Winery Tasting Notes: “Tenuta Frescobaldi 2012 is purplish with ruby-red highlights. The intense and persistent nose opens with notes of blueberry and cherry. Fl oral notes of rose follow, and spicy scents of black pepper, chocolate and jus de viande. The tannin texture is very dense; generous body. The finish is dominated by very, but not overly, ripe fruit and sustained by a vivacious vein of acidity.” James Suckling awarded this wine 90 points.
Blend: 50% cabernet sauvignon; 30% merlot; 10% cabernet franc; 10% sangiovese
Alcohol Level: 13%
Cases Produced: Not published
Winemaker: Lamberto Frescobaldi (Click here to view a video of Mr. Frescobaldi describing the 2009 vintage of this wine. . .very illuminating.)
Maturity: This is a young wine–in Italian terms, meant to be drunk now, but based on its heritage and historic vineyard, it will no doubt be wonderful through at least 2021.
Pairings: Here’s what the winery recommends: “Ideal with game such as hare and boar, with roasted or sautéed beef, roast of pork, as well as with full-flavored cheeses.” Just in case you didn’t pick up any hare or boar at the butcher shop this week, this wine will pair nicely with roasted chicken, a nice veal chop or thick-cut port chop. Pillows of pasta plumped with cheese would be a willing partner as well.
Staff Review: I was excited to take home a bottle of this wine because I’ll be headed to Italy to explore Tuscany this fall with a group of Carpe Vino travelers. We’ll be spending 10 days shuttling between winery estates, restaurants and a litany of cultural treasures. While we’re still finalizing details of the agenda, I’m really hoping we can make it to Frescobaldi, a winemaking family that has been in continuous operation for some 700 years, consuming 30+ generations of labor and love.
Frescobaldi is composed of six distinct vineyards, with a combined area that makes it the largest vineyard operator in Tuscany. Each estate is unique and would make a great place to visit. . .to many opportunities, too little time.
I found this wine to be eminently approachable. . .I love blends, and this one offers a subtle approach to fruit with tannins the winemaker describes as thick and polished. Indeed. I’ll be having it again soon, but it would be amazing to enjoy a glass where it was born.