TASTING NOTES
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TUSCANY
Tuscany, along with Piedmont, is the foundation upon which Italy’s wine reputation has been built. In total, there are 29 wines with DOC status produced in the region. It is also home to 7 of Italy’s DOCG areas, and many premium non-classified wines.
Chianti accounts for a large part of the region with the most prestigious DOCG Chianti Classico wines coming from the beautiful central hills, which provide a tempering effect on the summertime heat, many vineyards are planted on the highest slopes. The principal grape variety is Sangiovese, alongside other indigenous and international varietals.
The number of producers in...
this area is huge with industrial cooperatives alongside tiny family farms and as such quality can vary substantially. To the south near the town of Siena is Montalcino, where again Sangiovese is key, though here it is a local strain, Brunello, or more officially Sangiovese Grosso, that produces Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino.
Historically Brunello needed considerable ageing, and the minimum age before release is still 4 years. However Brunello is now being produced that is delicious from release as well as having good potential for ageing – the best of both worlds and an essential development in the face of changing modern tastes.
Coastal Tuscany, particularly the area around the beautiful village of Bolgheri really hit the map in the 1970s as a new class of wines known as “Super Tuscans” emerged. These wines were made outside DOC/DOCG regulations, using international varieties, some were considered to be of outstanding quality and received high scores from the critics and commanded surprisingly high prices for the time.
The two most renowned Super Tuscans to this day are Sassicaia and Ornellaia, for which Armit are the exclusive UK agents! Bolgheri today is synonymous with winemaking of the highest order. Exceptional terroir along the coast complemented by the wonderful Mediterranean climate provide perfect conditions for vines not only in Bolgheri and the Maremma but down to Suvereto and beyond.
WE RECOMMEND
2015 Le Difese, Tenuta San Guido
Bottle 75cl £18.50
2015 Le Volte, Ornellaia
Bottle 75cl £21.00
2013 Chianti Classico, Querciabella
Bottle 75cl £21.25
2015 Monteleccio, Sesti
Bottle 75cl £17.00
2015 Guidalberto, Tenuta San Guido
Bottle 75cl £32.00
2013 Chianti Classico, Quercia Al Poggio
Bottle 75cl £16.90
2013 Morellino di Scansano Riserva DOCG, Fattoria Le Pupille
Bottle 75cl £19.00
2013 Mongrana, Querciabella
Bottle 75cl £15.00
2016 Poggio Argentato, Fattoria Le Pupille
Bottle 75cl £16.60
Magnum 150cl
£22.86
£32.36
2012 Mongrana, Querciabella
Magnum 150cl £32.36 £22.86
Magnum 150cl £35.26
Bottle 75cl
Single bottle£15.02
Case of 12 £180.00
2013 Mongrana, Querciabella
Magnum 150cl £35.26
Magnum 150cl £52.20
2012 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Capoverso
Magnum 150cl £52.20
Case 6 x 75cl
£59.22
£102.84
TASTING NOTES
Le Difese is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and Sangiovese (30%). An instantly appealing wine, with lovely depth and length, the bouquet is ripe and sweet with bright red cherry fruit characters and notes of sweet herbs. Succulent cassis flavours on the palate are balanced by fine tannins and a refined mineral quality. This wine is delicious young but...
more2012 Le Difese, Tenuta San Guido
Bottle 75cl £17.14 £9.87
Bottle 75cl
£14.50
£19.60
Case of 6
£87.00
£117.60
2014 Rosso Di Montalcino, Siro Pacenti
Bottle 75cl £19.60 £14.50
Bottle 75cl £14.86
2014 Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Fattoria Le Pupille
Bottle 75cl £14.85
Bottle 75cl £15.02
Case of 6 £90.00
2015 Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Fattoria Le Pupille
Bottle 75cl £15.00