September 9, 2021 - Super Tuscan

Bolgheri is a wine producing region in Tuscany that produces “Super Tuscan” wines that are known for blending international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah with the local grape Sangiovese or a combination thereof.

Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido 2009

Tuscany, Italy

96 points to 98 points

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc

From the San Guido estate, called Castiglioncello, Sassicaia, "the place of many stones" is a classic Italian wine; this vintage enjoyed an excellent climate for the entire year. Sassicaia is the Bordeaux-style blend that Mario Incisa della Rochetta envisioned coming from little-known Bolgheri all those decades ago. Sassicaia is a wine famous for its elegance, vibrancy, and rich bouquet, and it’s renowned for its sweet frutti di bosco and pointed cypress and herbs, elements it holds in a temptingly firm tannic grip. Sassicaia is always one of the most in-demand wines, but a year like this one pushes even that stratospheric envelope. Reviews include lucious notes of intense ruby with a violet shimmer and on the nose, hints of mint, dark cherry, raspberry, some plum and on the palate shows an extremely rich and ripe wine with currant, cherry and balsamic aromas and hints of leather.

Note: Gaja is considered by many to be the wine producer with the greatest international reputation and has by far the most awards from Gambero Rosso and could thus call itself one of the best producers in Italy. Ca'Marcanda is GAJA's winery in the Promised Land of Bolgheri, Tuscany.

Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari 2010 Toscana

Tuscany, Italy

92 points to 94 points

25% Cabernet Sauvignon 25% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot

A great vintage, this wine is drinking beautifully now and is likely to cellar well for years to come. Fortunate for us, we can drink it now! The word "Magari" has several meanings: "if only," "would that it were true," and "perhaps." Ca'Marcanda's unique combination of terre brune (dark soils: loam and clay) and terre blanche (white soils: stones and pebbles) is reflected in Magari with deep garnet hues and blue tinges. The lush Merlot fruit and spicy Cabernet aromas form a dark and modern wine with a thick fabric of deep fruit, blackberry preserves, spice and tobacco woven tightly together. It's a full, rich, well-rounded wine with an elegant, silky finish.

Gaja Ca’Marcanda Promis Toscana 2010

Tuscany Italy

89 to 92 points 

Blend of Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese

Ca' Marcanda Promis is Angelo Gaja's winemaking venture in Maremma, a region on the Tuscan seaboard south of Livorno. He began planting international grape varieties in 1996 and the wines have very much hit their stride. For Tuscany the 2010 vintage was exceptionally good. Its fruit exhibit light garnet color with  bright and fruity notes of a jammy nose of black raspberry, blueberry, and subtle floral notes. The palate shows black cherry, blueberry, cinnamon, and wet stones underlaid with a wide drive of acidity - not too tart but wide across the whole tongue, adding some light bell pepper notes as it flows into the finish. It is a delightful wine that combines the elegance and suppleness of Merlot and Syrah with the austerity of Sangiovese—balanced and almost musical. 

Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2010

Tuscany, Italy

94 to 97 points

53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc

Ornellaia is one of the foremost producers in the Bolgheri appellation on the coast of Tuscany. It is particularly known for making one of Italy's most famous and expensive wines, which shares the same name. The 2010 Ornellaia celebrates the wine's 25th anniversary, and it could not have been a more spectacular vintage. It opens with aromas of crushed blue flowers, blackberries, pipe tobacco and thyme that give way to an elegant, structured and polished palate. It delivers intense blackberry flavors layered with white pepper, Mediterranean herbs, mineral and mocha brightened by fresh acidity alongside smooth, velvety tannins.

Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove dell Ornellaia 2011

Tuscany, Italy

90 to 94 points

57% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 14% Petit Verdot

Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia 2011 is a dense, concentrated wine yet at the same time elegant and smooth and expresses perfectly the superb quality of the 2011 vintage. It exhibits an inky dark, almost impenetrable appearance and beautifully chiseled - but abundantly intense - aromas of blackberry, dried cherry, rum cake, leather, moist pipe tobacco and chewy black licorice. The balance and harmony are seductive and impressive and the wine lasts many long seconds on the palate. The wine is full and very intense with a velvety textured tannin structure and a long and flavorful finish. Ornellaia’s second wine, made from the younger vines on the estate, boasts ripe fruit and a fresh, accessible style. It offers sensations of juicy wild berries, currants and plum accented with notes of mocha and black pepper alongside round, soft tannins.