September Theme Auction: Tuscany
By Patrick Qureshi, WSET2
What a selection! If you’re a fan of wines from Tuscany, it’s hard not to be excited these days, and surely many are counting down to Thursday’s theme auction.
A truly impressive number of outstanding wines have come up for sale at this year’s Tuscany theme auction, with Italian treasures available in every price range and format.
Below, I’ve gathered some of the many highlights from the auction, and I’m also sharing my own personal favorites from the selection.
Super Tuscans
Super Tuscans are Tuscany in its most modern form, where centuries of tradition meet courage and innovation. Here, the old rules are broken, and the result is some of Italy’s very finest wines.
Sangiovese is often joined by international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and together they create wines with both power and finesse.
Here, you experience the style of Bolgheri and the coast, where the sun and craftsmanship truly come into their own.
The selection is extensive, but here you’ll get an overview of some of the biggest producers featured in the theme auction.
Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
Antinori Solaia
Antinori Tignanello
OWC & OPC
If you’re looking for full cases of Tuscan wines, there are several exciting buying opportunities.
Odd objects
Everyone loves wine in fun formats, and the large bottles in particular really make an impression when they hit the table.
Personal recommendations
Here I’m sharing my own favorites from this fantastic selection. A difficult task, with so many exciting wines for sale. These are the wines I think are particularly interesting to take a closer look at.
Antinori Solaia 1982
Hold on tight. It’s an extraordinary rarity to see Solaia itself in the rare 1982 vintage. There are many opinions about which of the Super Tuscans is the greatest, but Solaia is certainly one of the most qualified candidates. A wine that always impresses, and one that effortlessly conquers the highest peaks of the wine world when given age. Solaia 1982 would be a major flex in any wine collection or at a tasting.
Petrolo Galatrona 2008
A wine nicknamed “Tuscany’s Petrus.” Whether the nickname is justified, I can’t say, but Galatrona, made from 100% Merlot, is definitely a wine you should taste. The 2008 vintage in Tuscany is truly interesting, and personally I’ve had some of my best Tuscany wine experiences from this vintage.
Tenuta Luce
Tenuta Luce produces both Brunello and Bordeaux blends, and the quality is always top-notch. The wines have tremendous aging potential, and I especially recommend tasting them with some age. At the same time, Luce is priced below the more famous Super Tuscans, which makes these wines very good buys.
Poggio di Sotto
When Poggio di Sotto appears for sale on the marketplace, it’s always hard to keep scrolling. It’s top-level Brunello in a truly beautiful style, where the wine almost takes on a Burgundian expression. Once you’ve tasted Poggio di Sotto, it’s hard not to become a fan, and at the theme auction there are several exciting vintages available. Highly recommended.
Soldera Case Basse
Since we’re talking about a Burgundian expression, we can’t leave out this beast of a wine. Soldera is so different from everything else, and in fact difficult to describe. One thing is certain, though: it will undoubtedly impress anyone you choose to serve it to.
Argiano Suolo
Perhaps I should keep this recommendation to myself, because I love Suolo! Unfortunately, this IGT wine is no longer produced, and Argiano now uses the fruit to create the Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Suolo wine instead. That means there aren’t many of these bottles left, so you’ll want to act when you spot the distinctive red label on the marketplace.
Masseto 2010
Masseto is 100% Merlot and one of Tuscany’s most iconic wines. A luxury wine created from a tiny parcel next to the Ornellaia estate. If your collection deserves a diamond from Tuscany in a great vintage, this is a rare opportunity.
Guado Al Tasso & Saffredi
If you’re looking for excellent Super Tuscans that are still affordable, Fattoria Le Pupille’s Saffredi and Antinori’s Guado Al Tasso are two excellent options. There is real value to be found here, and especially the lesser-known Guado Al Tasso is an outstanding wine. At the theme auction, you’ll find both in drink-ready vintages, and they come highly recommended from me.
Le Serre Nuove & Guidalberto
If we take a couple of steps further down the ladder, there are still some very good buys to be made. Here I’d like to highlight the two second wines from Ornellaia and Tenuta San Guido respectively. Naturally, they’re not on the same level as the flagship wines Ornellaia and Sassicaia, but they are much more approachable, and you still get a little of the producers’ magic in the glass. Two quality wines, and among my go-to choices when Italian pizza is on the menu.
J.G. Benda
“If you know, you know” is a phrase one might be tempted to use here. This is a producer spoken of in hushed tones in various wine clubs, and perhaps we are looking at the next rising star in the Tuscan sky.