2021 Castello di Volpaia "Balifico" Toscana

The certified organic Volpaia 2021 Balifico is a blend of 65% Sangiovese and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon (with 8,000 bottles produced). This wine has a really fun fruit profile with lots of bright cherry that's framed by a fine-powdered mineral note. I find that combination to be very attractive and quite inviting, especially at the dinner table. The wine has the freshness to cut through fatty foods or meat and the dusty tannins needed to fuel a long finish. (ML)

The 2021 Balifico, Volpaia's Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is another superb wine in this range. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, incense, licorice, chocolate and dried herbs build beautifully, leading to a dense, substantial finish framed by equally insistent tannins. Ideally, readers should cellar this for at least a year or two. 94+ (AG)