There are Super Tuscans that use Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to add volume and sweetness of fruit to the famed Sangiovese wines of Tuscany. Over the last 20 years, they've become some of the most expensive and homogenized wines in the world, let alone just Italy.
Then there are Super Tuscans that use historic and native Tuscan varietals like Canaiolo and Malvasia Nera to accomplish the same task, softening the edges of Sangiovese to create an immediately drinkable wine that remains Italian at its core, rather than pandering to Bordeaux or Napa.
We're happy to tell you that today's email wine--the 2019 Fattoria di Piazzano--is the latter of the two and for just under fifteen bucks it brings classic Italian deliciousness home for an unbeatable everyday price. The estate dates back to 1948 when the Bettarini family purchased the land for winemaking. Farmed organically and sustainably today by Ronaldo and Ilaria Bettarini in the western hills near Chianti, almost all of the wine is sold and consumed locally in Tuscany. In essence, this is the table wine of choice for Italians in nearby Sienna, home to some of the most delicious cuisine in the world.
Fattoria di Piazzano Ventoso Toscana 2019 750ml - $14.99
Bursting with a purity of fleshy black fruits, luscious tannins that melt in your moth, and a surprising amount of acidity given the ripeness, it's a wine that can pair with just about anything, from a plate of prosciutto to a grilled steak to a bowl of steaming pasta with ragu. Give it a whirl and see what you think. For $14.99, we think you'll be pleased.
92 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - Intense aromas of blackberries, flowers and bark. Medium to full body and firm, chewy tannins. Delicious finish. Drink now.