Winemaker Notes
A flagship wine, Tenuta di Trinoro is remarkably direct and appetizing, and yet it's made to last for decades. It is immediately riper and richer than red Bordeaux, benefiting as it does from the bright Tuscan sun, but is much more complex than other Italian Bordeaux blends. Like them, it is sold as a Rosso IGT, a wine with an Indicazione Geografica Tipica of Toscana, but there is nothing remotely typical about this wine.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2008 Tenuta di Trinoro sweeps across the palate with layers of beautifully articulated fruit, violets, spices and minerals, while avoiding the heaviness and overripeness that characterized some of the wines of the past. The tannins and the oak both need several years to fully harmonize, but this is a soft, impeccably refined Tenuta to treasure over the next two decades, perhaps longer. The 2008 Tenuta is approximately 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.
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Decanter
The heat of the summer in 2008 led to the vines shutting down in September, once all the water reserves from a wet winter and spring – which resulted in an uneven flowering – had been tapped. Picking commenced about two weeks later than normal as the grapes struggled to ripen, and Andrea was very selective; his report notes a mixture of sunburnt, ripe and over-ripe grapes, which he vinified in 40 different tanks. Ripe red and black berry scents are joined by wafts of cocoa, spice and earth. A super-spicy attack is followed by tangy hedgerow berries, succulent acidity and a balsamic finish with more cocoa and spice. Drinking very well now, it's nonetheless noticeably chewier in style and lacks the outright elegance of the best vintages of Trinoro. The final blend is 35% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. 9,600 bottles produced. Poured from magnum.
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.