From the Badiola vineyard in the township of Radda in Chianti, Tuscany. The vineyard, at an average altitude of 500 meters, has a medium limestone texture with a rich backbone. It is planted with Sangiovese and Merlot, covering a total of 47 acres, all with southern exposure. It is planted at high density and cultivated Guyot style for the Sangiovese and spur cordon-training for the Merlot.

Rating

Wine Spectator 92 points (Aug 22 2012) Black cherry and currant flavors are accented by violet notes in this structured, muscular red. This shows density and grip, as the spice- and mineral-accented finish lingers. Best from 2014 through 2020.—B.S.

Wine maker notes

Grapes are hand harvested in September and are fermented for 7-14 days.

Technical notes

13% abv