2018 Tenimenti Capanne Ricci Ricciolo Toscana IGT 750 ml

The 92-point 2018 Tenimenti Ricci Ricciolo Toscana was one of those unlikely miracles: an unsolicited sample that had us reeling from the moment we popped the cork. With its juicy notes of cherry and plum layered with delicate lavender and spice, this superb Super Tuscan is proof that, although we work hard to find the best wines in the world, sometimes they literally show up on our doorstep. 

We grabbed the bottle on the way out the door to a wine industry holiday party—one with a lineup of grower champagnes, rare Burgundy, and powerhouse Bordeaux that rivaled the best restaurant wine lists—and when the prime rib hit the table we knew it was now or never for our mysterious Tuscan red. 

With no expectations whatsoever we poured a few glasses—which showed a deep ruby core, pronounced aromas of rose petal, and mouthwatering red fruit buttressed by velvety tannins. The crowd was stunned. Since we were unfamiliar with Tenimenti Ricci, we couldn’t take credit. But we definitely took notice. 

Back at home that evening we scoured the web to find the importer. From the quality of the wine we assumed the price would be in the neighborhood of $50 per bottle, and we shed a small tear of joy when we discovered the SRP was actually $30. That’s Tuscany for you. 

But the best news is, because we were the first ones in the country to lock in an allocation from this small family producer in Montalcino, we were able to negotiate an even better price for Wine Access members. This is an exclusive offer and one of the best values from Tuscany, so don’t miss it. 

In the medieval village of Sant’Angelo in Colle, about five miles south of Montalcino, there is a post office, two restaurants, and a small grocery store. Among the village’s 200 inhabitants are siblings Ferruccio and Ida Ricci, owners of Tenimenti Ricci. Here they tend 24 acres together, mostly planted to Sangiovese, with a few small parcels of international varieties. 

The Riccis’ generous Ricciolo Toscana is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Syrah grown on marl soil, then harvested and sorted by hand. In his 92-point review James Suckling called it a “vivid red” with a “flavorful finish.” You can almost taste the Tuscan sunshine in the fresh raspberry and cherry fruit, while the ripe, chewy tannins seem to mirror the rustic village of Sant’Angelo in Colle itself. 

Even in the world of Super Tuscans where good values abound, this stands out from the pack. At $23.00 per bottle, the 2018 Ricciolo Toscana overdelivers by miles on its humble price tag. It stood up against far more expensive bottles at our holiday party and was magical alongside the prime rib. We’re buying it by the case and highly recommend you do the same.