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Under the Tuscan fun!

By Darryl Beeson

Tuscany captures all that is fine with food and wine, while keeping things simple. It is not just about Chianti, though Chianti has gone through world's of renovation and revelation. These Tuscan wines are World class.

Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2002
Price $19
Rating 90
The nose shows elements of red fruit and dried mushroom. The sip is bracing with well balanced acidity. There are gamey elements, plum and a touch of tobacco, along with earthy red fruit in the mouth. The length is good. The blend is 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot and 5% Canaiolo.

The most planted grape in Italy is the Sangiovese, providing the framework for Tuscany's great reds- Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Carmignano.

Ciacci Piccolomini Rosso di Montalcino, 2002
Price $29
Rating 90
The nose is rich with wild cherry. The sip enters lean with a bit of grip and structure, then tapers off with red cherry and earthiness in the long length.

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona is an extremely important name in the history of Tuscany and of Siena. When the lineage ended, the property was inherited by the Bianchini family who determinately carry on tradition.

Ciacci Piccolomini Rosso di Montalcino, 2003
Price $33
Rating 90
The nose displays red cherry and mild earthiness. The flavors are lean and structured with black cherry and black earth. Give this wine a few years to develop.

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Montecucco Sangeovese, 2003
Price $37
Rating 94
The nose is spicy and has ripe red fruit elements. The sip displays rich, chewy red fruit, cherry and raspberry, with hints of mushroom and mineral.

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino, 2000
Price $65
Rating 95
The nose showcases dark fruit, tar and mineral. The sip is concentrated with a complex array of fruit and mineral. The length on the palate is long and interesting.

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Roso di Toscano "Ateo" 2002
Price $38
Rating 93
The nose is big and grapey. The sip leads with ripe mulberry, blackberry, plum and resounding mineral. The length is long and very complex.

Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Saint'Antimo "Fabius" 2002
Price $60
Rating 94
The nose is rich with mulberry and cherry preserves. The flavors that follow are complex with a myriad of red fruit, leather, mineral and subtle spice.

Collosorbo Brunello di Montalcino, 2000
Price $58
Rating 96
The spiced nose is full of cherry, mulberry and complex mineral. There are rich flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry, cherry cola, earthy tar with a hint of mint.

Collosorbo estate, the total surface of which is 180 hectares, was born from the division of the "Tenuta di Sesta" (Sesta estate) that was established beetween the 14th and 15th century during the republic of Siena. It is located beetween S. Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell'Abate, within the area of production of Brunello di Montalcino.

Piazzano Toscano Rosso "Ventoso" 2004
Price $12
Rating 88
The blend is 65% Sangiovese and the remainder is Canaiolo. The nose is full of ripe cherry and complex earthiness. There are delicate flavors of cherry in the light, refreshing sip.

The modern history of "Fattoria di Piazzano" started in 1948, when Otello Bettarini, an entrepreneur from Prato and amateur astronomer, purchased the property and built a private observatory. The further generations started to devote themselves full-time to agriculture producing wines that over the years have obtained excellent reviews

Piazzano Chianti, Tuscany 2004
Price $15
Rating 90
The nose is complex, filled with dark fruit and mineral. The sip follows with black cherry and delicate earth. The length is medium.

Piazzano Chianti "Rio Camarata" Tuscany 2004
Price $16
Rating 92
The nose is complex with black cherry and menthol. Flavors of black cherry, dried mushroom and resounding mineral follow through within the good length on the palate.

Scopetone Brunello di Montalcino "Scarnacuoia" 2000
Price $65
Rating 97
This tiny estate barely produces 3,000 cases of wine. Aromas of wild berries and black earth lead the way. The sip is reserved with complex leather along with somber black fruit, earth and a hint of mint in the very long length on the palate.

Le Macioche Brunello di Montalcino, 2000
Price $75
Rating 95
The nose is refined with dark, earthy fruit. Flavors of cherry, wild berries, tar, menthol and pepper follow in the long, complex length.

Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino, 2000
Price $55
Rating 93
The nose and mouth are not showing bigness of fruit. The somber monster of a red wines needs a few years to come around.

Ambra Carmignano "S. Cristina in Pilli" Tuscany 2001
Price $23
Rating 93
The blend is mainly Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with some minute additions. The wines of Carmignano, north of Firenze in Tuscany, are top rated as DOCG. The nose is big with mulberry, wild fruit and deep earthiness. Flavors of black cherry, plum and mulberry follow through with mint, tar and pepper in the finish. The length is good.

Darryl Beeson travels the world looking for great wine values. In the past, he has been wine steward or cellar master for The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Voltaire, and The Adolphus Hotel. Not one for stuffiness or secret handshakes relative to wine, this Texan might now be described as a "ki-yi-yippee sommelier, sommelier." Beeson reports on wine, spirits, food and travel for numerous publications.

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