Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Ornellaia from Tuscany, Italy. Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon; 25% Merlot; 12% Cabernet Franc; 3% Petit Verdot The use of several varietals gives the winemaking team the luxury of being able to tailor the exact proportion of the blend to the specific strengths of a given vintage. 2004 can be considered as one of the major expressions of Ornellaia and represents an excellent example of a classic vintage in Bolgheri. The ideal conditions during the growing season lead to a perfect combination of ripeness, flavor complexity and finesse. The velvety opulence of the Merlot is balanced out by the racy and elegant tannic structure of the Cabernets, which are further amplified by the small addition of Petit Verdot. The gorgeous 2004 Ornellaia is...a lively dark ruby, it is a vibrant effort bursting with expressive aromatics and layered, well-delineated fruit, showing much purity on the palate and closing with a long, finessed finish. Readers hoping to catch this wine's full array of nuances will have to wait at least another few years as the wine remains quite primary today. This exquisite effort is not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2019. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 95 Points

Red Wine by Antinori from Tuscany, Italy. Extraordinary intense ruby red in color. Intensely fruity, more of cherry than cassis, with hints of toast, coffee and dark chocolate. Finely structured and complex; balanced, with soft tannins and a lingering finish. Displays unmistakable varietal flavor while retaining strong regional character. Guado al Tasso, meaning literally Badger's Ford, takes its name from a common sight at the estate of Tenuta Guado al Tasso, Bolgheri, where it is produced. The vineyard is at an elevation between 44 and 58 metres (145 and 190 feet) above sea-level on stony, slightly calcareous soils. Tenuta Guado al Tasso is located 60 miles southwest of Florence, near the medieval village of Bolgheri, in an area known as the Maremma. The 900 hectares (2,223 acres) estate stretches up from the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the hills, and aside from extensive vineyards, also grows wheat, corn, sunflowers, tomatoes and olive trees. Guado al Tasso was first produced in 1990. All the vintages have been produced in limited quantities. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Syrah and other red grape varieties.

Red Wine by Argiano from Tuscany, Italy. Solengo, a blend of Cab Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, has seemingly infinite depth thanks to its finely-tuned aromas of red cherry, toasted nut, cinnamon, almond and modern, smoky hickory. Elegant, vibrant and buoyant in the mouth, drink this wine after 2012. -Wine Enthusiast

Red Wine by Luce from Tuscany, Italy. Blend: 50 % Merlot and 50 % Sangiovese Luce 2004 appears deep ruby with lovely purple highlights. Subtle suggestions of toasty oak appear first on the nose, over fragrant notes of blueberry and blackberry that seem to infuse the background; next to emerge is a complex of floral and mint nuances, followed by smooth impressions of vanilla and cinnamon. The palate is smooth and mouthfilling, with velvety tannins and a warm alcohol beautifully complemented by a crisp acidity. The finish is expansive and dynamic.

Red Wine by Luce from Tuscany, Italy. Tuscany's 1999 vintage is acclaimed for red wines of long aging potential. The intense sun of the summer months encouraged early maturation of the berries, leading to Sangiovese and Merlot grapes of superior soft tannins and lower levels of acidity. The heavy rains of October did not compromise fruit quality, since the sunshine and constant breeze that shortly followed dried off any excess moisture. The grapes for Luce were brought to the winery in excellent condition with fully developed flavors and an ideal balance of sugar concentration and acidity. Luce, the signature wine of the Frescobaldi family of Tuscany and the Robert Mondavi family of Napa Valley, captures the unique terroir expression of a beautiful hillside vineyard in the famous region of Montalcino. Powerful, yet elegant, the 1999 Luce reflects the expertise of the two renowned winegrowing families with rich, complex layers of ripe fruit. The intense bouquet offers enticing aromas of raspberries and black currants layered with nuances of vanilla and cloves. On the palate, this wine shows its great consistency, perfectly integrated tannins and just the right touch of acidity. The vibrant flavors of blackberry and blueberry weave into a long, warm finish.

