Carmignano is sometimes referred to as the original 'Super Tuscan', as it is the first region to legally required Bordeaux grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon) in the blend.  This is a pretty wine with aromas of black cherry, vanilla, and gentle floral notes.  Elegant with a long finish and medium body.

 

This wine is made by Stefano Chioccioli, one of Tuscany's great wine consultants who also works with such great wines as Fanti in Brunello and i Gusti e Zanza in Pisa.  His wines always show great balance and excellent sense of place (aka Terroir).

2001 in Brunello is a very good vintage, possibly close in quality to the vaunted 1997. Conti Costanti was the first Montalcino producer to produce a 100% Sangiovese from the local clone, known today as Sangiovese Grosso, but at one time known as Brunello.

 

This big, ripe Sangiovese has aromas of blackberry, dark ripe cherry with notes of both minerals and a touch of flowers. The palate is concentrated and deep with dense, sweet fruits and ripe tannins to balance the alcohol and big fruits.

Tignanello is one of Italy's first 'super tuscans'.  Meaning it is a wine that abandoned the Italian wine heirachy and DOCG designation of Chianti and Chianti Classico in order to produce a higher quality wine using 'illegal' (at the time) grapes in the blend.  The laws have since changed and now embrace those illegal grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and even Syrah.

This vintage is a blend of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc - the blend in pretty consistant from vintage to vintage.  Today this wine could actually be labeled as a Chianti Classico DOCG, but obviously the name and reputation of Tignanillo does not need the added bonus of DOCG or Chianti Classico.

Look for typical Tuscan Sangiovese notes and aromas of tobacco, dark cherry along with Cabernet notes like blackberry and blackcurrants.  The palate is full-bodied, with fine, fruit tannins a touch of tar and tobacco lingering in a long finish.