Top-Shelf Tuscan Wines for Your *Very* Nice List
Every year, I get the same question: "Orazio, I need a gift that really matters. What's the best?"
The "best" is subjective, but there is a category of bottles that just operates on a different level. They aren't just wines; they're icons. They are the bottles that collectors build cellars around and that turn a great dinner into an unforgettable one.
As of late I found myself loving Tuscan wine more and more. That is why I want to focus on this beautiful region this year. At the end, gifting a Tuscan wine is always a smart move. No matter if the receiver is into wines or not, a Tuscan wine is easy to understand. It feels primal, in the sense that it is easily approachable and defined by a sense of comfort that you don’t find in many regions. This is the list that has defined the region in the last vintages. Give me any of these, and I’ll be happy.
The Bolgheri Icons
These wines are born within a few miles of each other on the Tuscan coast, but they have two distinct, legendary personalities.
2022 San Guido "Sassicaia" Bolgheri $289.99 98IWR 98JS 97DC 97JD 97KO 97WA 95WS 94VN This is the one that started it all. The original Super Tuscan. Sassicaia is a monument, a wine that proved a Cabernet blend from the Tuscan coast could rival the greatest in the world. It’s Italy's "First Growth"—a wine of aristocratic poise, cassis, cedar, and a mineral spine that speaks of its unique terroir. It's not just a gift; it's a Sassicaia.
2018 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia "Masseto" Toscana 1-Pack in OWC $1049.99 100JA 99DC 98JS 98VN 97WA 96WS If Sassicaia is Italy's Lafite, Masseto is its Pétrus. This is 100% Merlot from a single, magical hill of blue clay. It is, simply put, one of the most singular, opulent, and sought-after wines on the planet. A wine of staggering textural depth and complexity, "Masseto" is a legend. Offered in its Original Wood Case, this is the ultimate statement.
Chianti and Sangiovese Purity
These producers define the greatness of the hills between Florence and Siena:
2021 Fontodi "Flaccianello della Pieve" Toscana $179.99 98WA 98VN 97WS 96JS For me, this is one of the most profound expressions of Sangiovese on earth. From the "Conca d'Oro" (the golden shell) of Panzano, Flaccianello is 100% Sangiovese that shows a power, purity, and polished structure that is simply breathtaking. It's technically an IGT, but make no mistake—this is a benchmark for what Sangiovese can achieve.
2021 Castello di Ama "Bellavista" Chianti Classico Gran Selezione $299.99 98VN 97DC 97WA 96JS 96WS Castello di Ama is one of Chianti Classico's most historic and beautiful estates, and "Bellavista" is one of its two crown jewels. This is a single-vineyard Gran Selezione, a blend of Sangiovese and Malvasia Nera. It’s a wine of supreme elegance, aristocratic structure, and a deep, stony minerality that defines the high-altitude terroir of Ama.
Castello di Ama "L'Apparita" $259.99 100VN 97JS 96WA 96WS And here is Ama's other icon. The counterpoint to Bellavista, "L'Apparita" was the very first 100% Merlot produced in Tuscany, debuting in 1985. Sourced from a tiny, clay-rich parcel, this wine is a masterclass in texture, class, and refinement. It proved that Chianti Classico's terroir wasn't just for Sangiovese, and it remains a cult-status collectible.
My Top Brunello Picks for the Season:
Two producers, two distinct philosophies, both at the absolute pinnacle of Brunello di Montalcino.
2020 Giodo Brunello di Montalcino $119.99 98JD 97JS 96DC 96WA The personal project of Carlo Ferrini, one of Italy's most celebrated consulting enologists. This is his own small vineyard, his personal vision. "Giodo" has become an instant modern icon. The style is one of impeccable purity, polished fruit, and fine-grained tannins—a flawless, precise expression of Brunello that is sought-after by collectors worldwide.
2020 Costanti Brunello di Montalcino (Elsewhere $110) $89.99 98KO 97DC 95VN 94WA From a modern icon to an ancient one. Costanti is one of the original families of Brunello, a cornerstone of the appellation. Their wines are beacons of tradition, sourced from classic galestro soils. This is not a wine of flash; it's a wine of substance, with a savory, earthy, and elegant profile built for a long and graceful life in the cellar. A true benchmark for timeless, classic Brunello.