Florence's region has shifted its stance in the
last couple of decades from a complacent supplier of flask Chianti to the
nation's most creative producer of premium wines. Tuscany's revolution
began in Chianti and the central hills around Siena but quickly spread to
take in the coastal zones that were not previously noted for vineyards.
Much of the progress has come with classical reds, as illustrated by the
fact that four of Italy's nine DOCGs are here - Brunello di Montalcino,
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Chianti and Carmignano. But growing success
with other reds (including the stylish table wines sometimes called "Super
Tuscans") and a new breed of whites has enhanced the region's reputation.
Chianti, still the dominant force in Tuscan viniculture, has ranked as the
most Italian of wines for decades. This is partly because it is the most
voluminous and widely sold classified wine, but also because it has a
personality that cannot be pinned do cover a vast territory of central
Tuscany. In these often rugged hills variations in soil and climate
contribute as much to the individuality of each authentic estate wine as
do producers' quests for a personal style. These variations may be
confusing, but for consumers who persist Chianti offers some of the best
quality for value in wine today.
Since Chianti was elevated to DOCG in 1984,its production has sharply
diminished and its quality has markedly improved. Chianti may be
identified by its subdistricts, though only producers of Classico - whose
consortium is symbolized by a black rooster - have made much of a
geographical point so far. Many estates emphasize the name of a certain
vineyard or area as a mark of distinction.
What Chianti has in common with all the classified red wines of Tuscany is
its major grape variety Sangiovese. In the past varieties were often
blended, but today the emphasis is strongly on Sangiovese. When the
habitat is right, its superior clones - Montalcino's Brunello, Chianti's
Sangioveto and Montepulciano's Prugnolo Gentile - must be ranked with
Italy's, and the world's noblest vines.
Chianti
| 07 |
ALBOLA |
10.99 |
|
| 07 |
CICCARIELLO POGGIO DELLE SASSAIE |
11.99 |
|
| 07 |
DA VINCI DOCG |
12.99 |
|
| 07 |
FRESCOBALDI CASTIGLONI |
12.99 |
|
| 08 |
GABBIANC DOCG |
7.99 |
|
| 07 |
LUDGNANO COLLI FLORENTINI |
13.99 |
|
| 08 |
RUFFINO DOCG |
8.99 |
|
| 07 |
RUFFINO CHIANTI SUPERIORE |
9.99 |
|
Chianti Classico
| 04 |
ANTINORI MARCHESE |
|
29.99 |
|
| 04 |
ANTINORI PEPPOLI |
|
24.99 |
|
| 07 |
BANFI RISERVA |
|
17.99 |
|
| 06 |
BROLIO |
|
25.99 |
|
| 06 |
CASTELLO D'ALBOLA |
|
14.99 |
|
| 05 |
DA VINCI RISERVA |
WS-91 |
27.99 |
|
| 06 |
FELSINA BERARDENGA |
WS-90 |
22.99 |
|
| 03 |
FRESCOBALDI MONTESODI |
|
41.99 |
|
| 05 |
FRESCOBALDI NIPOZZANO RISERVA |
|
21.99 |
|
| 04 |
FRESCOBALDI MONTESODI |
|
41.99 |
|
| 05 |
GABBIANO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA |
|
23.99 |
|
| 06 |
