2004 Brancaia Rosso di Toscana

Consulting oenologist Carlo Ferrini oversees winemaking at Brancaia, which owns vineyards in the Chianti Classico and Morellino di Scansano zones. The 2004 Il Blu is a blend of 50% Sangiovese, 45% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in French oak barrels. Its gorgeous, silky texture opens to reveal layers of vibrant sweet fruit that caress the palate in a captivating display of elegance and finesse. The tannins are ripe and sweet making it a very pleasurable wine even at this young stage, but it is sure to come together even more with another few years of bottle age. I have long been a fan of this estate and the 2004 Il Blu may very well be the finest wine yet from Brancaia. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019. Importer: William Grant and Sons, USA, New York, NY; Tel. (212) 246-1760

Consulting oenologist Carlo Ferrini oversees winemaking at Brancaia, which owns vineyards in the Chianti Classico and Morellino di Scansano zones. The 2004 Il Blu is a blend of 50% Sangiovese, 45% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 20 months in French oak barrels. Its gorgeous, silky texture opens to reveal layers of vibrant sweet fruit that caress the palate in a captivating display of elegance and finesse. The tannins are ripe and sweet making it a very pleasurable wine even at this young stage, but it is sure to come together even more with another few years of bottle age. I have long been a fan of this estate and the 2004 Il Blu may very well be the finest wine yet from Brancaia. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019. Jun 2007, www.robertparker.com