2013 Valadorna by Tenuta di Arceno Super Tuscan Tuscany

2013 Valadorna by Tenuta di Arceno Super Tuscan Tuscany

with No Comment $50-$60ChiantiItalyKevin VogtTuscany

Valadorna

by Tenuta di Arceno
Super Tuscan
Tuscany 20132013 Valadorna by Tenuta di Arceno Super Tuscan Tuscany

Some wines age gracefully, and others seem to defy time altogether. The 2013 Valadorna belongs firmly to the latter. It’s a luminous example of how meticulous craftsmanship and patient cellaring can sculpt a wine into a timeless masterpiece. More than a decade after harvest, it remains astonishingly vibrant, capturing the essence of Tuscany with grace, poise, and authenticity.

Behind this remarkable longevity stands Pierre Seillan, the Bordeaux-born master whose touch defines some of the world’s most revered wines. His deep understanding of micro-crus, perfected at Vérité, finds a new voice here in Tuscany. In Valadorna, Seillan channels Merlot’s supple depth and marries it to the verve of Cabernet Franc, the backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, and the finesse of Petit Verdot.

Drawn from the estate’s cooler Valadorna and Capraia parcels, where sandy-clay soils meet morning mists, the 2013 unfolds with haunting precision. Firm yet silken, expansive yet composed, it culminates in a finish that lingers like memory itself. The 2013 Valadorna is a rare alignment of time, terroir, and talent: a wine not merely crafted, but composed, into something enduringly profound.

Valadorna
by Tenuta di Arceno
Super Tuscan
Tuscany 2013
Retails at: $75

Your Price: $58

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“The 2013 Valadorna (mostly Merlot with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot) is yet another home run in this blockbuster collection of new releases from Tenuta di Arceno in the southern part of Chianti Classico (Castelnuovo Berardegna). This is a firm and tightly knit expression that is packed tight with black fruit, tobacco, tar and dark chocolate. The wine shows enormous aromatic intensity, but then it slims down just a touch in the mouth to offer an elegantly tapered finish.”

95 Points

2020 Sor Ugo Super Tuscan Bolgheri Superiore Aia Vecchia Winery

2020 Sor Ugo Super Tuscan Bolgheri Superiore Aia Vecchia Winery

with No Comment $40-$50ItalyKevin VogtProprietary RedTuscany

SOR UGO

SUPER TUSCAN 2020
BOLGHERI SUPERIORE
AIA VECCHIA WINERY

2020 Sor Ugo Super Tuscan Bolgheri Superiore Aia Vecchia Winery
The Pellegrini family members have been prominent growers in Tuscany for several generations, selling their fruit to other wineries, and after replanting their vineyards in 1995, they established their portfolio of small-lot Super Tuscan blends focusing on Bordeaux grape varieties. The Aia Vecchia estate, named after an ancient building standing in the center of the property, is located near the Tyrrhenian coast with a favorable microclimate combined with ideal soils for producing stunning wines. 
 
The Bolgheri DOC, home to Italian legends Ornellaia, Sassicaia, and Tignanello, was established in 1994 but previously gained recognition under the Super Tuscan monikerbecause producers in the region were defying the Italian wine laws by incorporating international varieties, particularly those from Bordeaux. 
 
The Aia Vecchia 2020 Sor Ugo is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in barriques, plus another six months in the bottle, resulting in a richly layered, powerful red with stunning complexity.
 
