Though Chianti is the best known Tuscan wine producing area, there are others, including the swath of coast from Bolgheri to Piombino, which are home to some of the finest wines in the world, including Sassicaia and Masseto. I tasted the 2006 releases this spring, and this is what I liked best.
1. Collemassari Bolgheri Rosso DOC 2004
Deep black cherry ruby. Young bouquet, with an initial rush of violets supported by cedar and pleasing forest berry fruit; the overall impression is controlled but opulent in a cheeky sort of way. On the palate it's medium bodied, with rich forest berry fruit that gains direction from deft berry fruit acidity, and is supported by tightly woven very smooth tannins. Quite nice, in a smooth cheeky key -- it brings to mind a smiling teen who has gotten away with something good.Score: 90
2. Grascete Le Grascete Bolgheri Rosso DOC 2004
Deep black cherry ruby. Intense bouquet with a rush of grilled bell pepper mingled with warmth and moderate acidity. Full, with rich cherry and forest berry fruit fruit laced with grilled pepper, and supported by both deft acidity and by clean sweet tannins that lead into a long slightly tart fruit laced finish. Quite pleasant, and will contribute mightily to a meal built around a succulent porterhouse steak. Expect it to go quickly, and you will want a second bottle.Score: 90
3. Castello del Terriccio Con Vento IGT Toscana 2005
Pale brassy white. Bright, rich bouquet with powerful gooseberry fruit laced with some petroleum and pleasing spice from grape. Nice balance, and if you like the aromas of Sauvignon Blanc you will like it. On the palate it's fairly rich, with bright gooseberry fruit laced with some bitterness and bright mineral-citric acidity that carries into a long clean finish. Beautiful character and will drink well with foods.Score: 88
4. Campo alla Sughera Adeo Bolgheri Rosso DOC 2004
Deep black cherry ruby. Young bouquet, with violets mingled with berry fruit jam and slight greenish vegetal notes that add depth and complexity. On the palate it's medium bodied, with rich black currant fruit that gains direction from some clean acidity, and is supported by ample smooth sweet tannins that are larger than they seem, and lead into a clean fruit laced finish. Quite pleasant, and though it will age a few years, I would be tempted to drink it now to enjoy its freshness.Score: 88
5. Le Fornacelle Guarda Boschi Bolgheri Rosso DOC 2004
Impenetrable pigeon blood ruby. Intense bouquet with a mixture of black currant fruit, grilled bell pepper, cedar, and underlying graphite shaving bitterness. Full, with rich bright forest berry fruit directed by lively raspberry acidity and supported by clean sweet tannins with slight cedar overtones that do a fine job of leading into a clean fruit laced finish. Pleasant, in an up front scrappy sort of key, if one can say that about a wine that has considerable depth and substance.Score: 88
6. Batzella Digiá Bolgheri Rosso DOC 2004
Deep black almandine ruby. Rich bouquet; cherry fruit laced with some vegetal notes, and underlying black currants and slight cedar. Fresh. On palate medium bodied, and bright, with lively forest berry fruit supported by clean deft berry fruit acidity, and by tightly woven, quite smooth tannins that lead into a clean deft finish. Pleasant and very much on its toes; it will drink quite nicely with succulent grilled meats, for example lamb chops or a filet cooked rare.Score: 88
7. Tenuta Ornellaia Le Volte Indicazione Geografica Tipica Toscana 2004
Deep pigeon blood ruby. Bright bouquet with fairly rich jam laced berry fruit directed by pleasing slightly greenish acidity, with by some cedar and slight vegetal notes. Medium-full bodied with fairly rich red berry fruit, a mixture of currants and cherries with some raspberry acidity to keep things in line, supported by tightly woven smooth sweet tannins that flow into a clean berry fruit laced finish with greenish tannic underpinning. Deft, in a sunny smiling key.Score: 87
8. Collemassari Grattamacco Bianco Bolgheri Vermentino DOC 2004
Brassy white with lively brassy reflections. Fairly intense bouquet with a rush of butterscotch laced with gunflint bitterness and some savory green apricot overtones. Fairly rich, with powerful mineral laced white berry fruit supported by deft mineral acidity that flows into a clean fairly bitter finish with acidity and hints of butterscotch that carry at length. It will drink nicely with flavorful fish or cheese-based risotti, or with richly flavored fish. It grew on me.Score: 87
9. Petra Querce Gobbe IGT Toscana 2003
Deep pigeon blood ruby. Rich bouquet with powerful black currant fruit supported by sweetness and vegetal accents; it's obviously the child of a hot vintage but displays nicely. On the palate it's full, with powerful black currant fruit supported by deft black currant acidity, and by ample sweet tannins that are smooth enough to seem smaller than they are; it all flows into a clean long black currant fruit finish with some plum overtones. Quite pleasant in a big soft key.Score: 86-7
10. Michele Satta Diambra Indicazione Geografica Tipica Toscana 2004
Lively cherry ruby. The bouquet is developing, and now displays vegetal notes mingled with sea salt and some red berry fruit, balanced by some cedar. The palate is full and soft, with fairly rich forest berry fruit supported by deft black currant acidity and by ample tannins that are smooth enough to seem smaller than they are, and flow into a clean black currant finish. Pleasant, in a fairly soft key, and will drink nicely with drier red meats.Score: 86-7
