4 Tuscan Wines That’ll Have You Dreaming of La Dolce Vita!
PSSST…..BE SURE TO WATCH THIS VIDEO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE WINES OF TUSCANY!)
The LCBO has a major focus on Italian wines specifically from Tuscany with their March 5th release and it’s got me wishing I was elsewhere! Living la dolce vita, as they say :)
But alas, that is not in my cards for now so I’ll have to just settle for really great wine to help me feel better.
Now, by now, you probably know that I am a true Italian wine lover. While I’m an equal opportunist when it comes to wine, my taste buds do certainly tend to direct me to the boot-shaped land of gorgeous people, incredible food and delicious wine i.e. Italy!
And in my view, this proclivity of mine is for good reason. Italy is home to over 300 indigenous grape varieties that are used in the commercial production of wine and that’s saying nothing about all the international varieties that are also cultivated here. And while there are certainly top tier Italian wines available at staggering prices, a lot of Italian wine is highly affordable and very delicious. So what’s not to love? :)
Tuscany is undoubtedly one of the giants of wine, both worldwide and within Tuscany. The land of rolling hills, this region is great when it comes to Chianti wines but has so much more to offer than just that!
Check out the list below for some great options. I’ve tried to highlight why these wines are a little bit more interesting than the regular roster from this region and why I think they are worth your time and money. I hope you will enjoy the suggestions.
Cheers!
4 Great Tuscan Wines to Buy Right Now!
2019 Gaja Ca’Marcanda Promis $63.95 Product #174334
A Super Tuscan by a super wine-making family (Gaja), this wine should not be missed.
Made from a blend of Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese, this critically acclaimed wine is a fan favourite that will not last long on the shelves of your local LCBO, because those in the know will be scooping it up fast!
Full bodied and taut, this Merlot-driven wine will pair nicely with steak or goat meat. This is a good one to buy two of - drink one now and save one for later!
2019 Poggio Civetta Governo All’Usso $22.95 Product #14362
This wine is also from Tuscany but quite different from the one above. The reference to the term “governo” denotes that a portion of the fruit in this wine was partially dried out before being used to make this wine (i.e. the governo method).
As a result, this wine, which is made from a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah, demonstrates a touch of sweetness alongside fresh red fruit and spice notes.
This is a fruit-forward wine that wine pair really well with pasta dishes. It will also surely delight wine nerds such as myself who like to find wines that are off the beaten track!
2020 Duca di Saragnano Vecciano Toscana Bianco $25.95 Product #23042
White wines from Tuscany are certainly considerably less well-known than red wines, especially in my neck of the woods. I dare say that if you aren’t a real wine nerd, you might not even have had one before. But that would be a miss because the region makes lovely dry white wines too.
This wine is a great example of a high quality white wine from this region. It is a vibrant and crisp Chardonnay-based blend that is aromatic and welcoming. It would pair really well with salads and roast chicken, especially with warmer days ahead.
99 points - lucamaroni.com
2019 Le Serre Nuove Dell’Oenellaia $74.95 Product #606194
This is the most expensive wine on my list but by some measures, it is still quite affordable.
This is the second wine of Ornellaia, one of the most famous Super Tuscan producers in Italy. Made using the same fruit as the estate’s premiere wine only using younger fruit, this wine is elegant and delicious and is the perfect wine for those that love Bordeaux-style blends.
It is worth noting that this wine is a quarter of the price of Ornellaia’s premiere wine (which is also presently available - product #722470) which is undoubtedly a great opportunity to try something from this venerable estate at a more affordable price point.
You can drink this now or hold it for the next ten years. Like the first wine on this list, you can buy two and drink one now and then another one in a few years!
94 points - robertparker.com
And there you have it - a few interesting options from Tuscany to keep you busy and dreaming :)
If you enjoyed these selections, be sure to check out what else the LCBO is offering - there are several other wines from Tuscany that I did not feature but look delicious.
As always, be sure to drop me a line if you try one of these wines. I always value hearing from you and hearing what you think.
Wishing you love and light,
Cheers!