Red Wine by Ruffino from Tuscany, Italy. Grape varieties: 60% Colorino, 40% Merlot Deep ruby red in color, with violet hues. Intense and complex, Romitorio de Santedame displays a voluptuous nose of black currant, cranberries and raspberries, highlighted by notes of clove, nutmeg and cinnamon. This impressive bouquet is echoed on the palate, where strong but velvety tannins complement the intense fruit character. Beautifully structured, the tannins, alcohol, acidity, and fruit find an ideal balance, leading to the lingering, smooth finish of coffee, hazelnuts, and mint chocolate. Romitorio di Santedame deserves a meal worthy of its richness and complexity. Enjoy it with veal or pork pate, Beef Wellington, a crown rack of lamb, moussaka, or roasted goose.

Red Wine by Banfi from Tuscany, Italy. An extremely limited release produced in only favorable vintages, Excelsus is an extraordinary wine made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Each varietal is macerated and fermented for 20-25 days, then aged separately in French oak barrique for one year. They are blended, and further matured in the bottle for an additional one to two years. A densely colored, ruby-hued red with garnet tones, this austere wine offers an opulent bouquet that hints of plum, black currant and bell pepper. Excelsus complements red meats, game, rich-tasting dishes and full-flavored cheeses.

Red Wine by Banfi from Tuscany, Italy. Number 29 on Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2004! This wine shows an incredible concentration of fruit, with loads of berries and spices on the nose. Full-bodied, with soft and silky tannins and lots of smoky character. Goes for a long time on the finish. Always a benchmark for the region. Best after 2005. 55,000 cases made. -- Wine Spectator

Red Wine by Nardi from Tuscany, Italy. Deep ruby in color with purple highlights, this wine shows an intense bouquet of red berries offset by notes of leather and incense which are confirmed on the palate, supported by firm, elegant tannins of moderate intensity.

Red Wine by Cabreo from Tuscany, Italy. A Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon super-Tuscan blend, this wine shows rich, dense aromas of wild cherry and black currant offset by notes of leather, herbs and vanilla. On the palate, it is velvety and complex, with ripe tannins repeated on the elegant finish. Intense aromas of blackberry, toasty oak and chocolate. Full-bodied, with big, juicy fruit and lots of spicy, peppery and fruity character. Long and luscious. -Wine Spectator

Red Wine by La Brancaia from Tuscany, Italy. The top product of the Brancaia brand is the Brancaia IL BLU, IGT (Supertuscan), highly acclaimed by the international wine press. Since the vintage 1997, this wine has been rewarded with the TRE BICCHIERI by the Gambero Rosso / Slow Food. The Brancaia IL BLU 2001 (93 points) was quoted by Wine Spectator as a real beauty and Wine Spectator rated the vintage 98 with the high score of 94 points and concluded comments with: Brancaia is a new star. For many wine lovers all over the world, this is already a classic. 50% Sangiovese 45% Merlot 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Red Wine by Tenuta San Guido from Tuscany, Italy. By the same producers of the famed Sassicaia, the grapes are grown in a vineyard on lands adjacent to the Sassicaia vineyard. The grape varieties are approximately 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvingnon and 10% Sangiovese. The grapes are vinified in a new cellar created especially by the Tenuta San Guido in the locality known as 'Vecchio Frantoio (Old Olive Press) not far from the town of Bolgheri. The 2005 vintage was fermented in steel vats at controlled temperatures with a maceration period of 15 days for the the Merlot and the Cabernet Sauvignon and 12 days for the Sangiovese. The wine was then aged in French and American oak barriques for 14 months, one-third of the barriques being new ones. Wonderful aromas of crushed blackberry and cherry follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Needs time to develop in the bottle, but hard not to drink now. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Best after 2009. -Wine Spectator