Browse using the new Vinous website now. Launch →
Book Excerpt from Alessandro Masnaghetti’s Chianti Classico: The Complete Atlas of the UGA Vineyards
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jul 2022
In this excerpt from his book Chianti Classico: The Complete Atlas of the UGA Vineyards, Alessandro Masnaghetti examines the new UGAs (Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive), Chianti Classico’s version of place names, with historical background, in-depth information on soils and detailed maps for each UGA, plus a deep dive into the Lamole UGA.
Chianti Classico & Neighbors: Looking at the 2020s and 2019s
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jul 2022
This year’s releases from Chianti Classico are a bit of a mixed bag. Most of that is attributable to the natural diversity of this large appellation and the unevenness of the 2019s. Even so, there are a lot of gorgeous wines in this report, many of them entry-level Chianti Classicos that offer superb quality for the money. As always, this report focuses on Chianti Classico, but also includes wines from neighboring appellations.
Cellar Favorite: San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico 2002-2010
Italy: Tuscany, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Jul 2022
“Would you like to taste some older wines?” Luca Martini di Cigala asks as he starts to open bottles for our recent tasting of new releases. Over the years, I have been fortunate to taste complete verticals of both Percarlo and La Ricolma, along with many other wines at the ten-year mark.
Tuscany: New Releases from the Coast
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jul 2022
I found a lot to like in this year’s crop of new releases from the Tuscan Coast. The best Vermentinos and Morellinos offer terrific value, while at the higher end, many of the region’s reference-point wines turned out beautifully. Moreover, a greater emphasis on freshness yields contemporary wines that marry energy with the natural opulence that comes so easily on the coast, a pretty appealing combination in my book.
2019 Tuscany Preview
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Mar 2022
This preview article focuses on a number of new releases ahead of my comprehensive reports on coastal Tuscany and Chianti Classico scheduled for later this year. Most of the wines are from the 2019 vintage, which is revealing itself to be full of surprises, in the best sense of the term. A continued move towards more nuanced winemaking throughout Tuscany really comes through in the best of these wines.
The Pros and Cons of Rosso di Montalcino and Beyond
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jan 2022
As I continue to taste through the 2017 Brunellos, the importance and possibilities of Rosso di Montalcino are more evident now than ever before. Rosso provides a great opportunity to take a peek at the Brunello vintages that are on the way, even if that approach is not without its pitfalls, as I explain in this article. It’s time to take a look at the 2019 and 2020 Rossos that are entering the market.
Looking Back to Look Forward: Back Vintage Brunello
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jan 2022
We buy Brunello for the cellar, to watch it mature into glorious wines befitting of the region’s reputation. However, we seldom talk about these mature beauties in the same manner as we do the wines of Bordeaux or Barolo, which is a shame, because the best of Brunello can and does stand the test of time.
Montepulciano, Carmignano and Montecucco: New Releases
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Dec 2021
It’s time to veer off the beaten path and focus on many of the hidden gems found throughout the towns of Tuscany. We’re not talking about Chianti Classico or Montalcino today. Instead, we’re looking at some of the greatest values in wine that have yet to be truly discovered, and each with a unique stamp of regional character.
Jekyll and Hyde: 2017 Brunello di Montalcino and 2016 Riservas
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Dec 2021
January 2022 marks the official release of 2017 Brunello and 2016 Riservas, two vintages that couldn’t possibly be more different. While the Riserva category has received its share of criticism over time, and the 2017 vintage has been called one of the worst in recent memory, readers would be doing themselves a serious disservice by not checking out what Montalcino has in store for us in the New Year. It’s time to think outside of the box.
Cellar Favorite: 2012 Pian dell'Orino Rosso di Montalcino
Italy: Tuscany, Cellar Journal, cellar favorite
, Nov 2021
Caroline Pobitzer and Jan Erbach came to Montalcino with the greatest wines of Gianfranco Soldera and Piero Palmucci of Poggio di Sotto in mind.