Our “Top 15” List

Every once-in-a-while we will introduce the Tuscan wines that we find interesting for various reasons. As you will notice they are not rated nor in any particular order. Since we carry over 50% of the producers in the production area of Montalcino, it is difficult to qualify the wines which are near and dear to each one of us.

Our tastes, just as yours, are varied. There is the sheer enjoyment factor, food-wine pairing, ageing vs. drinkability, and of course, price point. We could have come up with a point system and crunch the scores into an ensuing list, but that has been done. We'd rather give you a written description of why each wine made our "Top 15" so you can decide which you would like to experience.

	2003 AVIGNONESI/CAPANNELLE 50 & 50 ITALY - TUSCANY - IGT When you blend parts of the best production from two top producers into one wine, the quality is obviously on top! Here we have a wine with 50% Merlot, produced by Avignonesi and 50% Sangiovese, produced by Capannelle, aged in barriques. The wine has a lot of structure and elegancy and it can be kept for a long time.
	2004 BANFI FLORUS ITALY - TUSCANY - DOC MOSCADELLO DI MONTALCINO If you need a nice dessert wine this could easily be the right choice. Banfi is a well-known winery, among the biggest in Montalcino, and they produce this excellent, though not very known, little pearl: exotic fruits and honey with a long sweet-but-not-too-sweet aftertaste.
	1999 CAMIGLIANO GUALTO ITALY - TUSCANY - DOCG BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO Camigliano has a very long history - known of since Etruscan times - and has grown to be among the biggest wineries in Montalcino. This winery is very much safeguarding quality and, therefore, the new cellars have been built in a way so that man intervenes as little as possible during the production of the wines. Camigliano is in collaboration with the president of Enoteca la Fortezza and bids you welcome for a bite to eat in the re-opened Osteria del Galletto.
	1998 CAPANNA (Riserva) ITALY - TUSCANY - DOCG BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO We have been lucky enough to get a small delivery of the Brunello Riserva 1998 from one of our favourite wineries. This wine offers all the sensations that should come from a Brunello - fruit, soft tannins, acidity - all blended in harmony into this ready-to-drink Brunello at a very fair price.
	2004 CASANOVA DI NERI PIETRADONICE ITALY - TUSCANY - DOC SANT'ANTIMO This producer was named the best Winemaker in the World 2006 by WineSpectator for his Brunello and, we think you should check out his 100% Cabernet Sauvignon! It is a delicious wine, that can be aged in the cellar for many years.
	2004 CASTELLO DEI RAMPOLLA D'ALCEO ITALY - TUSCANY - IGT This mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, aged in barriques, gives a potent, structured, and elegant wine, that you can easily cellar for many years. Try it. You'll appreciate the work that has been done in the cellars of the winery!
	1997 CERBAIA VIGNA CERBAIA ITALY - TUSCANY - DOCG BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO We wanted to get a Brunello 1997 onto this list as well (how can we forget that vintage?) and Vigna Cerbaia came to mind. It is not written anywhere that you need to be rich to lay your hands on a good Brunello 1997 and this is the proof. With its grapes growing on the famous Montosoli hill, this traditional Brunello is produced with the philosophy that we all have the right to drink a great wine every once-in-a-while.
	1999 COL D'ORCIA POGGIO AL VENTO (Riserva) ITALY - TUSCANY - DOCG BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO This Brunello Riserva is a very particular one - it is kind of a reserve of the reserve: 7 years of production instead of "only" the required 6 years. Produced with carefully selected grapes, this wine is guaranteed to offer you great sensations and a memorable moment.
	2002 MATE ITALY - TUSCANY - DOCG BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO Out of the hands and dreams of American painter/winemaker Candace, and her husband, Hungarian writer/boat-builder/photographer Ferenc Máté, comes this delicious fruity version of a modern Brunello 2002. The Máté couple hasn't been making wine for that many years yet, but they have for sure been very quick in learning how to do so. Our sincere compliments to their achievement so far!
	2004 PODERE FORTE GUARDIAVIGNA ITALY - TUSCANY - DOC ORCIA This organic SuperTuscan from Castiglion d'Orcia (close to Montalcino) is produced in a way that is often connected with Bolgheri wines: rich in minerals, almost black in colour, lots of tannin, and a looooong finish.
	2001 POGGIO DI SOTTO ITALY - TUSCANY - DOCG BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO This is the one wine that we just couldn't take off the former Top 20 - Piero Palmucci has simply made, in our opinion, a delicious wine that you won't forget once you have tasted it. You simply keep coming back for more.
	1999 RAMPA DI FUGNANO GISELE ITALY - TUSCANY - IGT We have found this excellent organic wine made of 100% Merlot worthy of entering our newest Top 15 list. Here we have a wine made with as little interference with nature as possible, low yield in the vineyards, new barriques. The result is a fruity, warm, and harmonious wine that is excellent with meat dishes.
	2001 SOLDERA CASE BASSE (Riserva) ITALY - TUSCANY - DOCG BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO Soldera is back in our list of top wines with his Brunello 2001 Riserva. It is actually difficult for a wine shop with a selection like ours to not include it, and we are happy to say "welcome back" to this small great man and his wine.
	2005 TENIMENTI ANGELINI BUSILLIS ITALY - TUSCANY - IGT This white wine, produced on 100% Viogner grapes in Montepulciano, is a very valid competitor to a Chardonnay: international in style, thick, and "greasy". If you've wanted to try something different than Chardonnay (or maybe just for the fun of it...) here's your chance - and you don't even need to spend a lot of money!
	1999 TENIMENTI ANGELINI MOTUPROPRIO ITALY - TUSCANY - IGT Taste this wine and you're sold! This is the most common reaction we receive when we put this wine in a tasting. It's a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Montalcino, made in an international style and ready to drink now.

Latest update: 11/10/2007