Tuscan Wines: an Archipelago of Denominations

The superstars of the reds are Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Nobile di Montepulciano and Super Tuscans: some of the most famous wines of the world.

Is Brunello di Montalcino in Tuscany?

Brunello di Montalcino is (made from Sangiovese grapes) grown in the commune of Montalcino, in the province of Siena, Tuscany.

What constitutes a Super Tuscan?

“Super Tuscan” is a term used to describe red wines from Tuscany that may include non-indigenous grapes, particularly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. The creation of super Tuscan wines resulted from the frustration winemakers had towards a slow bureaucracy in changing Italy's wine law during the 1970s.

What type of wine is Brunello di Montalcino?

Brunello di Montalcino is a wine made with 100% Sangiovese with Italy's highest DOCG classification. Sangiovese is the wine that most wine critics cite to be the best in all of Italy. Whether or not it is the best is entirely up to you, but it's one of those wines to know and perhaps try… at least once in your life.

What is the difference between a Tuscan and a Super Tuscan?

Super Tuscan wines vary in style, but the influence of Bordeaux is apparent in their use of new oak barrels and French grapes like cabernet sauvignon and merlot in addition to sangiovese, the classic grape of Tuscany.

Tasting Sangiovese: Chianti vs Brunello and What's "Super Tuscan" wine? Wine #39 of 52

Is Chianti a Super Tuscan?

Chianti has to be made from around at least 80 percent Sangiovese, whereas Super Tuscans can be made from any of the international varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc – as well as Sangiovese in any proportion. Occasionally white Super Tuscans are also made.

Is Barolo a Super Tuscan?

For Italy, the must-haves include top Super Tuscans (Sassicaia, Ornellaia) and Barolos (Giacomo Conterno), and the most well-known producers, like Italy's Gaja, which is well known for Barbarescos and Barolos.

Is Brunello a Chianti?

Both wines are made from variations of the Sangiovese grape. In Chianti, the grape varietal used to produce wines is Sangiovese Piccolo. In Brunello di Montalcino, the grape varietal used to produce wines is Sangiovese Grosso, which is commonly known as Brunello.

What is Brunello most similar to?

Let's start with how the two wines are similar: Both Brunellos and Cabernet Sauvignons are rich, full-bodied red wines. Brunello is the name of a wine that comes from the Montalcino region in Italy's Tuscany; by law, Brunellos are made using 100 percent Sangiovese grapes.

How would you describe Brunello wine?

Compared to other Sangiovese wines, Brunello offers a fleshy texture with primary flavors of blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry, chocolate, leather and violets. Brunello wines usually have medium-to-high tannins, high acidity, high alcohol and a medium body.

Is Sangiovese a Super Tuscan?

His Testamatta is 100% Sangiovese, and his Coloré is a blend of Sangiovese Canaiolo and Colorino. “My two wines were considered to fall within the super Tuscan framework, yet they break the first rule of super Tuscans,” he says. “They were, and are, 100% Tuscan grapes.”

How many Super Tuscans are there?

Chianti laws have since changed in an effort to attract the three Super Tuscans from the Classico zone – Tignanello, Cepparello and Flaccianello – back into the appellation, resulting in adjustments to the blend requirements and eventually banning white grapes completely in 2006.

Is Toscana IGT a Super Tuscan?

In 1992, Italy created a separate classification for the Super Tuscan wines called Toscana IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica.)

What region of Italy is Brunello?

Brunello di Montalcino (Brunello for short) is a red wine from the Montalcino wine region, central Italy. It takes its name from the diminutive form of Bruno, the Italian word for “brown,” and the town of Montalcino, which is located in the province of Siena.

Is Brunello the best Italian wine?

If you're looking for a knockout Italian wine, you can't do much better than Brunello. Brunello di Montalcino is one of Italy's most revered wines, and arguably represents the apex of what the Sangiovese grape is capable of.

What is the difference between Barolo and Brunello?

Barolo is produced solely from the Nebbiolo grape, whereas Brunello is made from 100-percent Sangiovese. The Nebbiolo grapes that go into Barolo produce a lighter-looking wine which is nevertheless full-bodied and high in both tannin and acidity. Brunello also has high acidity, but contains lower levels of tannin.

What is the king of Italian wines?

In the pantheon of great wine regions of the world, the Italian wine Barolo sits alongside French Champagne, Burgundy, and costly Bordeaux. This “king of wines” is known for its forceful tannins and for its intriguing and contrasting aromas of both tar and rose.

How would you describe Brunello di Montalcino?

Brunello di Montalcino is a moderate tannin, age-worthy red wine made in Central Italy. Taste: Preserved sour cherry, dried oregano, aged balsamic, red pepper flake, brick, and, with age, fig, sweet tobacco, espresso, and leather.

What is difference between Chianti and Brunello?

A big difference between the two wines is the blend. Chianti Classico allows a blend of up to 10% of other grape varietals besides Sangiovese, while Brunello's strict rules require it to be made with 100% Sangiovese grapes .

Is Sangiovese the same as Brunello?

Brunello was once thought to be a distinct grape variety, but it is actually a clone of the popular Italian grape sangiovese. Brunello, which was also granted DOCG status in 1980, must be made from 100 percent sangiovese grapes.

What makes Brunello di Montalcino?

Brunello di Montalcino Wine Tasting - Poggio Rubino Wines

Brunello di Montalcino is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes and undergoes an extended maceration to ensure the right color and aromas.

Is Sangiovese the same as Chianti?

The main grape in both appellations is Sangiovese. In Chianti Classico, the wine must be made from at least 80 percent Sangiovese grapes. In Chianti, only 70 percent needs to be Sangiovese. And while Chianti Classico only allows red grapes, Chianti allows up to 10 percent white grape varieties.

Should Brunello be decanted?

Before a bottle of Brunello can be drunk it is best to be decanted using a decanter. A decanter is a glass jug that is wider at the bottom than at the top. The wide bottom ensures that a large part of the wine is in direct contact with the air.

Does Brunello go with pizza?

Not recommended because the meat tends to taste slighting bitter and carbonized at times and is therefore not well suited to the velvety feel of a Brunello. In this case, a Rosso di Montalcino is to be preferred. With pizza, unless the topping includes a particularly intense and lingering ingredient.

Was 2015 or 2016 a better year for Brunello?

The 2016 vintage marks the second great year in a row for Brunello di Montalcino following the sensational 2015, which is currently on the market. “These are wines for your cellar,” said Lamberto Frescobaldi, the head of the Florentine wine family that owns Castelgiocondo, a solid Brunello di Montalcino estate.