SOR UGO
SUPER TUSCAN 2020
BOLGHERI SUPERIORE
AIA VECCHIA WINERY
 
 
 
“The 2020 Sor Ugo is packed with blackberry, cloves, leather, menthol, licorice and chocolate. Rich and resonant in the glass, with tons of energy, Sor Ugo has plenty to offer. The substantial, expansive finish is especially of note. I would prefer to drink this over the next decade or so.”
93 Points
2020 Castello Romitorio Super Tuscan

2020 Castello Romitorio Super Tuscan

with No Comment $30 and underChiantiItalyKevin VogtTuscany

CASTELLO ROMITORIO

ROMITORO SUPER TUSCAN
TUSCANY 2020

2020 Castello Romitorio Super Tuscan
Castello Romitorio was purchased by Italian artist Sandro Chia in 1984, who initiated a complete restoration of the historic property that has served as a Roman temple, fortress, monastery, castle, and manor house. Sandro believes the best expressions of art and wine thrive with a minimalistic approach and that natural progression should never be altered but rather enhanced.
 
Toscana IGT allows for international varieties, most commonly French, proving Tuscany has incredible potential for world-class wines outside their indigenous varieties. The 2020 ‘Romitòro’ is a blend of Petit Verdot and Syrah that encompasses the winery’s vision of artistic exploration and dedication to excellence.
 
CASTELLO ROMITORIO
ROMITORO SUPER TUSCAN
TUSCANY 2020
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $27
 
 
“The 2020 RomiTòro is a blend of Petit Verdot and Syrah, and it does a terrific job of capturing the exuberance and jovial qualities of sunny Tuscany. The wine shows layers of candied cherries, crème de cassis, sweet almond paste and even a touch of crushed mineral or aspirin. This 70,000-bottle release is creamy and rich in texture, with lots of plump primary flavors and absolutely no rough edges.”
93 Points
 
“The 2020 Romitoro is packed full of balanced pleasure. It’s dark yet also rich and spicy, with blue-toned florals giving way to currants, worn leather and smoke. This is elegant and plush on the palate, with masses of tart wildberries energized by zesty acidity while giving way to inner rose perfumes.  The 2020 finishes with amazing length and potency, as it leaves a staining of liquid lavender and sweet violets. The Romitoro, a blend of Petit Verdot and Syrah, is showing beautifully today.” 
92 Points
2015 Caiarossa Toscana IGT Tuscany, Italy

2015 Caiarossa Toscana IGT Tuscany, Italy

with No Comment $50-$60ItalyKevin VogtProprietary RedTuscany

CAIAROSSA

2015 TOSCANA IGT
TUSCANY, ITALY

2015 Caiarossa Toscana IGT Tuscany, Italy
Caiarossa describes their flagship Super Tuscan as a liberation of the senses, achieved by artfully blending seven varieties, biodynamically farmed and woven into a luxurious tapestry, encapsulating the Estate’s dynamic terroir. Tuscany’s 2015 vintage embellished the wine’s already alluring qualities, naturally producing wines, “Ripe and opulent, with plenty of fruit,” as noted by the Wine Spectator, and with 96 points and priced less than $60, I highly recommend adding this Italian legend to your cellar. 
 
The Estate’s 16-hectare vineyard on the Tuscan coast was resurrected in 2004 by the late Eric Albada Jelgersma of Grand Cru Margaux houses Château Giscours and Château du Tertre. The winery’s deep ties to Bordeaux are present in their wines, telling an authentic tale of their origin. 
 
CAIAROSSA
2015 TOSCANA IGT 
TUSCANY, ITALY
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $58
 
 
“The nose immediately shows a fabulous contrast between riper mulberries and blackberry crumble and freshly ground herbs, citrus and incense. The palate shows much the same polish, carrying bright blue-fruit flavors across a bedrock of muscular tannins and driven acidity. This finishes long and very grainy yet succulent. A blend of merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, sangiovese, petit verdot and alicante.”
96 Points
2018 Sor Ugo Super Tuscan Bolgheri Rosso Superiore

2018 Sor Ugo Super Tuscan Bolgheri Rosso Superiore

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSangioveseUSA

SOR UGO

2018 SUPER TUSCAN
BOLGHERI ROSSO SUPERIORE
AIA VECCHIA WINERY

2018 Sor Ugo Super Tuscan Bolgheri Rosso Superiore
Aia Vecchia’s determination to express the most natural characteristics of their land, along with their undeterred attention to detail, manifests profoundly in their wines. The wine’s commanding intensity, supreme richness, and arrant focus effortlessly combine, making it feel like the only wine in the room. Vinous writes, “the purity of the flavors is striking,” and with a 94 point score and price far lower than what you’d expect from Bolgheri, it’s easy to see why this is our most popular Tuscan wine year after year. 
 
