The nose is rich of plums and dark cherries. Inviting, but devoid of any complexity, a feature that I would expect from a 10 years old Bordeaux. In the mouth and in the finish not much, beside a hint to the fruits perceived on the nose, the drying sensation of the tannins and some burning from the 14.5% alcohol. Overall a fine wine, but not much to enjoy for the 55 CHF I paid four years ago at Chiodi Ascona.
Tenuta Argentiera is located in the Maremma, on the Tuscan coast, and it produces its wines under the Bolgheri Superiore DOC, a relatively young yet prestigious Italian appellation. In fact, the viticultural story of the Bolgheri region only started in 1978. That year the 1972 vintage of a (back then) largely unknown wine called Sassicaia beat a number of top Bordeaux wines in a blind tasting arranged by Decanter Magazine.
A few years earlier, the region’s gravel’s rich ground, reminiscent of vineyards in the Graves and the Haut-Médoc, inspired the French wine loving Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta to plant his Tenuta San Guido estate with Bordeaux varieties, instead of the Tuscan Sangiovese.
Other producers followed suit and nowadays Bolgheri is known for blended red wines, usually based on the Bordeaux grape varieties, and called Super Tuscan.
To make this specific wine the grapes come from the estate’s best vineyards of Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). It is a wine that matures for 18 months in French oak barrels, half of which are new.
This bottle was part of the 2009 vintage bottles I collected, 2009 being the year my son was born. I have some (real) Bordeaux wines that I’m planning to drink with him in another 10 years. I didn’t trust that this Tuscan version of a Bordeaux would last that long and therefore decided to drink it now. I feel it has been a wise decision.
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Type: Red
Vintage: 2009
Producer: Tenuta Argentiera
Price range: Extra (50-100 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5