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
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Tuscany | 2 | 90 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£828.78 |
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Vinous (90)The 2004 Argentiera is sweet and layered in its dark cherries, toasted oak, earthiness and smoke. It offers notable balance, with ripe tannins that are beautifully woven into the wine's medium-bodied yet generous frame. This blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc spent 14 months in French oak. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,778.44 |
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Wine Advocate (98)No doubt, Casanova di Neri shows some of its best work in this decade, starting with the super voluptuous 2001 vintage and ending with the superbly fine and powerful 2010 edition. The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is closer to the 2001 expression in style and personality. This wine shows deep richness and plumpness with black fruit nuances that segue to exotic spice, bitter chocolate and cured tobacco. Those lingering balsam notes of rosemary and medicinal herb remind you of the Montalcino territory. Smoke, tar, licorice and crushed flint underline the evolved nature of this balanced Tuscan red. If you have a bottle in your cellar, you could drink it now or hold off longer. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£797.09 |
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Vinous (92)The estate's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous for its clarity, elegance and precision. Medium in body, the wine reveals ripe red cherries, mint, minerals, tobacco and licorice in a taut, medium-bodied style. Today the Brunello is fairly tightly wound, but it should be a beauty once the tannins soften somewhat. This is a wine of grace, purity and superb balance. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 95+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£402.49 |
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Vinous (95+)Col d'Orcia's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is beautifully perfumed, finessed and nuanced, with plenty of bright red-fleshed fruit flavors. Hints of cedar, smoke, licorice and tobacco develop in the glass, but the 2004 remains quite primary and dense, with little in the way of development relative to so many other wines of the vintage. The 2004 can be enjoyed today with some aeration, but its best drinking almost certainly lies in the future. Richer, dark red cherry compote and plum notes start to open up in the glass, hinting at what is to come. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£1,230.78 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Shows a very ripe nose, with rose, berry and hints of meat. Full-bodied and powerful, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Massive yet balanced. What a wine. The greatest Saffredi ever made. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Alicante. Better than previously reviewed. Best after 2012. 1,750 cases made. -JS |
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Tuscany | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£264.00 |
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Vinous (95)The 2004 Cepparello has fleshed out beautifully since I last tasted it. Dark raspberries, flowers, licorice and spices blossom from the glass as the wine opens up over time. When it was young the 2004 was a much more linear wine, but since then it has put on a lot of weight. Today, the 2004 comes across as a modern day 1982 because of its balance of aromatics, fruit and structure. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£3,424.34 |
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Vinous (100)The 2004 Masseto, one of my personal favorites, is positively stellar. I have always adored the 2004 for its silky tannins, stunning aromatic presence and total finesse, all of which are on display today. Beautifully pure to the long finish and profoundly beautiful in every way, the 2004 has it all. It was a textbook vintage that only presented one real challenge, and that was moderating the naturally high yields that resulted from an unblocking of energy the vines had held in store from the previous year. Where producers moderated yields, the wines are often stunning, as is very much the case here. If forced to choose only one vintage of Masseto I could own or drink it would be the 2004. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 91+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£597.89 |
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Vinous (91+)(a merlot/sangiovese blend) Saturated black-ruby. Typical Siepi nose of black plum, black pepper, espresso and vanilla-caramel oak. More dark chocolate and coffee in the mouth, with a sweetening influence of ripe black cherry. Fat, layered and finely tannic. A bit more acid spine might have given this more detail, but it ranks as one of the more refined Siepis I remember at a similar stage of development. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£2,208.04 |
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James Suckling (97)Racy. Subtle aromas of berries and currants, with hints of fresh herbs. Very refined and full, with silky yet firm tannins. Harmonious. Drink or hold. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£506.44 |
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Imbued with the polyphonic symphony of Tuscan terroir, the Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 originates from Montalcino's ripest Sangiovese grapes. Produced in the San Polo winery, owned by the illustrious Allegrini family, the generous contribution of marly soils and climatic conditions honours it with a grand finesse and complexity. Aged in French tonneaux and large Slavonian oak barrels, its compositions wonderfully evolve over five years resulting in a luscious spectrum of dark fruits, spices, and earthy undertones. Its sheer brilliance manifests in its harmonious balance of acidity, tannins, and svelte, full-bodied structure. With a unique ability to unfurl its full potential when decanted, Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 reinforces its standing as an Eden of enological excellence. Savour this liquid poetry to experience a profound immersion into an ineffable Italian winemaking tradition. |
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Tuscany | 7 | 94 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£574.84 |
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Wine Enthusiast (94)A wine that gives you everything you could possibly want: complexity, elegance, intensity and a long, creamy finish. Oreno is a 50-25-25 blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese (which prove to be perfect proportions in this case). It exhibits aromas of bright cherry, prune, plum, espresso grinds and cedar wood. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£1,083.64 |
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Wine Advocate (96+)The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano continues to develop very positively. This huge, concentrated Madonna del Piano dazzles for the richness of its fruit and the delineation of its aromas. The clean, vibrant finish suggests many years of cellaring potential. The Valdicava Brunellos are often misunderstood when young because they possess so much richness, but with time in bottle the wines turn more delicate and complete. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Tuscany | 2 | 90 (VN) |
