Barbanera - Gigino 80 Anniversario 2018 (750ml)
This Super Tuscan was made in honor of the 80th anniversary of the man who founded the Barbanera winery, Luigi “Gigino” Barbanera. This full-bodied red combines Sangiovese, Merlot, Shiraz/Syrah, and Petit Verdot grapes to create awesome flavors of cassis with red cherry notes and a touch of currants on the finish. Drink it with a lush mushroom lasagna with tangy tomato sauce and parmesan cheese, or a wood-fired pizza topped with sausage and cured meats.
Barbanera Description
Barbanera is an Italian wine estate in the south of Tuscany, close to the border with Umbria. It was founded by the Barbanera family in 1938 and today, produces a portfolio that includes the classic regional wines of Tuscany as well as those from Puglia and Sicily.
The Barbanera family has been producing wine in the region since the 1930s. In 2008, the company expanded its original Tuscan vineyards to create the Vecciano Estate on the slopes of Monte Cetona. These vineyards cover approximately 9 hectares (22 acres) of land, and are situated within the confines of the Chianti DOCG wine region.
The southwest-facing slopes at the estate are composed mainly of calcareous clay and are planted to a combination of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is from these grape varieties that the estate creates its flagship Toscana IGT wine, Vecciano.
The Barbanera portfolio consists of three core wine labels: Barbanera, Blackbeard Family Collection and Duca di Saragnano, which takes its name from a family with close ties to the Barbaneras. The trio are dominated by Tuscany's most iconic wines including Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino.
Outside of Tuscany, the estate makes a range of Puglian wines based on grape varieties including Negroamaro, Primitivo and Uva di Troia, as well as Sicilian wines made from Chardonnay, Inzolia and Nero d'Avola.
Wine Enthusiast: 91 Points
The nose balances tart fruit notes of cherry, raspberry and blackberry with savory aromas of soil, clay and pepper. On the palate, the fruit is sweeter and denser, and bolstered by firm tannins and welcome acid that lead into a satisfyingly hot finish.
