($35, Winebow):  Castellare di Castellina, one of Chianti’s traditional and best producers, hits the bullseye again with this Riserva.  The grapes come from a single vineyard that they think produces superior fruit.  After tasting it, I certainly agree there’s something special going on. … Read more

($52, Winebow):  I know, 50 bucks for a Vermentino?  But this is no regular Vermentino.  It’s a captivating, stop-you-in-your-tracks kind of wine.  Grattamacco, founded in 1977, was the second winery, after Sassicaia, in what’s now the Bolgheri DOC.  They planted Vermentino in addition to Cabernet, Merlot and Sangiovese and now claim to have the oldest Vermentino vines in Bolgheri, which probably accounts, at least in part, for the wine’s splendor. … Read more

($22, Winebow):  It’s hard to go wrong with any of the wines from Castellare di Castellina, one of the very best Chianti Classico producers.  This wine, their normale or annata, is their base Chianti Classico and what high base it represents.  … Read more

($20, Bluest Sky Group Imports):  Maremma Toscana, a large and relatively new DOC, is located in southwestern Tuscany, roughly halfway between Rome and Florence, extending from the coast to hilly inland areas.  The Vermentino grape is king here for white wines. … Read more

($24, Montcalm Wine Importers):  Though perhaps not as well-known as Chianti Classico, Chianti Rufina, another of the eight subzones of the great Chianti region, is home to wonderful wines, such as this one.  The focus of Grignano’s 2016 Rufina is on a combination of earthy and fruity notes. … Read more

($20):  The cutesy label and name (two roosters) represent the two brothers, Bernardo and Umberto Valle, who have crafted this engaging mid-weight red.  Morellino di Scansano, which carries DOCG designation, Italy’s highest ranking, is an area in the Maremma in southwestern Tuscany, the primary grape of which is Sangiovese. … Read more

($20):  The quality of this wine and the enjoyment from it should come as no surprise.  The 2016 vintage in Chianti Classico was fabulous, producing ripe but racy wines.  Badia a Coltibuono is consistently among the top producers.  The surprise here is finding a wine of this caliber for an average price of $20, though I’ve seen it for much less. … Read more

($86):  Though not the current release, Mastrojanni’s 2011 single vineyard, Loreto, is still available on the retail market and those who want to know why Brunello is such a revered wine should try it.  The only problem with the 2011 vintage in Brunello is that it followed 2010, a great one. … Read more

($41):  Gran Selezione is a new category of Chianti Classico that is supposed to represent the pinnacle of a producer’s bottling.  Whether it does is a matter of debate because some producers’ top wine from Chianti Classico region is not a Gran Selezione. … Read more

($30):  Capezzana is certainly among the top producers, if not the top one, in Carmignano, the DOCG that requires inclusion of Cabernet (either Sauvignon or Franc) in the blend with Sangiovese.  Think of it as the original Super Tuscan.  Capezzana is incredibly consistent, year after year, producing a beautifully balanced Carmignano that marries fruit and earth perfectly. … Read more

($25):   Rosso di Montalcino, made from Sangiovese, the same grape that is required for Brunello di Montalcino, requires and undergoes less aging than Brunello, which explains why the wines are ready to drink sooner.  Donatella Cinelli Colombini, one the star producers of Brunello, also makes an engaging Rosso. … Read more

($44):  Fontodi, one of the great names in Chianti Classico, is located in the heart of that region, in what’s known as the Conca d’Oro (golden shell) because of the amphitheater-like exposure.  It’s a perfect area for bringing Sangiovese, the only grape used for this Chianti Classico, to perfect ripeness. … Read more

($125):   This is Brunello at its best.  Col d’Orcia, one of the leading producers of Brunello, makes fabulous Riserva…but only in the best years.  Vintage after vintage, Col d’Orcia’s Poggio al Vento consistently combines power and elegance.  The 2012, from an excellent vintage in the Montalcino region, is no exception. … Read more

($44):   Although this release is only the third vintage of this wine, Giovanni Manetti, owner/winemaker at Fontodi told me they have been working on the project for 15 years.  The Filetta vineyard, owned by Manetti’s cousin, is only a few miles from Fontodi’s home base near Panzano, but the wine is very different from their usual Chianti Classico because of the extreme elevation of the vineyard. … Read more

($55): Tenuta Marsiliana is Principe Corsini’s estate in the Maremma area of Tuscany.  They refer to this wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, as the estate’s “grand vin,” as the French would, presumably because of the Bordeaux blend of grapes. … Read more

 ($30): As much as I liked Principe Corsini’s 2015 annata (standard or regular one) Chianti Classico, their 2015 Riserva is just better.  Riserva should be better than the regular bottling, but that isn’t always the case.  They can be overdone or over-extracted and out of balance. … Read more