In Bond
£665.00 |
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Vinous (90)The 2004 Argentiera is sweet and layered in its dark cherries, toasted oak, earthiness and smoke. It offers notable balance, with ripe tannins that are beautifully woven into the wine's medium-bodied yet generous frame. This blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc spent 14 months in French oak. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£1,466.00 |
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Wine Advocate (98)No doubt, Casanova di Neri shows some of its best work in this decade, starting with the super voluptuous 2001 vintage and ending with the superbly fine and powerful 2010 edition. The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is closer to the 2001 expression in style and personality. This wine shows deep richness and plumpness with black fruit nuances that segue to exotic spice, bitter chocolate and cured tobacco. Those lingering balsam notes of rosemary and medicinal herb remind you of the Montalcino territory. Smoke, tar, licorice and crushed flint underline the evolved nature of this balanced Tuscan red. If you have a bottle in your cellar, you could drink it now or hold off longer. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£645.00 |
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Vinous (92)The estate's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous for its clarity, elegance and precision. Medium in body, the wine reveals ripe red cherries, mint, minerals, tobacco and licorice in a taut, medium-bodied style. Today the Brunello is fairly tightly wound, but it should be a beauty once the tannins soften somewhat. This is a wine of grace, purity and superb balance. |
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Tuscany | 4 | 95+ (VN) |
In Bond
£329.00 |
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Vinous (95+)Col d'Orcia's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento is beautifully perfumed, finessed and nuanced, with plenty of bright red-fleshed fruit flavors. Hints of cedar, smoke, licorice and tobacco develop in the glass, but the 2004 remains quite primary and dense, with little in the way of development relative to so many other wines of the vintage. The 2004 can be enjoyed today with some aeration, but its best drinking almost certainly lies in the future. Richer, dark red cherry compote and plum notes start to open up in the glass, hinting at what is to come. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WS) |
In Bond
£1,000.00 |
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Wine Spectator (97)Shows a very ripe nose, with rose, berry and hints of meat. Full-bodied and powerful, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Massive yet balanced. What a wine. The greatest Saffredi ever made. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Alicante. Better than previously reviewed. Best after 2012. 1,750 cases made. -JS |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£264.00 |
|||||
Vinous (95)The 2004 Cepparello has fleshed out beautifully since I last tasted it. Dark raspberries, flowers, licorice and spices blossom from the glass as the wine opens up over time. When it was young the 2004 was a much more linear wine, but since then it has put on a lot of weight. Today, the 2004 comes across as a modern day 1982 because of its balance of aromatics, fruit and structure. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 100 (VN) |
In Bond
£2,844.00 |
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Vinous (100)The 2004 Masseto, one of my personal favorites, is positively stellar. I have always adored the 2004 for its silky tannins, stunning aromatic presence and total finesse, all of which are on display today. Beautifully pure to the long finish and profoundly beautiful in every way, the 2004 has it all. It was a textbook vintage that only presented one real challenge, and that was moderating the naturally high yields that resulted from an unblocking of energy the vines had held in store from the previous year. Where producers moderated yields, the wines are often stunning, as is very much the case here. If forced to choose only one vintage of Masseto I could own or drink it would be the 2004. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 91+ (VN) |
In Bond
£479.00 |
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Vinous (91+)(a merlot/sangiovese blend) Saturated black-ruby. Typical Siepi nose of black plum, black pepper, espresso and vanilla-caramel oak. More dark chocolate and coffee in the mouth, with a sweetening influence of ripe black cherry. Fat, layered and finely tannic. A bit more acid spine might have given this more detail, but it ranks as one of the more refined Siepis I remember at a similar stage of development. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£1,824.00 |
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James Suckling (97)Racy. Subtle aromas of berries and currants, with hints of fresh herbs. Very refined and full, with silky yet firm tannins. Harmonious. Drink or hold. |
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Tuscany | 1 | - |
In Bond
£406.00 |
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Imbued with the polyphonic symphony of Tuscan terroir, the Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 originates from Montalcino's ripest Sangiovese grapes. Produced in the San Polo winery, owned by the illustrious Allegrini family, the generous contribution of marly soils and climatic conditions honours it with a grand finesse and complexity. Aged in French tonneaux and large Slavonian oak barrels, its compositions wonderfully evolve over five years resulting in a luscious spectrum of dark fruits, spices, and earthy undertones. Its sheer brilliance manifests in its harmonious balance of acidity, tannins, and svelte, full-bodied structure. With a unique ability to unfurl its full potential when decanted, Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2004 reinforces its standing as an Eden of enological excellence. Savour this liquid poetry to experience a profound immersion into an ineffable Italian winemaking tradition. |
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Tuscany | 7 | 94 (WE) |
In Bond
£463.00 |
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Wine Enthusiast (94)A wine that gives you everything you could possibly want: complexity, elegance, intensity and a long, creamy finish. Oreno is a 50-25-25 blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese (which prove to be perfect proportions in this case). It exhibits aromas of bright cherry, prune, plum, espresso grinds and cedar wood. |
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|
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Tuscany | 1 | 96+ (WA) |
In Bond
£887.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96+)The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano continues to develop very positively. This huge, concentrated Madonna del Piano dazzles for the richness of its fruit and the delineation of its aromas. The clean, vibrant finish suggests many years of cellaring potential. The Valdicava Brunellos are often misunderstood when young because they possess so much richness, but with time in bottle the wines turn more delicate and complete. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. |
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