riserva category, yet quite welcome. Beneath is a core of power and density just waiting to unfold. Minerality comes through in the finale, mingling with a fine coating of tannin and hints of spicy citrus. This harmonious Brunello will have a very long life. The Riserva is a selection of two Brunello barrels, one tonneau and one large cask, from Romitorio’s cellar. Simply stunning.د.إ4,085.00 -
Wine Spectator (96)
This features a core of ripe, sweet plum, blackberry and spice flavors, accented by earth, wild herbs and tobacco. Though dense and muscular, there's also a beam of vibrant acidity that keeps this focused and fresh. Best from 2023 through 2042. 1,000 cases made, 100 cases imported.د.إ1,220.00 -
Falstaff (96)
Clear ruby. Charming nose with rich notes of ripe plums, some cranberry and wild raspberry, liquorice in the background. Characterised on the palate by grippy, gripping tannin, hearty, fine ripe fruit, seems a bit rough on the finish.د.إ1,790.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
Also expressive, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Piaggione is ruby with a magenta tinge and offers notes of raspberry liqueur, violets, and polished wood spices. Refined with fine tannins and a very balanced texture, it’s velvety and has a long finish. Drink 2025-2045.د.إ1,990.00 -
Introducing the distinguished Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione Riserva 2013, a profound embodiment of Italian winemaking. Produced in the globally renowned Montalcino region, this exceptional wine hails from Salicutti, a prestigious estate committed to biodynamic practices and dedicated to preserving the purity of Sangiovese. The Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione Riserva 2013 is birthed from grapes harvested from the Piaggione vineyard, known for its uniquely diverse microclimate and rich soil composition.
Aged for over 36 months in Slavonian oak barrels, this rich, ruby-red coloured Brunello offers a complex bouquet of ripe cherries, blackberries, and tobacco, all underpinned by a solid structure and velvety tannins. The lengthy ageing process enhances the wine’s depth and ensures its long-term potential, allowing connoisseurs to appreciate its evolving character. Offering an unparalleled taste experience, it is a testimony to Salicutti's commitment to creating an excellent and environmentally conscious winemaking.
د.إ4,600.00 -
Kerin O'Keefe (98)
Smooth and delicious, the 2019 Salicutti Sorgente Brunello is gorgeous. The latest vintages are among the best I’ve had from Salicutti, and this wine is the best of all so far. It delivers classic Sangiovese aromas of violet, ripe forest berry, underbrush, leather and spice that on the delicious palate become more defined as ripe Morello cherry, raspberry, licorice and tobacco. Firm, ultra-refined tannins offer enveloping support while bright acidity keeps it balanced.د.إ3,140.00 -
Kerin O'Keefe (97)
Earthy aromas of truffle, underbrush, rose and new leather shape the nose along with scents of dark-skinned berry and eucalyptus. Full-bodied and youthfully tense, the savory palate delivers crushed black cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco set against tightly knit, refined tannins and fresh acidity.د.إ2,790.00 -
Kerin O'Keefe (98)
Camphor, ripe wild berry, underbrush and pipe tobacco are just some of the aromas that emerge on this stunning red. Full-bodied and smooth, the elegantly structured, savory palate boasts juicy Marasca cherry, truffle and licorice alongside streaks of spiced cranberry and fresh acidity that keep it focused and balanced. Taut, refined tannins provide seamless support.د.إ2,670.00 -
Kerin O'Keefe (98)
The beautiful nose reveals new leather, forest floor, violet and woodland berry. The focused, full-bodied palate is elegantly structured and savory, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, licorice and cinnamon alongside crushed mint and the barest hint of game. Taut, refined tannins bright acidity keep it energized and youthful.د.إ2,870.00 -
Kerin O'Keefe (98)
The 2019 Brunello from Salvioni is utterly gorgeous, starting with its intense aromas of lavender, new leather, perfumed berry, eucalyptus and pipe tobacco. Delicious and full-bodied but showing elegant restraint, the youthfully austere palate shows Marasca cherry, cranberry, star anise and black tea set against tightly wound, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced and energized. Give this beauty time to fully develop.د.إ3,450.00