Sor Ugo boldly reflects Castagneto Carducci terroir and the Estate’s proximity to the Tyrrhenian coast. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, embellished with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Verdot, the 2018 vintage is super-concentrated with crystalline focus enriched with minerality and divinely saturating intensity. 
 
Aia Vecchia’s winemaking team has a precisely detailed approach; Meticulously hand-sorting each berry, vinifying, fermenting and aging each varietal separately before creating the blend, which spends a year in the bottle before release.
 
SOR UGO
2018 SUPER TUSCAN
BOLGHERI ROSSO SUPERIORE
AIA VECCHIA WINERY
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 

“The 2018 Sor Ugo is a superb Bolgheri red. Pliant, succulent and so expressive, the 2018 offers plenty of richness, but with terrific energy, too. Black cherry, mocha, spice, licorice and chocolate all build as the 2018 fills out over time. The purity of the flavors is striking.” 

94 Points

2013 Villa Trasqua Trasgaia Toscana IGT

2013 Villa Trasqua Trasgaia Toscana IGT

with No Comment $30 and underChiantiItalyKevin VogtSangioveseTuscany

VILLA TRASQUA

2013 TRASGAIA 
TOSCANA IGT

2013 Villa Trasqua Trasgaia Toscana IGT
Villa Trasqua has a 1000 year history in Castellina, Chianti, rooted in viticulture and innovation. Their wines perfectly balance tradition and modernity and are enriched with old-world antiquity and enhanced with new world styled fruit. Over the years, their Trasgaia Super Tuscan has graced the shelves in our shop and has generated a devoted following due to its remarkable quality and realistic price.
 
The winery is on an ancient plateau in the town Castellina, and they cultivate their vineyards organically, perfectly expressing the site’s specific terroir. The estate shined in 2013, which was a vintage that the Wine Spectator noted as producing, “Sleek, vibrant wines with bright, focused fruit flavors.”
 
The 2013 vintage combined 50% Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and matured for 24 months in oak and five years of development inside the bottle. The 2013 release is powerful, beautifully defined and is perfectly ready to enjoy now.
 
VILLA TRASQUA
2013 TRASGAIA 
TOSCANA IGT 
 
Your Price: $28
 
 
“Fresh and aromatic red with blackberries, cherries and hints of flowers. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh finish. Linear and bright. A blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Drink now.”
91 Points
 
“Deep ruby red with very light garnet hues. The aroma is fruity with nuances of sour cherry in syrup, black currant and lemon jelly. Then vanilla, liquorice and nutmeg notes with balsamic reminiscences of eucalyptus and toasted Arabica coffee and gianduja chocolate. The nose opens up to black pepper and star anis. The taste is round with a warmth that makes it pleasant, tasty and well-balanced. The tannins are completely integrated. The long aftertaste is polite and measured with blackberry, currant and liquorice aromas.”
2016 Skryne Road Napa Valley Proprietary Red

2016 Skryne Road Napa Valley Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUncategorizedUSA

SKRYNE ROAD

PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Skryne Road Napa Valley Proprietary Red
Looking at the varietal makeup of Skryne Road’s 2016 Proprietary Red you might think you’re contemplating a Super Tuscan Blend with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon met with Merlot, Sangiovese and Petite Sirah.  Of course, the moment this wine hits your palate you’ll know it’s entirely New World in style with a rich, voluptuous texture, laced in holiday spices, sweet oak, sassafras, supple berries and black chocolates.  When we first offered this wine last Fall, we know it would make a lot of friends, and especially at this incredible price.  Now there are just a handful of cases left, so if you’ve been on the fence about this one, or you want to re-order before it’s too late, don’t wait too long to hit the order button.
 
