Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Gaja from Tuscany, Italy. Color: Deep red. Aroma: Very clean, opulent aromas, with notes of ripe red fruits evolving into delicate spice and floral perfumes. Taste: Powerful and velvety in flavor with a fleshy and sustained finish and refined tannins. Elegance, finesse and deeply layered nuances are this Brunello's strongest suits. The aromas are tightly etched: The mineral tones are exact and fine, the fruit is fleshy and cushioned by tones of moist tobacco and earth. The menthol notes are divine and penetrating: A beautiful, vineyard-designate wine from Angelo Gaja. Wine Enthusiast 93 Points

Red Wine by Frescobaldi from Tuscany, Italy. A generous, multi-layered aromatic spectrum, veined with crisp nuances of menthol, followed by clean-edged fragrances of dark red berries, in particular blackberry and blueberry. Last to emerge are notes of rich spice, where elegant hints of black pepper and cinnamon predominate, capped by pungent tobacco leaf. It shows exquisite balance on the palate: a subtle weave of dense tannins integrates nicely with a full-bodied, beautiful structure, and a thread of crisp acidity acts as an elegant foil to its heady, opulent alcohol. It unfurls an almost endless finish that is complex and appealing.

Red Wine by San Polo from Tuscany, Italy. Very ripe and verging on raisiny, with toasty oak and coffee. Full-bodied and juicy, with big, round tannins and lots of fruit. Long finish. Best after 2007. -Wine Spectator

Red Wine by Frescobaldi from Tuscany, Italy. It develops quite full-bodied on the palate, warm and generous, with a well-built, velvety suite of tannins. The progression through the finish is complex and lingering, complemented throughout by a judicious acidity that perfectly balances the alcohol. The nose shows rich, concentrated fruit, with abundant blackcurrant and blueberry preceding clean-edged impressions of plum preserves, while black pepper and cinnamon nuances mark a very lengthy finale.

Red Wine by Dievole from Tuscany, Italy. Chianti Classico DOCG Novecento Riserva is composed of 90% Sangiovese grapes and 10% are Tuscan red native grapes. Color: Intense ruby, deep and concentrated Fragrance: Fruity with plum, coffee and cocoa highlights Taste: Dry, full bodied, tannic yet soft Serving suggestions: Grilled meat, seasoned cheeses

Red Wine by Val di Suga from Tuscany, Italy. The Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino is produced from grapes grown in three of Tenimenti Angelini's estate vineyards: VAL DI SUGA VINEYARD Location: Northern Montalcino Elevation: 920 ft. Soils: Deep clay - produces subtle, elegant wines with higher acidity VIGNA SPUNTALI VINEYARD Location: Southwestern Montalcino Climate: Dry, infl uenced by winds from the Thyrrenian Sea on the Mediterranean coast Elevation: 985 ft. Soils: Sandy, stony, fossils present - produces concentrated, powerful wines SAN POLO VINEYARD Location: Southern Montalcino, near the Monte Amiata Mountain, the largest mountain in southern Tuscany Soils: Sandy, stony, fossils present - produces concentrated, powerful wines Aromas of ripe fruit, almost cooked with hints of spices. Full-bodied, with round tannins and loads of fruit...intense. Best after 2009. 90 Points Wine Spectator- April 30, 2006

Red Wine by Felsina from Tuscany, Italy. Good full ruby. Richer and even more minerally on the nose than the '04 Rancia, offering plenty of orange zest, lily and pleasantly tart red cherry aromas. Lush, very ripe red fruit flavors and a salty edge give this immediate appeal, but make it a bit less refined than the Rancia in '04. The tannins, though, are smoother and slide effortlessly along the very long finish. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 94 Points

Red Wine by Antinori from Tuscany, Italy. 100% Sangiovese Traditional in its complexity, roundness, and elegance, yet modern in its intense fruitiness, accessibility and soft tannins. Deep dark cherry color, with concentrated cherry, chocolate and vanilla flavors. Badia a Passignano Riserva is produced exclusively from the finest, most highly selected grapes grown on the estate of the same name situated in the Chianti Classico area. The abbey, which is located in an area that has been inhabited at least since the Etruscan period, is one of the finest fortified abbeys in the area. It has been renowned for its wine production for over 1,000 years. The Antinori family bought the 325 hectares' estate around the abbey (which is own by Vallombrosian monks)in 1987, including the use of the monastery cellars.

Red Wine by Felsina from Tuscany, Italy. Impressive dark ruby color. Expressive aromas of blackcurrant, plum, mint and cigar box, all lifted by a mineral element. Dense and rich, combining Pinot Noir-like texture and refinement with Syrah-like flavors of rare meat and raspberry liqueur. This boasts a wonderfully tactile feel and a remarkably long, palate-staining finish. A great Chianti with loads of personality. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 95 Points Brilliant, rich ruby red. Spicy nose with floral notes and wild berry nuances. Spice continues in the mouth, nicely complemented by a dense, soft fabric of youthful tannins; excellent structure and superb overall character. If there is exceptional location to gaze out over all of Felsina and its surrounding areas, that place is the vineyard on the ancient Rancia estate, at over 410 metres altitude. Its grapes are vinified and bottled separately. The vineyard lies completely within the Chianti Classico zone; its climate and soils are characteristic of the entire valley centred on Siena and bear witness -not only ideally- to its close relationship to the areas of Montalcino, of Montepulciano, and of the Maremma. From 1983 on, Rancia' s 100% sangiovese has consistently reflected its own terroir, demonstrating a lengthy progression, a liveliness, and an elegance truly rare and distinctive.

Red Wine by Ruffino from Tuscany, Italy. Ruby red in color, with garnet hues. Riserva Ducale Oro 2003 shows typical Tuscan characteristics with violet, cherry, and plum aromas and hints of white pepper. On the palate, this benchmark of fine Chianti Classico has a massive structure and an elegant, fruity core accented by rosemary and thyme. Full-bodied and well balanced, Riserva Ducale Oro's sweet, round tannins lead into a long finish with notes of violets, nutmeg, plums, and sweet tobacco.

Red Wine by Ruffino from Tuscany, Italy. Ruffino's most famous label is the gold-label Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale, first produced in 1947. The 2001 rendition capably maintains the tradition, combining coffee, prune and tobacco scents with flavors of ripe plums and dark earth. Tannins give a richly textured feel in the mouth, the drying finish balanced by ample fruit. Wine Enthusiast This shows a raisiny tar character with hints of brown sugar. Full-bodied and very rich, with velvety tannins. This will improve with age. -Wine Spectator

Red Wine by Castello di Bossi from Tuscany, Italy. Made from 85% Sangiovese and 15% Merlot. After fermentation the wine remained in barriques for 2 years. The wine exhibits a deep ruby color with spicy aromas of tamarind. It is soft and creamy on the palate with a structure that is powerful without being aggressive.