Winemaker Notes
The color is deep and vibrant purple, clear, brilliant and beautiful texture. The nose is complex and the black fruit (blackberry and blueberry in particular) prevails in a clear manner. Raspberry, cherry and plum, followed by roasted notes of cocoa, vanilla and coffee. The mouth is soft and enveloping, with fine and elegant tannins. Warm, soft and very balanced. The finish is long and harmonious with a marked fruity aftertaste.
It is easy to match with main courses and all red meats, like liver and boar.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Poggio ai Merli is gorgeous. That's the short and the long of it. Merlot shows some of its best performances ever in Tuscany in the 2016 vintage. This wine is exceedingly smooth and silky, yet its tightly knit fiber supports a generous profile that ranges from dark cherry to spice, to tobacco and fresh potting soil. On the palate, the wine is rich and large in scope, yet it never leaves behind any residual heaviness. Castellare di Castellina has created a true beauty.
Rating: 97+ -
James Suckling
This shows really pure aromas in the essence-like zone such as soaked blueberries and blackberry crumble. More floral elements of pressed violets and lavender follow. Hints of vanilla, too. Full body, very polished tannins, loads of blue fruit and a long, intense finish. Very well done indeed. Pure merlot.
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Wine Spectator
Sweet vanilla and oak notes mingle with pretty black cherry, plum and blackberry fruit in this racy red. Deep and complex, picking up mineral and spice accents on the lingering finish. Merlot. Best from 2020 through 2028.
Legendary in Italy for its Renaissance art and striking landscape, Tuscany is also home to many of the country’s best red wines. Sangiovese reigns supreme here, as either the single varietal, or a dominant player, in almost all of Tuscany’s best.
A remarkable Chianti, named for its region of origin, will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and plenty of cherry fruit character. From the hills and valleys surrounding the medieval village of Montalcino, come the distinguished and age-worthy wines based on Brunello (Sangiovese). Earning global acclaim since the 1970s, the Tuscan Blends are composed solely of international grape varieties or a mix of international and Sangiovese. The wine called Vine Nobile di Montepulciano, composed of Prognolo Gentile (Sangiovese) and is recognized both for finesse and power.