2012 Tenuta di Valgiano Colline Lucchesi DOC 750 ml

11 straight “3 Bicchieri” for Tuscan Bargain Red

In Italy, nothing in the world of gourmet food and wine comes close to rivaling the influence of the Rome-based publication Gambero Rosso. Founded in 1986 by the late Italian writer Stefano Bonilli, a pioneer of the Slow Food movement, the magazine issues a highly anticipated, once-a-year guide to the best Italian wines in a bright red booklet.

So when Gambero gushes praise of a wine year after year, it’s hard not to notice. This year, the highly-respected publication conferred high praise, yet again, on the 2012 Tenuta di Valgiano Colline Lucchesi Tuscan red blend, awarding the producer its ELEVENTH consecutive “Tre Bicchieri” (“Three Glasses”) award.

Collectors have long known that this is one of Italy’s best wines. Italian wine expert Antonio Galloni, founder of Vinous Media, awarded the 2012 Tenuta di Valgiano 95 points and called it the “finest wine I have tasted from Valgiano, without question.” Galloni’s adjectives trip over themselves: “beautifully resonant,” “generous in the glass,” “translucent in its ample beauty,” “appealing,” “radiant personality.” Galloni’s right to conclude that “All the elements fall into place effortlessly.”

But great effort DID go into this wine. Owners Moreno Petrini and Laura di Collobiano, gifted winemaker Saverio Petrilli, and a talented team dedicated to biodynamic farming principles have transformed this stunning 16th-century Italian estate into one of Tuscany’s most coveted gems.

This tiny property is situated in the northeast corner of Tuscany, in the Colline Lucchesi DOC, a region that in-the-know collectors have been eyeing for some time. Tenuta di Valgiano’s perfectly manicured vineyards are in foothills overlooking the Lucca Valley. Cooling breezes from the nearby Mediterranean Sea help temper the scorching effects of the high Tuscan summer sun. The vines are rooted in a unique mix of limestone and sandstone, eroded over millennia from the mountains.

The perfect combination of mineral-rich, well-draining soils and cooling breezes makes for ideal growing conditions: Sangiovese, Syrah, and Merlot grapes ripen at a slow, even pace, while vine roots struggle with the right amount of vigor to impart complex flavors.

The mild spring of 2012 led to one of the hotter, drier years on record in Tuscany. A relatively cool July ushered in a brief lull, but the Sirocco winds blowing up from Tunisia meant growers had to pay careful attention to sugar levels. Proximity to the sea allowed cooling breezes to keep acids in check, while Tenuta di Valgiano’s position in the steeper foothills of the Apennines yielded sturdy, ripe tannins.

The 2012 Tenuta di Valgiano is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Syrah, and 20% Merlot — three grapes that show both power and finesse. Aged in used French oak barrels with extremely little interference from grape to bottle, the wine is gorgeous ruby with garnet hues. A beautifully aromatic nose shows off the more feminine side of this wine, as dried red floral notes erupt into sweet spice. Building strength and momentum on the attack, a wave of juicy red cherries, blackberry, and plum fruit floods the palate, while underpinnings of black truffle, pepper, and smoke reveal a savory finish, tinged with radiant minerality and bolstered by supple tannin backbone.

At just $59.99 today, this 11-time “Tre Bicchieri” award winner is one of the finest Tuscan red bargains of the 2012 vintage. It’s not often that a wine this good and sporting a double-digit price tag comes along knocking out triple-digit priced neighbors. Compared to $73 on release, and quite a bit more for neighboring Tuscan heavyweights on Galloni’s Honor Roll. Only 120 bottles up for grabs, coming direct to your door from the Tuscan coast. Shipping included on 4.