The name Skryne (pronounced screen)  Road pays tribute to the winery owners routes and family home on Skryne Road in Ireland.  After arriving in Napa Valley in 1994 they embarked on the path towards producing a wine.  The first descriptors that come to mind when tasting this wine are riveting, deep and enchanting and you simply won’t believe how great this wine is…
 
SKRYNE ROAD
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $62/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Our 2016 Blend is bright with flavors of bramble-berry and black cherry combined with vanilla bean. The palate is round and supple, with fruity characteristics of raspberry jam and soft, silky tannins. Culminating with hints of peppercorn and baking spices” 
 
Customers who enjoy Skryne Road Proprietary Red may also enjoy these two stunning Reds…
2014 Blind Tasting Proprietary Red
 2015 Hoopla The Mutt Napa Valley Proprietary Red
BLIND TASTING
PROPRIETARY RED
2014 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $36/btl

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Tasting Notes: “Seductive aromas of ripe black plum, crushed blackberries, white Spring flowers and a touch of sweet vanilla jump from the glass. A dense core of perfectly balanced black cherry, crushed blueberries, blackberry preserves with a touch of black pepper unfurl and expand across your palate.  Opulent without being too heavy, the supple fruit tannins combine with a very long finish to make your mouth water and beg for the next sip.  Absolutely delicious and ready to drink right now, or you can hold until 2024.”  94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

 
HOOPLA
2015 THE MUTT
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $23/btl

Click to Order

 

 

 

2015 Il Borro ‘Toscana’ Tuscany, Italy

with No Comment $60-$70ItalyKevin VogtProprietary RedTuscanyUncategorized

IL BORRO

2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY

 
Moving another step closer to their goal of producing the best Bordeaux styled blend outside of Bordeaux, and with a monster 97 Point score, Salvatore Ferragamo’s Il Borro from their family estate in Tuscany simply blew me away.  Many of the same attributes that led the Ferragamo’s to become one of the top luxury brands in the world, are also key in creating a wine brand at the highest level. Like their clothing line, their wine is powerfully bold, yet gorgeously elegant and remarkably detailed. With no expense spared, the family purchased 700 hectares in Tuscany which included the hilltop town of Il Borro (depicted on the label,) which they named this flagship wine after.  While you may not want to plunk down the steep tariff for a pair of their shoes, you can board the Ferragamo train and enjoy some of their stunning wine…
 
The 2015 laces together 50% Merlot, dressed with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and is then precisely detailed with other varietals.  After meticulously hand sorting each grape, the wine is sent gravity flow into the tank where 10-20% of the juice is removed to increase concentration… James Suckling calls the 2015 the best Il Borro to date and at under $100/btl this is absolutely one of the best Tuscan wines that I’ve tasted.
 
IL BORRO
2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 
 
From James Suckling: “This is the best Il Borro to date with fantastic blackberry, blueberry and sandalwood aromas that follow through to a full body with masses of fruit. Yet, it remains bright and linear down the center palate. A rich and toned wine. 50 per cent merlot, 35 per cent cabernet and 15 per cent syrah…” 97 Points
 
 
Customers who enjoy Il Borro Toscana may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
2013 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia 2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino
ALDO CONTERNO
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

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From James Suckling: “...Shows a beautiful complexity of ripe fruit such as cherries as well as orange peel undertones with lemon and pineapple highlights. Medium body and well-defined tannins.”  96 Points
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

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From James Suckling: “This is intense and complex yet subtle with fantastic aromas of rose petal, plum, clove and fresh mushroom. Hints of stems. Full body, focused and polished with a linear line of tannins and fabulous length. A beauty…”  98 Points