another gem from Tuscany! Its color is a bright ruby red. On the nose, it is clean and precise, with hints of morello cherries, wild berries and a moderate spiciness. On the palate it reveals a full-bodied, assertive flavor, which expresses both great intensity and elegance.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano was the first wine in Italy to be awarded the DOC status in 1966, which was then upgraded to DOCG in 1993. The parents of Franco Troiani, the present owner, moved from the Marche to Tuscany in 1959 and purchased the estate. In the 1990s a large part of the vineyards were replanted. The Vernaccia clones were collected, and still are today, from the the oldest vineyard of the property, planted in 1980.

As one might expect, Paolo, the winemaker goes the traditional route to produce the Abbey’s wine. They vinify 10 hectares of low-yielding vines in large oak casks, preferring to let the grapes speak for themselves. The Brunello is polished, but not in a spoofy kind of way. It communicates the terroir of this special place without being overly fussy or pretending to be something it is not. It tastes exactly like the Brunello should taste if produced by the region’s unofficial ambassador. The wine pays tribute to Brunello’s past and portends a future for the area, free from market analysis and flying winemakers.

The bouquet is fresh with zesty aromas of freshly cut grass, grapefruit and hints of salt air. On the palate, the wine has a creamy and round mouthfeel with bright acidity accompanied by hints of limestone and a slight earthiness. The finish is lengthy, dry and refreshing.

Neapolitan-born brothers Domenico and Giovan Battista Basile bought 85 acres of land in the Cinigiano area of the Maremma in 1999, not far from the Tuscan coast. Today owner Giovan Battista manages the vineyards and vines along with his wife Ilaria. The vineyards enjoy southwestern exposures at altitudes between 1,100 and 1,250 feet and are situated on limestone galestro soils and are organically farmed, in adherence with the CCPB Global Program.

The historic property is located in the southern part of Chianti Classico, near Siena.Here, the local wine-making tradition dating back to the 16th century persists with vitality and vigor to produce a number of Sangiovese based wines and award winning Supertuscans. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot

a classic vintage for this heralded estate