92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Gold Medal - New York World Wine & Spirits Competition
Gold Medal - Sunset Int'l Wine Competition
In the 1970s and 80s, Italian wine underwent a quality revolution, especially in Tuscany, where quality-minded producers bucked government regulations and planted the grapes that they felt would perform best in their unique terroir. The resulting wines were often blends of French and Italian grapes. In California our own quality revolution was happening around the same time, but mostly revolved around French grapes, and it is only recently that more focus has been put on finding land suited to Italian varieties. One of those leading the charge for quality Italian varietal wines in California is Michael Muscardini, a frequent WineHeist collaborator. This week we are offering his Tesoro, a Super-Tuscan style blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.
The 2010 Tesoro is deep ruby in color, verging on purple. The palate offers a blend of black currant and blackberry, with hints of herb and toasted oak. The palate is reminiscent of Cabernet, but with more red fruit, cherry, and a hint of plum. Nice tannins maintain the finish on the palate, sweet vanilla and cassis flavors lingering. A serious wine just entering its prime drinking, this should hold for many years in the cellar and continue to develop.
Winemaker: Michael Muscardini
Appellation: Sonoma County
Varietals: 48% Sangiovese, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah
ph: 3.50
Alcohol: 14.7
Cases Produced: 654
All Wines
Modern, Sexy & Full
Aromas of wild blackberries and blueberries interwoven with enchanting notes of fresh mint, lavender, roasted walnut, savory spices, and a captivating hint of dark chocolate drizzled with fine balsamic. Notes of plum, blueberry and cassis with hints of wild sage, licorice, black pepper, and an elegant touch of fine-grained oak.
98 Points, Best of Class
Super-Tuscan style blend offering aromas of ripe berries and black fruits, interwoven with hints of vanilla, caramel, raw tobacco, leather, clove, blood orange peel, and roasted walnuts. Rich and generous flavors of briary blackberry, dark cherry, ripe plum and cassis.
Plush & Velvety
Aromas of wild berries are interlaced with nuances of fresh lavender, dark chocolate truffle, baking spices, and cigar box, with generous flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and fresh currants are layered with hints of cocoa, cassis, allspice, and wild sage.