Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Le Difese shows a beautiful intensity of fruit, softness, and pleasantness of well-integrated tannins. Marked aromaticity with hints of fresh berries, beautiful complexity on the nose in terms of aromas, very intense. Good freshness and perfect balanced tannins, supported by a non-invasive structure, which wraps well on the palate making the wine pleasant and easy to drink.
Pair with grilled steak or steak salad, hamburgers and other casual but flavorful beef dishes. This wine has good acidity to compliment marinara and Bolognese sauces.
Blend: 55% Sangiovese, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Le Difese 2022 is a blend of 55% Sangiovese and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, the former brought in from long-standing partners based in Chianti and Chianti Rufina – ‘In Bolgheri it's not easy to find Sangiovese,’ third-generation Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta explained. 2022 saw slightly lower production than 2021 due to a warm spring and a rainy autumn. Macerations were shorter than previous years, and the wine retains the same blend as last year as part of the estate's continuing plans to make Le Difese approachable almost immediately and give it its own Tuscan identity. Bright red and purple scents with a creamy backdrop and herbal touches lead to a soft and textured palate full of fresh, tangy cherry and dark hedgerow berries. Ripe, precise and sapid with a long, breezy, balsamic finish, Le Difese should be enjoyed over the next decade.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Le Difese is made with 60% Sangiovese and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and includes some grapes purchased from the Chianti in Ruffina to enhance the wine’s aromatic profile and freshness. The grapes see maceration on the skins for 15 days, then are aged in used barrels for eight months. Deep ruby with a tinge of light purple, this 2022 is aromatic of anise, fresh leather, and spiced cherries. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has ripe tannins, with a clean mineral touch. It’s approachable and offers a supple texture with an open drinking window over the coming 6-8 years.
Rating: 91+ -
James Suckling
Bright and attracitve aromas of raspberries and cranberries with some cedar follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a crunchy finish.
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.