Tuscany’s Wines Provide Endless Charm
Tuscany is a region with endless charm. It combines the beauty of nature with its historical heritage, and it has a deep-rooted connection to viticulture. It has complex hills with various micro-climates and a centuries-old winemaking tradition that make this region one of Italy's most famous. Tuscany is home to some of the country's most beloved appellations, and each name expresses a unique grape varietal and/or vinification style. From the mineral-rich white wines of Vernaccia to Sangiovese-based reds like Chianti and Brunello, this region offers a journey through the history of Italy's vines.
2023 Montenidoli "Tradizionale" Vernaccia di San Gimignano $24.99 San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to Vernaccia, the only white DOCG in Tuscany. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is actually the first DOCG ever been classified. It is famous for its sandy soil and rocks rich of marine fossils from the Pliocene time. This gives the wine a surprising minerality.
Mondenidoli is an historic estate in San Gimignano founded by the enthusiastic and pioneering Elisabetta Fagiuoli, now in her 80s. You can still see her around the States promoting her own wine, and it such a treat to meet her. The winery grows everything in limestone hills overlooking the medieval city. Montenidoli epitomizes the region's commitment to tradition. "Tradizionale", in fact, is made from Vernaccia grapes using slightly longer maceration than most and using only native yeast. A true wine made by a true old school producer. This wine has citrus notes, green apples and almonds are complemented by bright acidity and a long, salty finish which reflects the maritime influence of the land.
2023 Il Monticello "Groppolo" Vermentino $19.99 The best Vermentino outside of Sardinia comes from the Colli di Luni appellation near the Ligurian border and is one of the best products of Tuscany. The region's rich granite soil and crisp Mediterranean climate create an ideal environment for growing Vermentino. Il Monticello's "Groppolo" emphasizes this variety's distinctive feature: its acidity. Lively scents of lemon zest and white peach are underlined by the salinity from the closeness of the vineyards to the sea. This wine beautifully captures the essence of Tuscany's northern coast. Il Monticello is both a family-run winery and a restaurant in Tuscany. They mainly make wine to serve in their restaurants. It is such a treat to have them in the States.
2020 Barbicaia Rosso di Montepulciano $15.99 Growing in the rolling hills of Montepulciano from sandy clay soil is the birthplace of the appellation Vino Nobile and Rosso di Montepulciano. Rosso di Montepulciano is Vino Nobile’s younger brother utilizing Sangiovese, known locally as Prugnolo Gentile, which is often blended with small amounts of Canaiolo and Mammolo. Barbicaia's Rosso di Montepulciano offers a lighter, fresher take on the region's wines. With bright red cherries, violet scent and delicate spices, this wine has an accessible structure and soft tannins.
2021 Fèlsina Chianti Classico Riserva $34.99 Chianti might be my favorite expression of Sangiovese. The good producers are able to show power and grace. I am addicted to the generous body that this wine offers but at the same time intrigued by the complexity and differential I can feel between different producers. Chianti has had a time when the quality was not matching with the famous status of the name. But we are far from that period. Now Chianti offers a lever of reliability that not many appellations around the world can have, and the value is always there. Most Gran Selezione bottlings are as good as a Brunello, and that makes me really optimistic about Chianti’s future. Chianti Classico is the heartland of Tuscany. Defined by its rocky galestro and alberese soils, the vines are forced to dig deep to produce rich, complex wines.
Felsina is one of the staples of Chianti not only here at K&L but also in Italy itself. There is not a person that has not tried Felsina before. It truly is one of the most respected producers in Italy.
Their Riserva highlights the grape's signature qualities: aromas of red cherry, dried herbs and tobacco, and the spiciness of aging. Must try!
2019 Ferrero Brunello di Montalcino $39.99 The hilltop village of Montalcino is surrounded by vineyards that produce Brunello di Montalcino, one of Italy's most prized wines. Here, Sangiovese Grosso, known locally as Brunello, benefits from the region's diverse soils. So yes, as simple as that Brunello di Montalcino actually means Sangiovese Grosso from the town of Montalcino. Montalcino’s terroir is defined by diverse soils, including clay, limestone, galestro, and sandstone, which impart structure, elegance, and complexity. Vineyards range from 150 to 500 meters in elevation, with higher sites producing fresher, more refined wines and lower sites yielding riper, fuller-bodied styles. The Mediterranean climate, marked by warm days, cool nights, and coastal breezes, ensures optimal ripening while preserving acidity, making Montalcino ideal for producing powerful yet balanced Brunello.
Ferrero’s vineyards in Montalcino are located in the southwestern part of the appellation, near Sant’Angelo in Colle, an area known for its clay-rich soils mixed with limestone and marine sediments. These soils contribute to the wines' structure, richness, and depth while retaining freshness and balance. The warmer microclimate of this subzone also enhances the ripeness and concentration of the grapes, resulting in Brunellos with bold fruit character and velvety tannins. Aged in large Slavonian oak barrels, this wine has incredible aging potential.
2022 Gaja Ca’Marcanda "Promis" Toscana IGP Rosso $56.99 The wine is a blend of Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese, a blend that does not follow the Bolgheri DOC rules, which requires the majority of the blend to focus on Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Gaja instead is deciding to use the Toscana IGT designation in this case, giving him more flexibility with his blend.
Beyond the limitations of regulations this wine still reflects a "super Tuscan" philosophy that emphasizes creativity and individuality over tradition. The vineyard for "Promis" is located in Bolgheri, where the gravelly soil and Mediterranean climate create the perfect environment for producing rich, balanced wines. The combination of Syrah and Sangiovese adds to the complexity and Tuscan character. Expect lush blackberry and plum flavors. It smells of spices and the heat from the coastal growing condition.
2017 Fèlsina 'Vin Santo' $49.99 Vin Santo, Tuscany's signature dessert wine, has a rich tradition. Made by drying DOC Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes on straw mats to intensify their sugars and flavor. Followed by several years of aging in small wooden barrels called caratelli. Fèlsina's Vin Santo is a masterful example, with flavors of dried dates, honey and roasted almond, this wine is soft and textured. If you have never tried Vin Santo before, this is the one to try.