Bolgheri (Italy)
Bolgheri DOC is a Tuscan "Bordeaux Style" blend of:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Syrah.
Sassicaia and Ornellaia wines are from Bolgheri.
Typical Flavors
Bolgheri tastes like a classic Bordeaux blend:
 Black Currant |
 Blackberry |
 Black Cherry |
 Plum |
 Violets |
 Pepper |
 Licorice |
 Wet Stone |
Oak Added Flavors:
 Oak |
 Vanilla |
 Toast |
 Coffee |
Black Currant, Dark Berries and Plum are typical Bolgheri flavors.
Dark Floral hints (Violets) and Wet Soil (Graphite).
Profile
Bolgheri has a classic "Bordeaux blend" profile:
| BODY | Full | ||
| TANNINS | Medium - High | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Mushroom |
 Hamburger |
 Ham |
 Casseroles |
 Pork |
 Lamb |
 Veal |
 Beef |
Rich Flavors and Tannins make Bolgheri a perfect partner to Flavory Dishes.
It also loves Roasted Lamb and BBQ.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
BBQ. Grilled. Roasts.
Roasted Potatoes and Onions.
Grilled Mushrooms (Portobello).
Grilled Veggetables.
BBQ. Chicken. Pork. Rabbit. Game.
Caramel Chicken.
Roasted Lamb. Lamb Chops. Lamb Shank.
Hamburger. Cheese Burger. Bacon Burger.
Red Meat Dishes. Spareribs. Veal Chops.
Pepper Beef. T-Bone. Kobe. Entrecôte.
Filet Mignon. Filetto (Italy). Solomillo (Spain).
Cheese:
Hard Cow Milk Cheese. French Comté. Cheddar.
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The Ideal Glass
The Bordeaux glass is perfect for medium to full bodied red wines.
It is taller than other red wine glasses, and has a slimmer bowl.
The large size of the glass allows the fruit bouquet to develop. It smooths out rough edges, plays down tannins, and allows the wines to achieve balance.
The slimmer bowl sends the wine directly to the back of the mouth for maximum taste.
Super Tuscan
In the 1970s, Tuscan wine producers "invented" the name Super Tuscan for high quality wines using non regional grapes, because the Toscana climate proved to be good for this.
Most of these local blends use an IGT appellation (Indicazione Geografica Tipica).
Some Super Tuscans are based on "Bordeaux Blends" grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.
Some are based on Merlot, some contain Sangiovese, and some contain Syrah.
One famous wine, Guidalberto from Tenuta San Guido, is composed of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 10% Sangiovese. Another, Le Difese, is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese.
Super Tuscan DOC(G)
These are the Super Tuscans with a DOC(G) status today:
Bolgheri
Bolgheri DOC
In 1978 a Super Tuscan from Bolgheri won over all French Bordeaux blends in a Decanter magazine blind test.
Bolgheri DOC was approved in 1994:
Aged for minimum 12 months (24 monts for Superiore)
Up to 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Up to 100% Cabernet Franc
Up to 100% Merlot
Up to 50% Sangiovese
Up to 50% Syrah
Up to 30% local grapes.
Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC was approved in 2013. It is the only single estate in Italy to enjoy a DOC privilege. Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC wines can be made only on the Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta’s Tenuta San Guido estate, and must contain minimum 80% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Toscana (Tuscany)
Toscana is famous for the city of Firenze, and red wines made from Sangiovese.
Red Wines:
Chianti
Chianti Classico
Rosso di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino
Rosso di Montepulciano
Nobile di Montepulciano
Montecucco Sangiovese
Morellino di Scansano
Super Tuscan:
Super Tuscan
Bolgheri Rosso
Carmignano Rosso
Suvereto Rosso
Val di Cornia Rosso
White Wines:
Rosé Wines:
Sweet Wines:
Toscana
Toscana is most famous for the majestetic city of Firenze.
On the wine side, the region is best known for the Sangiovese based red wines:
- Chianti Classico
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
A copy of the Bordeaux Blend, named Super Tuscan, is also popular all over the world.
Vermentino is the best known white wine from the coastline, and Vernaccia is an internationally recognised white wine from the medieval town of San Gimignano.
On the sweet side, Vin Santo ("Holy Wine") is the national drink in Tuscany.
Toscana has 11 DOCGs:
Sangiovese:
Chianti DOCG (70% Sangiovese)
Chianti Classico DOCG (80% Sangiovese)
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (100% Sangiovese)
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG (70% Sangiovese)
Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG (90% Sangiovese)
Morellino di Scansano DOCG (85% Sangiovese)
Super Tuscan:
Carmignano DOCG (Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon/Franc, Merlot)
Suvereto Rosso DOCG (Cab Sauvignon, Merlot)
Val di Cornia Rosso DOCG (Sangiovese, Cab Sauvignon, Merlot)
White:
Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG (85% Vernatcha)