2012 Soldera (Az. Agr. Case Basse) Sangiovese Toscana IGT

100% Sangiovese. A similar year to 2011 with cool, wet, but much shorter bloom-to-véraison phase, and a hot, dry véraison-to-harvest phase. Harvested 17 September. As with 2011, intense selection, spontaneous fermentation, no temperature control, made in truncated cone-shaped Slavonian oak vats. Spontaneous malo which took four weeks to complete. Aged for 50 months in Slavonian oak barrels. Bottled without filtering or fining. At bottling, the wine contained 54 mg/l of total SO2 (of which 19 mg/L as free SO2), RS 0 g/l. Total production of 2012 is just 3,600 bottles. Deeper ruby than the 2011. Rich and ripe. Almost gamey. Masses of sweetness and heat. Great polish. Slightly raw but very promising. Really perfumed and pungent. Very long. Still chewy. (JR)

Silky and aromatic with gorgeous balance, the 2009 Toscana Sangiovese is such a sexy wine. It’s very much a mid-weight Sangiovese, without the structure or driving intensity of the best years. However, that structure gives the 2009 a Pinot Noir-like feel that is pure seduction. Floral accents and soft red-toned fruit caress the palate. More importantly, the 2009 is developing gracefully. At 16 years of age, it is in a gorgeous spot for enjoying now.