My Blog: 12 Most Collectible Tuscan Wines
August 1st, 2011
It’s been a little more than 10 years since I last ranked the best wines of Italy for a cover story in The Wine Spectator. So, I thought it was time to see how things have changed – at least in Tuscany. A lot has happened in the last decade in viticulture and winemaking in Toscana. Some of the best producers barely even made wine in 2001, and some of the best wines a decade ago have been eclipsed by others.
I put together my list of the 12 best Tuscan wines for a special report this month on www.jamessuckling.com. This was based on my more than three decades of tasting Italian wines, as well as a general perception in the global market for Italian wines.
Of course, the list is subjective, but I have an idea of what is sold in top restaurants and wine stores in the world, from Milan to London to New York to Los Angeles to Hong Kong, and finally Moscow. I also know many top wine collectors, and I understand what Tuscan wines they buy and drink.
Film director James Orr and I were in Tuscany in June and visited all the producers who make the wines on my list. I walked the vineyards, visited the wineries, interviewed the owners and winemakers, and tasted the current releases of the wine in bottle.
This is all on video this month. Each winery has two videos. The first video covers the vineyard and winery and why the wine is special. The second includes a tasting of the wine with the owner or winemaker as well as a written tasting note of the current wine on the market.
Can you guess the wines? And in what order I have listed them?
I will give you a clue. My top dozen Tuscan wines more than a decade ago were in the following order:
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Toscana Masseto
Antinori Toscana Solaia
Argiano Solengo
Castello dei Rampolla Toscana VIgna d’Alceo
Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia
Avignonesi Toscana Vin Santo
Tua Rita Toscana Redigaffi
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri Ornellaia
Castello dei Rampolla Toscana Sammarco
Try posting your list of the 12 most collectible Tuscan wines in the comments section below.
Comments
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SubscribeNebbhead9
August 1, 2011
James,
Won't try to guess..... but IMHO Masseto has to be #1 and Altesino's Montosoli may have dropped off the list. I think the biggest change will be more Brunello on the list. Looking forward to the videos & analysis.
August 1, 2011
Just some quick thoughts, I will dump my twelve picks here and then put in the order later:
- Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto
- Tenuta di Biserno Lodovico
- Fontodi Flaccianello
- Tua Rita Redigaffi
- Soldera Case Basse
- Poggio di Sotto Riserva
- Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Ornellaia
- Le Macchiole Messorio
- Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
- D'Alessandro Cortona Syrah Migiara
- Biondi Santi Brunello Riserva
- Castello dei Rampello d'Alceo
In my view the best of the best and all wines that can age beautifully and for the long long term, which makes them collectible.
tonyw
August 1, 2011
Hi James
I guess your list will contain a Syrah from Cortona, Masseto, Testamatta,Galatrona,Flaccianello,Solaia,Messorio,Brunelli from Cas. Di Neri, Valdicava then on to Ornellaia,Redigaffi, and finally Vigna d'Alceo.
My list would omit the Syrah and replace it with Tenuta Di Trinoro.
Regards
Tony
James Suckling
August 1, 2011
Hmmm? :-)
tonyw
August 1, 2011
Hi James
Hmmm! Well.... if I got that close my I suggest a prize for the winner.
Regards
Tony
vininfo
August 1, 2011
How about Tignanello
James Suckling
August 1, 2011
How about a bottle of One Wine One World red for the winner?
nerland
August 1, 2011
Mine are as follows:
Masseto
Ornellaia
Sassicaia
Solaia
Redigaffi
Solengo
BWebster
August 1, 2011
The only one that I do not have is the Redigaffi. All of the others that I have are 1997.
fischertrezza
August 2, 2011
Hi James,
my List:
Flaccianello- Fontodi
Brunello Tenuta Nuova- Casanova di Neri
Brunello Cerretalto- Casanova di Neri
Brunello Pianrosso- Ciacci Piccolomini
Sezzana, La Spinetta
Saffredi- Le Pupille
Vigna d'Alceo
Masetto
Percarlo
Sassicaia only the 1985
BWebster
August 2, 2011
I forgot to add two more favorites - Percarlo and Tenuta di Trinoro.Tenuta is made from French grapes and made in the French style. Try it if you can find it. Andrea Franchetti is an interesting person to know.
chrwu
August 2, 2011
I think apart from the more well known tuscans, Castello del Terriccio, Lupicaia and Il Carnasciale, Caberlot will do q well from here.
mscott
August 2, 2011
Jumping on late here.
My list:
Antinori Solaia
Antinori Tignanello
Tenimenti Luigi d'alessandro
Castello dei Rampolla Toscana Sammarco Migliara
Petrolo Galatrona
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri Ornellaia
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto
Bibi Graetz Testmatta
Valdicava Madonna del Piano Riserva
Le Macchiole Messorio
Tua Rita Toscana Redigaffi
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia Toscana Masseto
carlomaggi
August 3, 2011
Dear James ,
this is my selection in order of historical emphasis and historical interest of market for Tuscany FRW :
Sassicaia
Tignanello
Solaia
Pergole Torte
Brunello Case Basse
Ornellaia
Masseto
Sammarco
Brunello Cerbaiona
Percarlo
Brunello Pianrosso Ciacci
Redigaffi
Best regards
Carlo Maggi
Enoteca La Loggia
mattpaul
August 3, 2011
Just because they are collectible doesn't mean they are the best :)
Do you have another list for the best?
Matt Paul
nilsmehr
August 3, 2011
Hi James
I think there should be two lists, one for mainly Sangiovese based wines and one for "international" grapes.
cama1959
August 5, 2011
This is not in order
Masseto
Ornelaia
Solaia
Redigaffi
Vigna d'alceo
Avignonesi Desiderio
Sassicaia
Galatrona
Camartina
Pian Delle Vigne ( Antinori ) I know , I know but I just love this Brunello
Il Poggione Brunello
Flacianello
pitbeat
August 5, 2011
this my list, only small producers and "green wine" means real wine...
not marketing and corporation wines, like everyone posting here:
Podere le Bonce
Massa Vecchia
Fattoria di Bacchereto "TERRE A MANO"
Azienda agricola il PARADISO DI MANFREDI
Azienda agricola LA BUSATTINA
Azienda agricola Stefano Amerighi
cheers
Raffaele
frafac
August 6, 2011
Hi everyone, this is my best list:
Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
Tenuta Ornellaia Masseto
Antinori Solaia
Tua Rita Redigaffi
Le Macchiole Messorio
Bibi Graetz Testamatta
Soldera Case Basse
Biondi Santi Brunello Riserva
Salvioni Brunello
Le Macchiole Paleo
Colle Massari Grattamacco
Tenuta di Trinoro
Regards
Francesco (vinpiu.com)
Maxim
August 7, 2011
Fantastic wines your dozen...
James, what do you think about
the Bolgheri of Michele Satta...?
I Castagni for example...
Thanks a lot
Massimo
James Suckling
August 7, 2011
The quality of Sata is up and down, but I am tasting recent vintages and they seem to be up now. I still have a few more to taste. So let you know.
Jacool
August 7, 2011
Solaia
Ornellaia
Masseto
Tignanello
Guado al Tasso
Argentiera
Sassicaia
Luce
Messorio
Flaccianello
Brunello Vigna del Fiore Barbi
Cepparello