On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report from Anteprima Toscana 2026: Valdarno di Sopra Day

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2026) ... Second annual (?) Valdarno Day and this one was better than the first. No long speeches, no seminars that made no sense, just a good old fashion tasting of a lots of wines. What would be even better would be a trip or two to the vineyards and wineries of the area (maybe have a chat with the folks in Montepulciano) - here's hoping next year will be the year.

I tasted all the wines presented - these are the ones that impressed the most. 

The usual Good / Better / Best is used here with full tasting notes given on wines that are rated BETTER and above.

BETTER-plus                        

Il Borro 2021 Polissena - Valdarno di Sopra doc    
(Sangiovese)
Raspberry-strawberry, lighter than expected, good acidity, well-structured and well-balance.        

Petrolo 2023 Torrione - Toscana IGT Rosso
(Sangiovese / Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon)
Plummy, strawberry, cherry - a little woodsy on the mid-palate to the finish where tannins join the party; but that fruit is generous and delicious.     

Tenuta La Corneta 2023 La Corneta Rosso - Toscana IGT Rosso    
(Sangiovese / Pinot Nero)
Two grapes that you'd wonder if they go together, but they go do; and very well. Light, easy, refreshing, but fun. Lovely light red fruit is all over this - an all day and all night drinker.        

                        
BETTER        
                
Campo del Monte 2024 Il Tardo - Toscana IGT Vendemmia Tardiva    
(Trebbiano / Malvasia)
Supposed to be sweet but there is a nice balance here that seems to bring out some grapefruit notes - not often you get such citrus in a sweet wine.        

Fattoria Bellosguardo 2023 Posta Reale - Valdarno di Sopra doc    
(Sangiovese)
Good acidity with raspberries and cranberry fruit.     

Fattoria Fazzuoli 2021 Valdarno di Sopra doc Sangiovese Riserva    
(Sangiovese)
Shows good structure, a little spice, a little cedar, abd darker fruits.        

Il Borro 2022 Il Borro - Toscana IGT    
(Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah)
Dark and brooding, slightly dusty, moody even - takes some time to open but when it does the dark nuances from the start become more prominent and the wood dropsoff. This wine has a great future.        

La Salceta  2022 Vigna Ruschieto - Valdarno di Sopra doc
(Sangiovese)
Very 'gentile' and easy, good soft red fruit with a juiciness in the middle.     

Migliarina & Montozzi 2020 Castello di Montozzi - Valdarno di Sopra doc    
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
Good structure, spicy, blackberry, cassis, slightly woody - coffee, mocha, black cherry on the finish.    

Petrolo 2022 Boggina C - Val d'Arno di Sopra doc Riserva
(Sangiovese)
There's a bitterness to this with acidity to match - the fruit rides sour cherry and cranberry all the way to the finish.      

Petrolo 2023 Galatrona - Val d'Arno di Sopra
(Merlot)
A spicier than expected Merlot with blackberry and cedar fighting it out for dominance; the fruit seems to have the upper hand; that's a good thing.     

Podere Il Carnasciale 2022 Il Caberlot - Toscana Rosso    
(Caberlot)
Dusty yet drinkable, nicely layered with dark fruit, sublte spice, good acidity - lots going on in here.        

Podere Il Carnasciale 2023 Ottantadue - Valdarno di Sopra doc    
(Sangiovese)
Light and fresh with cherry, raspberry, and strawberry; fruit forward, bright, and easy.        

Tenuta Sette Ponti 2020 Vigna dell'Impero - Valdarno di Sopra doc
(Sangiovese)
Lots of nice fruit, juicy even, cherry notes with hints of strawberry - it's a berry bowl of freshness. The acidity is also on-point and well-integrated.        

                        
GOOD-plus                        
Campo del Monte 2024 Baltea - Valdarno di Sopra doc - Vigna Pini
(Chardonnay)            
Cantina Le Pietra 2024 Magnificat - Toscana IGT    
(Cabernet Sauvignon)            
Ejamu 2024 Tombolo - Toscana IGT Bianco    
(Incrocio Manzoni)            
Fattoria Bellosguardo 2021 Corridore - Toscana IGT rosso
(Sangiovese / Cabernet Sauvignon)            
Fattoria Fazzuoli 2024 "11.5" - Toscana IGT    
(Sangiovese + others)            
Il Borro 2021 Petruna in Anfora - Valdarno di Sopra doc    
(Sangiovese)            
Migliarina & Montozzi 2020 Castello di Montozzi - Valdarno di Sopra doc Riserva    
(Sangiovese)            
Tenuta La Corneta 2024 La Corneta Rosato - Toscana IGT Rosato    
(Sangiovese / Syrah)            
Tenuta San Jacopo 2021 Orma del Diavolo - Toscana IGT    
(Sangiovese / Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon)            
Tenuta San Jacopo 2023 Vigna Mulino - Valdarno di Sopra doc
(Sangiovese)            
Vigna delle Sanzioni 2023 Vigna delle Sanzioni - Valdarno di Sopra doc Riserva
(Trebbiano)            