($43): With the introduction of Gran Selezione several years ago, Chianti Classico has a quality pyramid with annata (regular or standard bottling) at the bottom, followed by Riserva and then Gran Selezione at the pinnacle.  With Don Tommaso, Principe Corsini shows they can produce a stunning more “modern” style of Chianti Classico that contrasts beautifully with their Riserva. … Read more

($24):  Principe Corsini’s 2015 Chianti Classico exemplifies why Chianti Classico in general is so popular.  Bright and fresh, it delivers the ideal combination of red cherry-like fruitiness with haunting earthy, “not just fruit” flavors that give it complexity and character.  Lively acidity and smooth tannins make it the “go-to” red wine now. … Read more

($19): Principe Corsini, a great Chianti Classico producer, has an estate in Maremma where the grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, for this wine are grown.  With dark succulent fruit flavors and bright Tuscan acidity, the blend works.  It’s a bold wine, but not over the top because of the energy the acidity provides. … Read more

($15):  The label notes, “Governo all’Uso Toscano,” which means the wine was made using the centuries-old governo method.  With this technique, the winemaker held back some slightly over-ripe or even dried grapes to increase the body of the wine or to re-start a “stuck” fermentation — one that had stopped prematurely.  … Read more

($30):  A seamless blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Merlot (40%) and Syrah, this classy red delivers far more refinement and complexity than you’d expect for the price.  It conveys a touch of everything — black fruit notes, herbal nuances, and spice — and not too much of anything. … Read more

($12, Golden Ram Imports):  Borgaio di Meleto is a second label of Meleto, one of the top Chianti Classico producers.  A value-packed juicy blend of Sangiovese (70%) and Merlot, this mid-weight red delivers both fruity and herbal elements.  Surprising complexity for a wine of this price likely comes from a touch of oak aging in large old barrels. … Read more

($20, Golden Ram Imports):  Castello di Meleto, a top Chianti Classico producer based in Gaiole, has abandoned new French oak barrels for aging their Chianti Classico and eliminated the international varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, in the blend.  Instead, the wine is 100 percent Sangiovese that has been aged in large old Slavonian oak barrels. … Read more

($25, Golden Ram Imports):  The wines from Castello di Meleto need to be re-visited because the current releases deliver extraordinary pleasure for the price.  This marvelous Chianti Classico Reserva from their Vigneti Casi vineyards is both juicy and polished with a gorgeous texture. … Read more

($30):  A seamless blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Merlot (40%) and Syrah, this classy red delivers far more refinement and complexity than you’d expect for the price.  It conveys a touch of everything — black fruit notes, herbal nuances, and spice — and not too much of anything. … Read more

($26, Kobrand Wine & Spirits):  Silvio Nardi is one of Brunello’s top producers.  Always traditionally framed, you’ll never feel or taste a predominance of oak or wood in their wines.  This Rosso comes from grapes grown vineyards some of which are designated for Rosso and some of which are designated for Brunello. … Read more

($58, Kobrand Wine & Spirits):  In addition to their Rosso di Montalcino, Tenuta Silvio Nardi producers three Brunelli, all of which are different and all of which I recommend highly.  Indeed, their two single vineyard bottlings show the diversity of this region. … Read more

($106, Kobrand Wine & Spirits):  Tenuta Silvio Nardi’s Poggio Doria comes from a parcel, Oria, in their Casale del Bosco estate, which is located in the northwest portion of the Brunello zone.  Volcanic soil here helps explain its firmness and tighter profile. … Read more

($98, Kobrand Wine & Spirits):  Silvio Nardi’s Manachiara estate, located in the eastern portion of the Montalcino zones, comprises about 550 acres, of which about 125 are planted.  This Brunello is always explosive and the 2012 is no exception.  Its gorgeous aromatics grab your attention immediately. … Read more

($20):  Argiano, a top Brunello producer, has, liked many other producers in the region, branched out from producing Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino.  Non Confunditur, which in Latin means unique or unmistakable, is a balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese that works very nicely. … Read more

($12, Montcalm Wine Importers):  Vignamaggio makes excellent Chianti Classico, so it comes as no surprise that this simple IGT Toscana delivers more than you’d expect for the price.  Fruitier with far fewer savory notes compared to Chianti Classico, it’s a cheery fresh wine, full of cherry-like notes. … Read more

($23):  The three-grape blend, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, give rise to the name, TRE.  This mid-weight wine (13.5% stated alcohol) delivers an array of red and black fruit notes surrounded by mild tannins. Bright and lively, it has good density and surprising complexity and polish for the price. … Read more

