Exploring the Tuscan CoastThe Tuscan coast
excels with rich, ample reds. With careful selection, readers&nbsp;will find plenty of gorgeous wines in
both the 2011 and 2012 vintages.A long strip of land that runs approximately 150 miles (250
kilometers) from south to north, the Tuscan coast, also known as Maremma, is
not easy to grasp. The region starts just above Rome and runs all the way up to
Pisa. Sangiovese excels in the province of Grosseto, especially in and around
the Morellino di Scansano appellation, where it is often blended with
international grapes. When done well, Morellino is one of the very best
budget-friendly wines in Italy.Further north, starting around Suvereto and going up to
Livorno, the climate and terrains turn much more favorable to international varieties.
In recent years, Cabernet Franc has become the darling grape as an increasing number
of producers have come to realize just how magical these coastal sites can be
for Franc. There are only a few places in the world where Cabernet Franc can be
utterly profound. Maremma is one of them&nbsp;<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1411143303852-LeMacchiole.jpg">Cabernet Franc at Le
Macchiole, BolgheriGiven the sheer diversity of the area, it is hard, if not
virtually impossible, to make general, broad assessments about vintages. Unlike
Montalcino or Chianti Classico, the Tuscan coast does not have historic appellations
that release their wines around the same time. Perhaps more importantly,
though, Maremma is a relatively young viticultural region, which means that quality
is driven by each estate’s pursuit of excellence and ambition rather than more
global vintage-specific characteristics. Ultimately, understanding the Tuscan
coast comes down to getting a good sense of the top producers first, and then
drilling down from there.The 2011 and 2012
VintagesMaremma is generally known for its warm and dry climate.
Even here, though, there are differences. Suvereto is one of the hottest
regions within Maremma and tends to produce big, powerful wines, while
Bolgheri, which is north and closer to the ocean, often sees more balanced
weather.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1411143285054-Ornellaia2011s.jpg">Tasting the 2011s at Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, BolgheriAs it was throughout Tuscany, 2011 was a precocious year
marked by unusually warm and dry conditions. In Maremma, the 2011s are often
big, voluptuous wines with no hard edges and tons of concentration. The best
wines are rich, textured and incredibly welcoming. At times, though, the 2011s
can feel heavy and alcoholic.The 2012s are much more variable. In the northern reaches of
Maremma the wines offer plenty of richness along with better balance than the
2011s. Although 2012 was also a warm year, temperatures were cooler than normal
in July and August, while September brought with it the diurnal shifts that are
so essential in preserving color, aromatics and overall freshness. Although
most of the top wines haven’t been released yet, the 2012s I have tasted from
barrel and bottle are hugely promising. The best wines are nothing short of exceptional.
&nbsp;<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1411246383467-TenutaSG+-+ARTICLE.png">The barrel room at
Tenuta San Guido, BolgheriFurther south, quality is less consistent. I tasted a few
2012s, especially in and around Scansano, that lack depth. Ultimately,
selection is going to be key in 2012. It will be very interesting to see what
the future brings as the region’s top bottlings hit the market next year.



















































-- Antonio Galloni

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