                        
GOOD                        
Campo del Monte 2019 Rodos - Valdarno di Sopra doc Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva    
(Cabernet Sauvignon)            
Campo del Monte 2024 Malvasia Bianca Lunga - Valdarno di Sopra doc
(Malvasia Bianca Lunga)            
Cantina Le Pietra 2024 Terraia - Valdarno di Sopra doc     
(Sangiovese)            
Fattoria Bellosguardo 2024 Pipillo - Valdarno di Sopra doc Foglia tonda Vigna Bellosguardo    
(Foglia Tonda)            
Fattoria Fazzuoli 2014 Poggio delle Ginestre - Toscana IGT Rosso    
(Sangiovese / Pugnitello)
La Salceta 2025    L'O - Valdarno di Sopra doc
(Orpicchio)            
Petrolo 2022 Campo Lusso - Val d'Arno di Sopra    
(Cabernet Sauvignon)            
Podere Il Carnasciale 2022 Carnasciale Botte Grande+ - Toscana IGT Rosso
(Caberlot)            
Tenuta Scrafana 2020 Berulfo - Toscana IGT Rosso
(Merlot / Cabernet Franc / Sangiovese)            
Tenuta Scrafana    2022 Gualdrada - Toscana IGT
(Trebbiano)         

Report from Anteprima Toscana 2026: Altra Toscana (the other Tuscany)

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(February 2026) ... Here we are in the Altra Toscana room - this is where the other wines of Tuscany are showcased; though this year the pickings were a little slimmer than in previous years 
Found quite a few good wines in the room especially from the likes of Terraelectae (Chianti Rufina's top end wines) and from names you'd recognize in the Italian-wine-world like Frescobaldi, Banfi, Antinori, Col D'Orcia, Brancaia, Nittardi and Sette Ponti.

I tasted a smattering of wines from a variety of these regions and I have to say I am becoming a bigger and bigger fan of Ciliegiolo - first introduced to me in Umbria but since seems to be popping up in some really good places. If you get a chance to taste, try or even drink a bottle, I recommend it highly. Two or three would be even better.

The usual Good / Better / Best is used here with full tasting notes given on wines that are rated BETTER and above.

BETTER-plus

Fattoria Selvapiana 2021 Vigneto Erchi Terraelectae 
(sangiovese)    
Sweet and sour red fruits, juicy, fruity, delectable - easy on the palate, but with the right amount of spice, acidity and even a little minerality. Very Good.    

Nittardi 2023 Ad Astra 
(sangiovese 50 / cabernet sauvignon 20 / cabernet franc 20 / merlot 10)
Dark fruit at the fore with some lovely spices mid-palate to the finish; and speaking of finish, medium length and spicy - think of it as a spice sandwich.    

BETTER 

Brancaia 2022 Ilatraia    
(petit verdot 40 / cabernet sauvignon 40 / cabernet franc 20)
Chocolate and strawberry with a spicy finish; black cherry and cassis, good drying tannins.

Col D'Orcia 2021 Nearco    
(merlot / syrah / petit verdot)
Lots of lively red fruit and spice; this is a wine you could drink all night long; acidity cleans things up quick. Nice finish.

Frescobaldi 2022 Vigna Montesodi Terraelectae
(sangiovese)
Dense palate shows a richness of plum, blackberry and cassis fruits; spices and tannins lend a hand on the finish.    

I Veroni 2022 Vigneto Quona Terraelectae
(sangiovese)
Plenty of spice mixes with nice acidity and some darker fruit characteristics to make a wine that still has a dry, gritty tannin finish - should smooth with time.

Podere Il Pozzo 2022 Vigna Il Fiorino Terraelectae
(sangiovese)
Nice concentration of fruit wrapped with spice and balanced by tannins - the fruit is dark and plummy.

Podere La Regola 2022 La Regola    
(cabernet franc)
Notes of coffee, tobacco and spice on the nose; with blackberry, spiced-plum and Christmas spices mid-palate - lots going on here.

Sassotondo 2023 Monte Calvo
(ciliegiolo)
Juicy beginning, spicy middle, floral finish. I'm liking what is happening with this grape.

Tenuta di Biserno 2023 Il Pino di Biserno
(cabernet franc / merlot / cabernet sauvignon / petit verdot)
Juicy and fruity with a little mineral and spice.

Tua Rita 2023 Giusto di Notri    
(cabernet sauvignon 80 / merlot 10 / cabernet franc 10)
Nice spicy start with some red fruits and biting tannins - this one is flavourful by the third sip.

Villa Travignoli 2022 Vigna Colonneto Terraelectae
(sangiovese)
black licorice, spice, dark fruit, plum, blackberry, with a cinnamon spice kick.

GOOD-plus

Brancaia 2022 Il Blu
(merlot 80 / cab sauv 10 / sangiovese 10)
Col D'Orcia 2018 Olmaia    
(cabernet sauvignon)
Colognole 2021 Vigna Le Rogaie Terraelectae
(sangiovese)
Marchesi Antinori 2023 Villa Antinori
(sangiovese / cab sauv / other)
Nittardi 2022 Nectar Dei
(cab sauv 60 / petit verdot 30 / merlot 5 / syrah 5)
Ruffino 2022 Alauda
(cab franc 52 / merlot 48)
Tenuta Bossi Marchesi Gondi 2022 Vigna Poggio Diamante Terraelectae
(sangiovese)
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2023 Crognolo
(sangiovese 90 / merlot 10)
Vinae Montae 2022 Vigneto Il Monte Terraelectae    
(sangiovese)

GOOD

Banfi 2021 Summus
(cab sauv / cab franc / merlot)
Fattoria di Lavacchio 2022 Vigna Casanova Terraelectae
(sangiovese)
Sassotondo 2024 Rosso
(ciliegiolo)
Tenuta di Capezzana 2022 Ghaie della Furba
(cab sauv / cab franc / merlot / syrah)