Winemaker Notes
Blend: 51% Cabernet Franc, 32% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke purchased this estate in 1994. The property, near the town of Castelnuovo Berardenga, focuses on Bordeaux varietal blends, this one built on cabernet franc (51 percent), merlot and cabernet sauvignon. It’s more vinous than many super-Tuscans, opening with air to full-on richness, not heavy but complete. New oak scents give way to brisk notes of forest floor and black olives, finishing floral and bright. It leaves the mouth feeling refreshed, with hints of anise in a zesty fragrance that lasts. An intriguing interpretation of the Tuscan hills.
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.