On the Road with the Grape Guy
Altra Toscana Tasting
08 Sep 2023- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(February 2023) ... The final day of Anteprima Toscana sees the other side of Tuscan Wines, these are in some cases the "lesser known" or wines left behind while we travel through Chianti, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile and to San Gimignano.
This year I combed the book looking for rosés for the rosé report, they were few and far between. Then I looked into interesting regions like Maremma, Cortona, and other wines and combinations of grapes that caught my eye. Here's a list of 31 wines of the 66 I tasted that truly stood out.
FOUR STAR and ABOVE
Belguardo 2019 Maremma Toscana DOC - Tenuta Belguardo
(Cabernet Sauvignon / Cabernet Franc)
Really smooth and supple; pretty dark fruit core with good acidity, a touch of vanilla and smoke; tannins kick in at the end giving this wine a long, lingering and lovely finish. (**** ½)
Nittardi 2019 Maremma Toscana DOC - Nectar Dei
(Cabernet Sauvignon / Petit Verdot / Syrah)
The dark fruit broods while the vanilla added by the oak adds an extra layer of delight - quite pleasant, and all with good acid punch. (****+)
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2020 Toscana IGT - Crognolo
(Sangiovese / Merlot)
Rich and juicy with plenty of dark fruit, mocha, and nice acid hit on the tongue - well-balanced with a long finish. (****+)
Baldetti 2022 Vino Spumante di Qulita - Baldetti
(Chardonnay / Grechetto)
Nice clean classic method sparkling; there's a lovely balance and a pretty bouquet: biscuity with lemon zest tickle the tongue in all the right places. The wine is made using Chardonnay and Grechetto - turns out in sparkling it is a lovely combination. (****)
La Braccesca 2019 Cortona DOC - Bramasole
(Syrah)
Smooth silky tannins, yet it has a brooding-dark fruit side that wheels in mocha, black pepper and spice on the finish. (****)
Nittardi 2020 Maremma Toscana DOC - Ad Astra
(Sangiovese / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Syrah)
Smooth across the tongue with notes of mocha and blackberry. Hard to fight against that kind of charm - this one is a winner and knows it. (****)
THREE-and-a-HALF PLUS STAR WINES
Cantine Faralli 2020 Cortona DOC - Syrah ... (*** ½+)
Dal Cero 2020 Toscana IGT - Rosato (Syrah / Vermentino) ... (*** ½+)
Il Fitto 2019 Cortona DOC - Syrah ... (*** ½+)
La Braccesca 2021 Cortona DOC - Achelo (Syrah) ... (*** ½+) 
Le Mortelle 2020 Maremma Toscana DOC - Botrosecco (Cabernet Sauvignon / Cabernet Franc) ... (*** ½+)
Le Mortelle 2020 Maremma Toscana DOC - Poggio Alle Nanre (Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon / Carmenere) ... (*** ½+)
Le Vigne 2021 Maremma Toscana DOC - Ciliegiolo ... (*** ½+)
Poggio Sorbello 2016 Cortona DOC - Donetto (Merlot) ... (*** ½+)
Poggio Sorbello 2016 Cortona DOC - Gortinaia (Syrah) ... (*** ½+)
THREE-and-a-HALF STAR WINES
Querciabella 2021 Maremma Toscana DOC - Mongrana (Sangiovese / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot) ... (*** ½+)
Santa Lucia 2021 Maremma Toscana DOC - Canapone (Ciliegiolo) ... (*** ½+)
Valdonica 2018 Maremma Toscana DOC - Ciliegiolo ... (*** ½+)
Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano 2020 Cortona DOC - Poggio Stella (Syrah) ... (*** ½+)
Vignaioli del Morellino 2022 Maremma Toscana DOC - Capoccia (Ciliegiolo) ... (*** ½+)
Cantina di Pitigliano 2022 Maremma Toscana DOC - Gradone (Ciliegiolo) ... (*** ½)
Eredi Trevisan 2020 Cortona DOC - Candito (Syrah) ... (*** ½)
Mocali 2020 Maremma Toscana DOC - Mirius (Sangiovese / Merlot / Cabernet / Syrah) ... (*** ½)
Petrolo 2020 Valdarno di Sopra DOC - Boggina C (Sangiovese) ... (*** ½)
Stefano Amerighi 2019 Cortona DOC - Syrah Apice ... (*** ½)
Tenuta Aquilaia 2020 Maremma Toscana DOC - Tenuta Aquilaia (Sangiovese / Petit Verdot) ... (*** ½)
Tenuta Montauto 2021 Maremma Toscana DOC - Silio (Ciliegiolo) ... (*** ½)
Tenuta San Jacopo 2018 Toscana IGT - Caprilius (Montepulciano) ... (*** ½)
Tenuta San Jacopo 2021 Toscana IGT - Caprilius (Canaiolo) ... (*** ½)
Tenuta Sette Ponti 2019 Valdarno di Sopra DOC - Vigna Dell'Impero (Sangiovese) ... (*** ½)
Cantina Canaio 2020 Cortona DOC - Calice (Syrah) ... (*** ½)
