2013 Mazzei Poggio Badiola Toscana IGT 750 ml

#3 on Wine Spectator’s List of Top 100 Values

Once the “Super Tuscan” moniker was coined, estates jumped on the marketing bandwagon, hoping to cash in on the extraordinary success of Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Solaia, and Tignanello. But as time wore on, it became evident to many of us that some of these high-priced blends weren’t so super after all.

Sure, nearly all of the so-called “Super Tuscans” are dark in color. Aromas are plush and forward. Highly “technical” on the mid-palate, featuring the floral delicacy of Sangiovese buttressed by broad-shouldered Cabernet Sauvignon, all of the blends crafted by top estates are delicious. But are they worth the asking price? In too many instances, no.

The week before Christmas, we contacted our Tuscan suppliers and told it like it is.

The market doesn’t lie. In 2016, we’ll be flexing our buying muscles in the Tuscan hills — starting today.

When Wine Spectator put the Mazzei family’s 2010 “Badiola” on its list of Top 100 Values of the Year — at #3! — that was the end of one of Tuscany's best-kept secrets. To those of us who have been collecting Fonterutoli Riservas over the years, that glowing review came as no surprise.

Drawn entirely from Vigneto Le Ripe in the prized commune of Radda in Chianti, the vineyard is perched between 1,476 and 1,673 feet in elevation, planted to tight spacing, and enjoying perfect southern exposure. Soils are a classic mix of clay and limestone, much explaining both the richness and vibrant “cut” of the finished wine.

The 2013 vintage was extraordinary at Fonterutoli, with cool temperatures allowing late-ripening Bordeaux varieties and Sangiovese to reach full maturity even as acids remained firm and tannins sturdy. The call to harvest Merlot came in mid-September, but picking wouldn’t be completed until the last week of the month, when the Cabernet Sauvignon and later-ripening parcels of Sangiovese were finally harvested.

One thing one never has to worry about with the Mazzeis is the precision of the winemaking. The 2013 “Badiola,” while not a “Super” Tuscan, is a gorgeous Tuscan blend, one that merits its $20/bottle release price. But this is WineAccess 2016, and given our membership’s now-massive buying power, we took our seats at the negotiation table loaded for bear.

The 2013 “Badiola” is a gorgeous Tuscan red. Deep, inky purple in hue, with plush aromas of black and red fruits, dark chocolate, and spice. Soft and pliant on the attack, with a voluptuous core of blackberry and raspberry preserves, finishing with surprising sturdiness and tension. Drink now (why not?) or lay down for 3-5 years in a cool cellar.

91 points from James Suckling, the longtime European bureau chief at Wine Spectator. $20 on release. $12.50 today — as WineAccess flexes its muscles in Tuscany. Shipping included on 6.