Tuscany: The Best of 2005 and 2006

by Antonio Galloni

Tuscany is a region of great contrasts that at its best is capable of producing an extraordinary range of wines. A few years ago I would have thought it unthinkable, but the simple fact is that many of the finest Tuscan wines are being made in Chianti Classico. The region once so maligned (and rightly so) for its mediocre, weedy, acidic wines is today home to some of Italy’s most exciting bottlings. Chianti Classico really seems to have come of age. Perhaps that shouldn’t be too surprising, as this is where much of the revolution in modern-day Tuscan oenology began, back in the early 1980s. Many of the vineyards which were re-planted during that era are now beginning to express the full range of their potential. Winemakers have also arrived at a level of experience that allows them to make the best of their raw materials. Maremma is a much younger region but its producers are following a similar trajectory in searching for elegance to complement the richness and opulence that the wines from these terroirs are blessed with by nature. I also tasted a number of exciting wines from the smaller appellations of Carmignano and Montepulciano, in addition to a few wines from Montalcino I missed in my report in my Brunello article.