Under that Magical Tuscan Sun: 2015 Superstars

If you put your ear to the ground, you’ll hear a lot of buzz around Tuscany’s 2015 vintage, especially around two wines in particular: Sassicaia just topped Wine Spectator’s top ten list with an illustrious slot at #1. Meanwhile, Solaia has raked in two 100-point scores from James Suckling and Robert Parker. These are from world-class winemakers at the top of their game, making the most of an exceptional vintage.

Tuscany needed some sunshine after a dreary 2014, and in 2015 they got it in spades, with a scorching summer heat wave and a July that was the hottest on record. Luckily, their winter was cold and their spring was wet, so they had plenty of water to carry them through, with the help of late August rains and cool nights throughout. 2015 saw an early bud break, a long period of ripening, and a late harvest—perfect conditions for fruit that is ripe and healthy, but also with plenty of structure and acid. Critics can’t stop gushing about the rich, exuberant wines that Tuscans produced this year.

For Tenuta San Guido, maker of Sassicaia, all this fanfare comes at a perfect time. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the first commercial release from this landmark domaine, which was the first to release a Bordeaux-style Super Tuscan. It was also the first and only estate to receive its own DOC in Italy. Decanter said their 2015 is a “winning combination of winemaking savoir-faire, world-class terroir, old vine fruit, and an outstanding vintage. It is unarguably stunning.”

2015 San Guido "Sassicaia" Bolgheri (Pre-Arrival) will be in stock on March 27, 2019.

Likewise, 2018 marks the 40th release from Solaia, Marchesi Antinori’s Cabernet-based blend, grown on its famously sunny plot. James Suckling called this the greatest Antinori wine ever. Monica Larner in the Wine Advocate called it “liquid sunshine” and “an ideal of what we imagine Solaia to be.”

2015 Antinori "Solaia" Toscana (Pre-Arrival) is expected to arrive April 30, 2019.

We have these magical wines available on pre-arrival, so snatch them up while you can. If you just can’t wait, we have a few of their comparably well-lauded brethren available now:

2015 Antinori "Tignanello" Toscana earned 96 RP, 97 WS, and 98 JS.

2015 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Ornellaia" Bolgheri Superiore earned 98 JS, 98 VN, and 97 WS.

- Kate Soto