Join us every Friday for a different themed wine flight 4 - 8pm. $16 for a flight of 5 wines with 3 additional for purchase.
Tuscany
In ancient times, the area of Tuscany and its environs were part of the Etruscan empire. The Etruscans were the first vintners to work the land. They trained their grapevines with natural, high-trellis supports like fig, olive, and nut trees. Eventually, the area was taken over by the Romans.
During the Medieval period, wine was a major commodity in Tuscany. Wine sales were documented as early as 1079 in association with the Mercato Vecchio in Florence. Local wine merchants formed a guild in 1282 in an attempt to promote and regulate their trade. Many of the Tuscan wines we know today—Chianti, Brunello, Trebbiano, and Vernaccia—can be traced back to the 14th century.
From the time of the post-World War II reconstruction through the 1970s and ‘80s, Tuscan wine production focused largely on quantity over quality. It was also during this period that many of the region’s large estates, which had been historically owned by local nobility, were sold to non-Tuscans. But the wine region went through a rebirth in the 1970s and ‘80s, which gave way to the premium quality regional wines that are world-renowned today. Meanwhile, the torch for Tuscan viticulture is being carried by the diverse mix of Tuscan, Italian, and foreign winemakers that have taken over the old estates—and introduced new ones.
Dei 2024 Toscana Bianco Martiena $20 - Dei Martiena is a rare white wine produced from Chardonnay, Malvasia, Grechetto, and Sauvignon Blanc. Dei Martiena offers fresh, vitalizing aromatics: soft scents of apple, yellow plum and wild flowers delight the nose. In the mouth it refreshes the palate and enlivens the senses with a beautiful combination of gentle fruit, bright acidity, and subtle minerality.
Sociale Chianti Classico 2024 $15 - 95% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot. The vineyards are trained using the spurred cordon method, have an average age of 12 years, and are farmed organically. The pebbly, mineral-rich, south-east facing lands enjoy an ideal micro-climate that gives the Sangiovese grapes their lively fruitiness.
Castello di Farnetella 2023 Chianti Colli Senesi $21 - Tuscan red from Castello di Farnetella, an estate owned since 1981 by the Poggiali family of Felsina fame. It sits in the Colli Senesi hills southeast of Chianti Classico, near Montalcino and Montepulciano, farmed organically.
La Fortuna 2023 Rosso Toscano “Fortunello" Montalcino $22 - This is 100% Sangiovese and spent a few months in oak. The nose is classic, ripe cherries and strawberries with a hint of cocoa powder. On the palate of this full-bodied wine, you will find the fruit described above, plus a touch of minerals and soft tannins, which gives this wine a very lush feel to the palate and an incredibly long finish.
Piaggia IGT Toscana “Pietranera” 2023 Carmignano $27 - Carmignano wine is a historic red wine from a small Tuscany region west of Florence. It holds DOCG status and is uniquely required by law to blend 10% to 20% Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc with at least 50% Sangiovese, making it a centuries-old precursor to modern Super Tuscans.
The 2023 Piaggia Pietranera Toscana IGT is a vibrant expression of Sangiovese blended with a touch of Cabernet, grown in the clay and galestro soils of Poggio a Caiano. It pours a deep, intense ruby red and opens aromatically with ripe cherries and Marasca cherries, layered with balsamic hints, sweet spices, thyme, and a whisper of cocoa.
Avignonesi IGT Toscana Bianco “Dadi” 2024 $30 - Intense golden yellow in colour. On the nose, it offers freshness and elegance, opening with notes of white peach, pineapple, and delicate hints of lemon zest. On the palate, its lively freshness fills the mouth and accompanies the entire tasting experience. The body is full and well-structured, supported by a light yet noticeable tannin. 30% Trebbiano, 29,6% grechetto, 20,7% petit manseng and 19,7% vermentino.
Agostina Pieri 2024 Rosso di Montalcino $31 - The Pieri Rosso seeks for the best balance between tradition and modernity. There’s always precocious Sangiovese fruit, but it is coupled with the modest color and substantial texture of the best traditional wines. Vibrant red and black fruits. Dark cherry with earth and firm tannin.
Castell'In Villa Chianti Classico 2020 $43 - This is always one of my favorite Chiantis. From a medieval village just north of Castelnuovo Berardenga, this traditionalist, longer élévage take on Chianti Classico is the way wines from the appellation should taste! Dusty, grippy tannins frame a palate full of red fruit, woody herbs, & leather.
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