Powerful and polished, the 2019 is another excellent Ghiaie della Furba.  With the same blend as the 2016, Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Syrah (35%) and Merlot, this youthful dynamo displays haunting peppery accents that balance the deep, plum-like black fruit nuances.  Finely honed firm tannins add to its appeal and impart balancing structure without astringency.  Fresh and lively, it has a graceful and persistent finish.  

While Contini Bonacossi took ownership of this estate in 1920, it has been in production since antiquity. That's a long time to hone your skills. The Bonacossi family is carrying the legacy and tradition of this estate into the future with a wide range of wines, including this lovely Vin Santo. With notes of soft caramel on the nose and a luscious butterscotch palate balanced by natural acidity, this wine is legit. Paired with some local cheese and it's sure to hit the spot.

Celebrating a 40th anniversary with a special label, the organic Tenuta di Capezzana 2019 Carmignano Riserva Trefiano is a blend of 80% Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Canaiolo. The bouquet starts off with low-key dried fruit, blackcurrant, soft spice and sweet tobacco. The wine's intensity remains reined-in overall, and it shows a mid-weight texture with some tannic tartness. Production is exactly 6,867 bottles.

The Carmignano wine region of Tuscany got a lot of support from the Medici family.  In the mid-1500s, long before Super Tuscan became a thing, Catherine dè Medici brought Cabernet Sauvignon to Tuscany.  It was one of many wedding gifts from her marriage to Henri II of France.  According to The Untold Story of Chianti by Bill Nesto MW and Frances Di Savino, Cosimo III dè Medic created Italy’s first legally defined wine regions of Carmignano Chianti, Pomino, and Val di Sopra in 1716.  Carmignano became a DOC in 1975 and a DOCG in 1990.  The Carmignano appellation has a minimum requirement of 50% of Sangiovese for reds, but Cappezana’s wine contains 80% blended with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Its color is dark ruby and aromas of black cherry and blackberry with a whiff of fresh mint.  It is medium bodied with intense, flavors of black fruits, cherry, plum and currant supported by crisp acidity and chewy tannins.  Enjoy this delicious wine with a grilled piece of prime meat.

The 2018 Ghiaie della Furba is darkly floral and dusty in character with musky plum skins, dried violets and camphor hints. It gains in both volume and depth with each moment that passes. The textures are cool-toned and silky with a pure mix of red fruits and inner herbal tones, stepping lightly yet leaving a lasting impression. Grippy tannins linger through the finish and add a pleasantly poised and dry sensation while maintaining great freshness. That said, the 2018 doesn’t have the bones for long-term aging. The Ghiaie Della Furba is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 30% Syrah.

A slightly brooding red, with firm tannins underlying plum, cherry and earth flavors, while accents of iron and tobacco emerge on the solid finish. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2027.

The 2013 Vin Santo di Carmignano Riserva is captivating, as dusty sweet florals, incense and dried tangerine evolve to enriching notes of hazelnuts, coffee grinds and candied ginger. This speaks more in whispers than shouts, with a seductive mix of pure, silky textures, ripe apricots, almond paste and salty minerals that complete this lovely and sensual expression. There’s unbelievable length, as a repeating menagerie of dried orchard and tropical fruits, as well as hints of butterscotch and sweet herbs, resonates. This wine is a labor of love, and it’s a gorgeous Vin Santo.

This is rich and intense with dried persimmons, dried oranges, toffee caramel and milk chocolate.  Dense and waxy with a delicious sugary fruit character and a lingering floral and honeyed finish.  Drink or hold.