($70):  Brancaia has fashioned a “bigger” more modern style of Super Tuscan by blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.  Although these are grapes known as Bordeaux varieties, Brancaia’s Ilatraia has clear roots in Tuscany as manifested by its terrific enlivening and refreshing acidity. … Read more

($40):  With an unusual blend, this “second” wine from Caiarossa is an outstanding value.  The team uses five of the seven red varieties planted on the estate, Syrah (28%), Cabernet Franc (22%), Merlot (21%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%), and Alicante, for this robust, yet balanced wine. … Read more

($51):  Caiarossa, a relatively new entry into the Super Tuscan world (2004 was their first vintage), is headed towards the top of that illustrious group.  In addition to four of the traditional Bordeaux varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot), they planted and use in this, their flagship wine, Syrah, Sangiovese, and Alicante. … Read more

($72, Quintessential):  Though the wines are bottled and in distribution to wholesalers, the official release date of the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is the beginning of 2018.  The growing season was cooler than 2012, which suggests the wines might be more elegant than powerful, but generalizations can’t be made, if at all, until tasting a full range of them. … Read more

($42):  Befitting a Riserva, Castello di Radda’s 2012 has depth balanced by a gutsy firmness.  Even with its youthful vigor, the balance of dark fruit and savory notes is apparent.  An appealing hint of bitterness in the finish reminds you this is a wine meant for the dinner table. … Read more

($22):  In a word, delicious.  It’s just what you’d expect from Chianti Classico: a wonderful combination of dark cherry-like fruit and herbal qualities. Not all gussied up with oak, the alluring earthiness of Chianti Classico comes through.  Polished tannins in this mid-weight wine impart a suave texture.… Read more

($49):  As much as I liked Castello di Radda’s 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva, I must admit, their Gran Selezione from the same vintage is just better.  With stricter production standards, Gran Selezione, a relatively new category for Chianti Classico, is supposed to highlight a producer’s top wine. … Read more

($92, Kobrand):  Silvio Nardi, one of my favorite Brunello producers, consistently makes a stunning wine from their Manachiara vineyard, some of whose vines date back to the 1960s.  Located on the east side of Montalcino, the vineyard has a mixture of clay and sand in the soil, which helps account for the wine’s seemingly paradoxical combination of power and elegance. … Read more

($20, Artisanal Cellars):  Despite being Italy’s first DOC, Vernaccia di San Gimignano (yes, you read that correctly) rarely receives the accolades it deserves, which is a boon for consumers because its low visibility keeps the prices down.  Il Colombaio di Santa Chiara is one of the region’s top producers, so their wines are a good place to start for consumers who want to know what Vernaccia di San Gimignano should taste like. … Read more

($30, Artisanal Cellars):  Often confused with Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, which means small cherries, usually comprises part of a blend.  But a few producers, such as Fibbiano, make a monovarietal wine from it.  This is a lovely example, combining cherry-like fruit, earthiness and an attractive subtle bitterness in the finish. … Read more

($15, Palm Bay International):  Rocca delle Maciè consistently makes lovely Chianti Classico, so it’s no surprise that they succeed with the Sangiovese grape further south in Scansano.  Their Morellino di Scansano 2015 focuses more on ripe cherry-like fruit than earthiness, but a hint of savory notes and bright acidity keeps it in balance. … Read more

($92, Wilson Daniels): It’s not surprising to see more estates popping up in Bolgheri, the area of the Tuscan coast that’s home to super star such as, Sassicaia and Ornellaia.  Moreover, it stands to reason that there’s potential for other producers to find the correct microclimates for their interpretation of wines made from the Bordeaux varieties. … Read more

($60, Kobrand): Tenute Silvio Nardi produces classically framed Brunello that reveal their substantial charms slowly.  They have vineyards both in the northwest and southeast section of the DOCG zone, which allows them to capture the virtues of each of those zones by using grapes from both of them for this wine. … Read more

($18, Montcalm Wine Importers): Chianti Rùfina, the smallest of the eight subzones of Chianti, a vast area in the middle of Tuscany, accounts for only about three percent of the region’s production.  By comparison, Chianti Classico, the best known of the subzones and the area located in the hills between Florence and Siena, produces ten times the amount of wine. … Read more

($25): Ruffino is one of the leading names in Chianti Classico, producing a range of traditionally styled wines at reasonable prices.  Their top one, Riserva Ducale Oro (with a gold label), made only in the best vintages has an extraordinary ability to develop amazing complexity with bottle age.… Read more

($18): This is a masterful Chianti Classico that walks the line between the so-called “modern” and “traditional” styles.  A hint of Merlot (2%) in the blend with Sangiovese (98%) adds fleshiness without being overt.  The engaging herbal earthy notes still dominate. … Read more