MONSANTO RISERVA |
|
19.99 |
|
| 03 |
NOZZOLE CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA |
|
26.99 |
|
| 01 |
PIAZZANO RISERVA |
|
21.99 |
|
| 06/07 |
RUFFINO AZIANO |
|
14.99 |
|
| 06 |
RUFFINO RISERVA TAN LABEL |
|
25.99 |
|
| 04 |
RUFFINO RISERVA GOLD LABEL |
|
36.99 |
|
| 05 |
SANTA MARGHERITA |
|
22.99 |
|
Super Tuscan
| 06 |
ANTINORI GUADO AL TASSO |
WS-93 |
89.99 |
|
| 07 |
ANTINORI GUADO AL TASSO BRUCIATO
CABERNET/MERLOT/SYRAH |
|
32.99 |
|
| 06 |
ANTINORI TIGNANELLO |
WS-95 |
89.99 |
|
| 04 |
ARCENO PRIMA VOCE |
|
17.99 |
|
| 07 |
BRANCAIA TRE |
WS-93 |
20.99 |
|
| 07 |
BANFI ROSSO DI MONTALCINO |
|
24.99 |
|
| 06 |
BRIZIO ROSSO DI MONTALCINO |
|
23.99 |
|
| 03 |
CAPENZZANA CARMIGNANO TREFIANO |
|
39.99 |
|
| 04 |
CAPEZZANA CARMIGNANO |
RP-90 |
29.99 |
|
| 03 |
FRESCOBALDI POMINO ROSSO |
|
27.99 |
|
| 03 |
LUCE |
RP-92 |
69.99 |
|
| 06 |
LE SERRE NUOVE by (ORNELLAIA) |
RP-94 |
68.99 |
|
| 00 |
LE VOLTE by (ORNELLAIA) |
|
24.99 |
|
| 06 |
LUCENTE |
WS-91 |
32.99 |
|
| 05 |
MASI SEREGO ALIGHIERI BELLO OVILE |
|
21.99 |
|
| 06 |
ORNELLAIA |
RP-97 |
199.99 |
|
| 06 |
MODUS by Rufrino |
|
26.99 |
|
| 06 |
TOLAINI AL PASSO |
WS-91 |
19.99 |
|
| 06 |
TOLAINI VALDISANTI |
WS-92 |
29.99 |
|
| 02 |
TORMARESCA BOCCA DI LUPO |
|
36.99 |
|
Brunello Di Montalcino
| 01 |
ANGELO SASSETTI |
|
53.99 |
| 99 |
CAMIGLIANO |
RP-91 |
44.99 |
| 04 |
CASANOVA DI NERI |
WS-96 |
85.99 |
| 04 |
CASTELGIOCONDO by FRESCOBALDI |
WS-95 |
69.99 |
| 04 |
FATTORIA SCOPONE |
|
44.99 |
| 01 |
IL POGGIO |
|
47.99 |
| 04 |
IL POGGIONE |
WS-91 |
69.99 |
| 01 |
LA PODERINA |
RP-93 |
59.99 |
| 05 |
MODUS by ruffino |
|
24.99 |
| 03 |
POGGIO ANTICO |
WS-89 |
69.99 |
Other Tuscan Reds
| 08 |
ANTINORI SANTA CRISTINA SANGIOVESE |
|
9.99 |
| 04 |
ANTINORI VILLA RED |
|
21.99 |
| 07 |
BANFI COL DI SASSO CABERNET/SANGIOVESE |
|
8.99 |
| 06 |
BANFI COLLEPINO SANGIOVESE/MERLOT |
|
8.99 |
| 07 |
BANFI CENTINE SANGIOVESE/CABERNET/MERLOT |
|
10.99 |
| 06 |
CAPEZZANA BARCO REALE |
RP-89 |
16.99 |
| 06 |
CAPEZZANA SANGIO CONTI CONTINI SANGIOVESE |
|
12.99 |
| 06 |
CASANOVA DI NERI SANT'ANTIMO ROSSO |
WS-90 |
24.99 |
| 08 |
CICCARIELLO DONATELLO ROSSO |
|
8.99 |
| 07 |
CICCARIELLO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO DOC
COLLI URBIS |
|
10.99 |
| 08 |
DONNA LAURA SANGIOVESE |
|
9.99 |
| 08 |
FARNESE SANGIOVESE |
|
9.99 |
| 04 |
FATTORIA SCOPONE IL BAGATTO IGT |
|
31.99 |
| 06 |
FATTORIA SCOPONE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO |
|
22.99 |
| 07 |
IL POGGIONE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO |
|
28.99 |
| 07 |
LAGONE TOSCANA |
WS-90 |
18.99 |
| 07 |
MOLINO DI SANTI ANTIMO ASSO |
|
15.99 |
| 06 |
MONTE ANTICO ROSSO |
WS-90 |
11.99 |
| 08 |
PERAZZETA SARA ROSSO |
|
13.99 |
| 06 |
REMOLE TOSCANO |
|
9.99 |
| 03 |
RUFFINO FONTE AL SOLE |
|
8.99 |
| 05 |
RUFFINO IL DUCALE IGT |
|
18.99 |
| 05 |
SANTA MARGHERITA CABERNET |
|
13.99 |
| 07 |
TERRE DELLE FALCOLE FALCATA |
|
14.99 |
07-05-2010
