SuperTuscans
So what is a Super Tuscan anyway? In the 1970s, some Tuscan producers believed the legal rules governing the production of Chianti were too restrictive. For example, the rules prohibited the use of non-traditional grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. A few maverick producers decided to forge ahead anyway and break the rules. The decision to make wines that sat outside the regulatory framework meant they were forced to accept the “vino da tavola” (table wine) designation on their labels, the most lowly designation in Italy, usually associated with cheap, mass-produced plonk. But to distinguish these high quality wines that had fallen foul of the law from other lowly wines with vino da tavola on the label, the term Super Tuscan came into being. (Although, a quick glance at the price tag is another fool-proof way to differentiate these wines from the rabble!). These days Super Tuscans use the designation IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), because in 1992 the regulatory bureaucracy eventually yielded to growing pressure and created IGT as a new designation giving winemakers a little more freedom. Super Tuscan wines tend to be modern, big and powerful — with price tags that are equally modern, big and powerful. There is no rule of thumb as to what grape varieties or percentages may be used in a blend, they vary widely; from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Sangiovese as in Sassicaia, to exactly the reverse proportions in Tignanello, to 100% Merlot in Masseto, and so on.
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Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia 2017
96 POINTS: James Suckling
97 POINTS: Wine Enthusiast Magazine
96 POINTS: Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"The … More
RRP: $299.00 /bottle Buy 6 & save- Bottle: $279.00 /ea
- Case (6 ): $279.00 /bottle
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Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso 2015
97 Points, James Suckling
96 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
"Antinori has made terrific wines at their Guado … More
RRP: $199.00 /bottle Buy 6 & save- Bottle: $163.50 /ea
- Case (6 ): $163.50 /bottle
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Angelo Gaja Ca’Marcanda Camarcanda 2012
94 POINTS: eRobertParker.com
A rich, voluptuous wine, the 2012 Camarcanda offers plenty of Maremma resonance and … More
RRP: $189.00 /bottle Buy 6 & save- Bottle: $168.99 /ea
- Case (6 ): $164.99 /bottle
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Angelo Gaja Ca’Marcanda Promis Toscana 2014
90 POINTS: JamesSuckling.com
55% Merlot, 35% Syrah, 10%Sangiovese
The 2014 Promis is medium-bodied, quite … More
RRP: $69.95 /bottle Buy 6 & save- Bottle: $62.99 /ea
- Case (6 ): $59.99 /bottle
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Mazzei Toscana Siepi 2015
RRP: $175.00 /bottle Buy 6 & save- Bottle: $169.99 /ea
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Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, Rosso Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia 2017
94 POINTS: Monica Larner, RobertParker.com
94 POINTS: Jeb Dunnuck
91+ POINTS: Antonio Galloni, Vinous
44%… More
RRP: $89.99 /bottle Buy 6 & save- Bottle: $79.99 /ea
- Case (6 ): $79.99 /bottle
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Tenuta di Trinoro 2018
— 98+ POINTS, Monica Larner, RobertParker.com
— 97 POINTS, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
— 5/5 Bibenda (5 … More
- Bottle: $349.00 /ea
- Case (6 ): $349.00 /bottle
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Tenuta di Trinoro Tenaglia 2018
— 96 POINTS, Monica Larner, RobertParker.com
— 94 POINTS, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
100% Cabernet … More
- Bottle: $149.00 /ea
- Case (6 ): $149.00 /bottle
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Tenuta di Trinoro Lu Cupole 2018
— 94 Points, Monica Larner, RobertParker.com
40% Cabernet Franc, 37% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% … More
- Bottle: $54.99 /ea
- Case (6 ): $54.99 /bottle