2006 Antonio Sanguineti "Nessun Dorma" Super Tuscan, Tuscany, Italy

This ripe and juicy blend of sangiovese, merlot, and syrah puts other wines at three times the price from Tuscany to shame. The sangiovese sees no oak, so it remain the crisp backbone of the wine and the merlot gives it lush plum and blackberry notes, while the syrah is slightly smoky and imbued with velvety tannins. This just begs to be paired with steaks, tomatoes, lamb, roasts, and even hearty vegetarian dishes.

It is rare that we get our hands on seamlessly smooth modern Italian wines at this price. Only 2000 cases were produced, and the price will only be good for this week, so stock up.

Tasting Notes:
"Nessun Dorma" is the favorite aria of "Il Maestro" Antonio Sanguineti, and this wine is one of our favorite accessible, friendly blends. With vines carefully selected from all around Toscana, including sangiovese from Capraia e Limite (Montalbano), merlot from Gavorrano (Grosseto), and syrah from Suvereto (Livorno), the Maestro has made a true "Super Tuscan". The merlot is intensely floral and elegant, while the sangiovese is fresh and bright. The syrah adds depth and body, offering a bold expression of forest-floor truffle, ripe cherry and blackberry preserves. A harmonious, beautiful wine from one of Tuscany's most beloved wine personalities.

About Winemaker Antonio Sanguineti:
The first time you find yourself blazing along in the passenger seat of Antonio Sanguineti's car, you should steel yourself-either for a bolt of fear or for an adrenalin rush (or both) unparalleled in your lifetime. In a nation famous for its invisible speed limits and outrageous drivers, Antonio is truly one of the fastest. (To his credit, he's also one of the best.) Everywhere you go, locals know the flamboyant winemaker's car on sight: it's the only canary yellow Audi wagon in Tuscany, and to them, this blur of a vehicle is known simply as "la Banana Rapida".

The first time you try one of Sanguineti's wines, you'll realize how perfectly they match the man- bold, intelligent reds that simultaneously suggest control and grace. But his was not to an easy road. As happens sometimes in Italian families, there was a disagreement about what to do with the Sanguineti family's land. This happened while Antonio was still a young man and, in the end, it wound up being sold. Despite his love of wine, Antonio was left without a vineyard. As he recalls it, "I owned the knowledge, but not the land." But the accomplished young winemaker, dubbed ‘Il Maestro' by his colleagues, was not to be deterred. He parlayed his wine knowledge into consultant work, and now trades his expertise for the right to select the best grapes from two wonderful estates. Without the ongoing overhead of a vineyard, Antonio is able to produce truly outstanding wines for a modest price.

Vineyards: The towns of Capraia e Limite, Gavorrano & Suvereto. 2.5 hectares (Capria e Limite), 1.5 hectares (Gavorrano), 1.2 hectares (Suvereto).

Blend: 50% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot, 20% Syrah.

Alcohol: 13% by volume.

Total Production: 2,000 cases.