Wine Reviews

Warm earth greets the nose at first, then gives way to bing cherries, orange zest, licorice candy and just a momentary hint of vanilla. Cherries that still have snap in their skin and bitter orange jam on the palate, then dark chocolate and spices, before the metallic tang of coffee corrected by Sambuca on the finish. Tannins and acid are like perfect valets—almost invisible but immediately there when called upon.

The nose intertwines delicately floral aromas with bright, tart fruit and a dense, savory earthiness. The palate is decisively fruit-forward, but undertones of coffee and dark chocolate maintain a feeling of versatility. A current of acid flows down a cobblestone path of polished, round tannins, before eventually pooling into a warm, luxurious finish

Pouring forth from a heavy glass bottle, the Tenuta Sette Ponti 2019 Valdarno di Sopra Vigna dell’Impero is 100% Sangiovese aged in large oak barrels for 24 months before going into bottle for 12 months. Fruit comes from a three-hectare vineyard that is entirely terraced by hand and surrounded by forests. The wine shows medium-dark concentration with aromas of dark cherry, dried herb and earth. You also get toasted spice, and ultimately, this vintage is ready to drink now (and for not that much longer) with an open-knit, immediate personality.

This trebbiano shows pretty dried pears and apples with some white pepper and salt. Chamomile. Full and layered with some phenolics and dried earth. Lots going on. Also a drop of malvasia.

Vibrant, with cherry, plum, earth, tobacco and wild herb aromas and flavors, this red also reveals a smoky note. Firms up nicely, all the while remaining fresh and complex, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit, earth and herbs. Sangiovese. Drink now through 2033.