Bruni Poggio d'Elsa Cabernet Sangiovese

Winemaker Marco Bruni and his siblings named this “Super Tuscan” red for their mom, Elsa – could it be anything other than fantastic? From Tuscany’s Maremma region, a slice of western Tuscany that gets all of the brilliant “Tuscan sun” that makes Chianti so famous plus cooling breezes from the nearby sea. It’s sometimes called the “California of Italy” because while Sangiovese (the main grape of Chianti and Brunello) is great here, so is Napa Valley’s Cabernet Sauvignon. Here, the Bruni’s blend equal parts Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon and age about 30% of the wine in French oak casks.

A sizzling value in super-Tuscan red blends of 50% Sangiovese – for Italian zest and red fruit – and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon – for richness and dark currant fruit – raised 70% in tank and 30% in large oak cask for spice. It’s loaded with black cherry, plum, and black currant fruit aromas and flavors with a hint of cedar and tobacco for complexity. Juicy like Chianti, rich Cabernet Sauvignon. Yum!