Drink now through to 2046. No need to decant before serving.

The Fontalloro is a classic expression of the Sangiovese grape variety which is lovingly produced by one of Tuscany’s finest estates. The grapes used in the composition of this wine are sourced from the estate’s vineyards along the border of the Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi appellations.

While the Chianti Classico vineyards sit at the highest altitude of any of Felsina’s plots, those in the Colli Senesi sit at a lower altitude and offer a different side to the Sangiovese grape. After harvesting the grapes by hand during the autumn, the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks and then matured in new and second use French oak barrels for up to 22 months. The final blend is then composed and the wine is aged for a further 12 months in the bottle before release.

The result is a fascinatingly complex Sangiovese which opens with hints of dried Mediterranean herbs, tobacco, blackcurrant and earth. The first sip reveals smooth tannins, a firm structure and intense dark cherry, licorice and oregano flavours which persist for a long time on the palate. The balancing acidity, bold flavour profile and excellent structure make this an ideal candidate for extended cellar ageing over the next decade or so.

Ideally drink now until 2038. Decant 2 hours.

A beautiful ruby red in colour, the nose gives ripe cherries, red currant, hints of leather, tobacco and vanilla. The palate reveals ripe cherries, blackcurrants, sweet spices and a hint of tobacco. This full bodied wine has high acidity with medium to high levels of well integrated tannins. The finish is long and lingering and ends on a subtle note of vanilla.

A fantastic match for steak, lamb, tomato sauces and cheese.

The hand harvested grapes are vinified in steel vats for between 18 and 25 days prior to being aged in new oak for between 15 and 30 months. There is a further 12 months in bottle prior to release. No herbicides, pesticides or chemicals of any nature are used in Castellarre’s wines which makes them even more desirable.

The wine has twice been in Wine Spectators Top 100 which is proof that Sangiovese vines can compete with the best the world has to offer. I Sodi di San Niccolò was developed in the 80s with an aim of creating wines that would compete with the “Super Tuscans” and show that native fruit can produce wine with the finesse and power to compete – they certainly managed that!. The name of the wine comes from the term “I Sodi” which means that the grapes are difficult to harvest (hence the need for hand harvesting), combined with the name of a church on the property, San Niccolo, which is no longer in use.

Drink now through to 2030. No need to decant before serving.

In 1970 Famed Italian winemaker Angelo Gaja took over the running of the family winery which was founded back in 1859. Proud of his family’s winemaking past and determined to lead the estate into the future, Angelo brought with him a passionate determination to produce top quality wines that would become benchmark examples of the noble Nebbiolo grape. His pioneering vision was to create Italian wines that could stand up to the finest wines being produced over in Burgundy and Bordeaux.

Angelo began his ambitious plans by replanting much of the family’s vineyards and investing in stainless steel tanks with temperature controls that would allow him to carefully control the winemaking process. He also caused controversy locally by mimicking top winemakers in Bordeaux and California in bringing in small oak barrels to age his wines. At the time most local producers were still using huge chestnut wood casks called botti.

Promis is a great example of Angelo’s groundbreaking approach since it is made from fruit sourced from Bolgheri near the Tuscan coast in a “Super Tuscan” style using international grape varieties. The blend is primarily composed of Merlot along with a smaller proportion of Syrah and Sangiovese which thrive in the local terre brune or dark soils and hot summer days cooled by sea breezes. The result is a rich, voluptuous red wine which is bursting with dark berry and plum notes and subtle spiced notes from the 12 months of ageing in oak barrels.

Drink now through to 2028. No need to decant before serving.

Founded by Marchese Lodovico Antinori in 1981, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia is today one of Italy’s most famous wineries. Antinori is the brother of Piero Antonori, founder of Tenuta Tignanello, and the cousin of Mario Incisa della Rocchetta who founded Tenuta San Guido which produces the world-famous Sassicaia. Lodovico Antinori was one of the first to start producing top quality Bordeaux-style blends or “Super Tuscans” as they are now known in Tuscany’s coastal Maremma region.

The estate’s most accessible wine is their Le Volte, a vibrant and easy-going Tuscan red composed primarily of Merlot along with a smaller quantity of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each grape variety is fermented separately in stainless steel tanks and then aged in oak barrels for 10 months before the final blend is created.

The result is an elegant, fruit-forward red which is bursting with ripe plums, cherries and hints of dark berries along with cigar box spice and toast notes from the oak ageing. On the palate there is a rich, smooth texture, medium body, soft tannins and long finish with ample dark fruit flavours seasoned with cinnamon, cloves and dried herbs. Try pairing it with classic Italian charcuterie, seasonal game, or fresh pasta served with a rich tomato-based ragu.

Drink now through to 2034. Decant 2 hours before serving.

Oreno enjoys cult wine status among collectors and lovers of Super Tuscans and has won a slew of top scores and awards, frequently appearing in Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100 Wines list. This magnificent wine takes its name from the river which runs through the Tenuta Sette Ponti estate and gives life to the vines that grow along its banks.

Made in a polished international style, Oreno is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot which easily rivals fine Bordeaux and its higher priced Super Tuscan neighbours. Following the harvest the grapes are macerated and fermented for 25 days before being aged in French oak barrels for up to 18 months. The wine is then bottled and remains in the estate’s cellars for a further year before it is released.

In the glass the rich ruby hue delights the eye, while the nose offers generous dark berries, leather, dried violets, and hints of sunbaked earth. The first sip reveals a firm structure and rich forest fruit flavours balanced by a vivacious freshness and a smooth texture. The Oreno is an excellent wine for extended cellar ageing over the next decade or so, but it can also be enjoyed now alongside a fine steak or a succulent venison dish.